The magazine feared no subject under Sperling. Its coverage included an array of contentious topics like shoreline development and climate change. <\/p>\n
Natasha Kassulke succeeded Sperling. Lost in the transition was the magazine's license to cover all things water and earth. <\/p>\n
DNR Secretary Cathy Stepp often meddled. Under Walker's handpicked cabinet member an article about state's endangered pine martens was killed. In 2015, a story on climate change and its impact on Wisconsin animals was kiboshed. <\/p>\n
A search of the magazine's archives shows there hasn't been a story regarding climate change or global warming in the past three years. <\/p>\n
Walker now wants to kill the publication once and for all. <\/p>\n
His recently submitted budget has it ceasing publication in 2018. Cost savings of $300,000 annually and allowing the DNR to better focus on managing natural resources have been Walker's justifications for the move. <\/p>\n
Since the magazine pays for operations and staff through subscriptions, some Badger State residents say Walker's logic is bunk. Anti-environmental politics is the culprit behind scotching the journal, they counter. <\/p>\n
Kassulke worked at the magazine for about 15 years. She stepped down as editor last summer. <\/p>\n
\"When Walker's administration came in,\" she says, \"I was required to show all stories, all text, all photos to the entire department leadership team for review. And through that process, I have several stories that were either edited [down], changed, or at times even killed.\" <\/p>\n
In February, Kassulke's story about feedlots and drinking water was supposed to be included in a magazine insert. It still hasn't been published. <\/p>\n
\"My gut tells me [halting the magazine] is part of a continuing agenda to create a vacuum and black out information on very important environmental issues and an anti-science agenda,\" she says. <\/p>\n
DNR spokesperson Jim Dick had repeatedly denied editorial content played a role in the decision. <\/p>\n<\/p>\n
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Read the original here:<\/p>\n
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker goes from censorship to killing state nature magazine - City Pages<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The magazine feared no subject under Sperling. Its coverage included an array of contentious topics like shoreline development and climate change. Continue reading