Wausau Pilot and Review Corporation

The Wausau Pilot and Review Corporation is a 501c3 nonprofit organization based in Wausau, Wisconsin. It operates as the parent entity of the Wausau Pilot and Review, an independent, online news outlet that shares its name with a historic, defunct local newspaper. The modern version of the Wausau Pilot and Review was founded in 2017 and focuses primarily on providing local, original, and nonpartisan reporting for Marathon County, Wisconsin.

Mission and Coverage

The mission of the Wausau Pilot and Review is to educate the public on crucial issues affecting central Wisconsin. It adheres to the Code of Ethics of the Society of Professional Journalists and does not endorse political candidates or publish unsigned editorials. Its coverage includes local government, criminal justice, economic development, environment and energy, education, healthcare, and issues affecting the underprivileged and the elderly. The organization also fosters community engagement by publishing reader comments and community opinions.

Financial Structure

Financially, the Wausau Pilot and Review Corporation relies heavily on contributions, which have comprised the majority of its revenue in recent years. In 2022, for instance, contributions accounted for nearly 86% of its total revenue. The organization maintains a focus on transparency and does not accept anonymous donations exceeding $1,000.

Awards and Recognition

The Wausau Pilot and Review has earned several state and national awards for its reporting, including recognitions in the Local Independent Online Newspaper Publishers awards. These honors underscore its commitment to quality journalism in local communities.

Community Outreach

To ensure inclusivity, the Wausau Pilot and Review translates its content into Spanish, Hmong, and Vietnamese, reflecting the diverse community it serves. Notably, through partnerships with initiatives like Report for America, the organization has dedicated reporting efforts to the area's Hmong and other immigrant communities, ensuring they have access to critical information in their own languages.

Legal Matters

In 2024, the Wausau Pilot and Review Corporation was involved in a defamation lawsuit, Cory Tomczyk v. Wausau Pilot and Review Corporation, where the court ultimately granted summary judgment in favor of the Wausau Pilot, determining that the plaintiff was a public figure at the time of the alleged defamatory statements and that the actual malice standard applied. The court found that the reporting was substantially true and that the plaintiff could not establish clear evidence of malice.

Membership and Affiliations

The Wausau Pilot and Review Corporation is a member of the Local Independent Online News (LION) national publishing group and the Institute for Nonprofit News (INN). These affiliations underscore its commitment to collaborating with other nonpartisan news organizations and fostering sustainable models for local journalism.