Wisconsin has some of the strongest open meetings and open records laws in the nation. Journalists and organizations like the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association have fought hard to make sure reporters have access to our state’s governmental bodies, and what they’re doing.

In this section of the R. Perry Kidder Broadcast News Resource Center, you can quickly learn a great deal about our state’s laws: what constitutes a government body in Wisconsin; what constitutes a meeting of that body; and the twelve reasons a governmental body can close a meeting to reporters.

You will also find resources here that will help you quickly learn how to apply Wisconsin’s open meetings and open records laws in actual reporting situations. You’ll learn the simple steps you have to take to get copies of records of the meetings of governmental bodies.

And, you’ll find links and explanations here of the actual open meetings and open records laws, along with some important case references which every reporter should know.

Your audience relies on your station to let it know what its elected representatives and other government officials are doing, and you need to be familiar with the resources available to help you do that job.

Make your Know the Law selections from the menu at left or from the list below.