Janine Anderson
Storyteller. Community builder. Digital pro.

Journalist. Kenosha News, Kenosha, Wis.

​April 2013- present

 

Cover courts and more in a city of 99,000 people, for a daily newspaper with a digital-first attitude. It's a mid-size city with big-city news, from drug busts to infanticide, but enough down time on the beat to explore other reporting interests. Post to Facebook, Twitter and our website throughout the day, provide photos and video as needed, and keep an eye out for opportunities to bring interactive data to the web. 

I've also become the data geek in the newsroom, and look for opportunities to give our audience searchable databases, interactive maps, and custom online features created in tandem with our developers. 

 

 

Associate Regional Editor. Patch, Milwaukee, Wis.

​April 2011-April 2013

 

Jointly manage a region of 15 sites in the Metro Milwaukee area. Direct manager of six local editors assigned to cover eight communities in Racine and Milwaukee counties. Edit stories, direct news coverage, plan regional and local projects, boost SEO, leverage social media, and give site users the most complete collection of local news they can find online.

Part of national data team that created searchable campaign contribution databases during the 2012 presidential election. Helped direct coverage of Gov. Scott Walker's recall challenge and election. Part of the team that managed immediate response to the Sikh Temple shooting in Oak Creek, and planned continuing coverage of that community.

Developed breaking news response training and helped present it to all Patch staff.

 

 

Reporter. The Journal Times, Racine, Wis.

January 2005-April 2011

 

Courts reporter, covering the court system in Racine County. Embraced digital-first approach. Was one of three reporters issued a laptop to use for mobile reporting from court, where I provided live tweets, cover it live play-by-plays of major trials and sentencing hearings, plus filed stories from court when there were multiple cases on the calendar. 

Developed long-form story ideas and followed through. 

Used short-form reporting while part of a small staff to bring attention to a major social problem in the city of Racine. The city of Racine had the highest infant mortality rate in the state for black infants, and through consistent reporting of that issue and early efforts by a group that formed in response to the crisis, helped raise the profile of the issue among state officials and legislators, ultimately leading to an increase in funding and attention on infant mortality in the city.

 

Reporter. Community Newspapers, Metro Milwaukee area

2002-2005

 

Covered municipal government, schools, crime and general assignment news in fast-growing suburb of Milwaukee.