Wausau Daily Herald

The Daily Herald has been Wausau’s primary source of local news and information since 1908. We focus on delivering core local coverage essential for a healthy community and democracy as well as providing journalism readers can’t get anywhere else. The Daily Herald is part of the USA Today Network, which has 11 newspapers in Wisconsin covering local news and working closely together on broader stories that are important to readers in every corner of Wisconsin. The Daily Herald covers the city of Wausau as well as the sprawling four county rural area around Marathon County. It is part of a larger news network in Wisconsin.

 

Current Position

Location: Wausau, Wisconsin

Beat: Population loss and its effects

Position:

Many communities face uncertain futures with small local populations, and few jobs or prospects. Wausau is the ideal place for a population-loss beat because Marathon County is the geographic center of the northern part of Wisconsin, where the problem is most acute. The emphasis is on translating demographic data into compelling accounts of real people and places; storytelling is critical, from describing the challenges and impact on families to outlining potential solutions with datelines across the region. There are numerous opportunities for a wide range of stories off the beat. For example, examining the loss of tax revenue on small and geographically sprawling school districts, the impact on dating and social life for the remaining young people, and difficulties in staffing hospitals and health clinics.

Reporter: Renee Hickman