Best of CASE District V Award
 

Institution: University of Wisconsin Madison

Title of entry: Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill

About this entry: “Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill” is a revealing profile of CNN chief congressional correspondent and University of Wisconsin–Madison alumnus Manu Raju. Having interviewed Raju just days after the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, author Preston Schmitt puts readers on the scene as he covers the chaotic event. The story offers an inside look at Raju’s 24/7 job, including how he approaches sometimes hostile politicians and breaks news using the latest reporting techniques. Schmitt also traces Raju’s unconventional path to broadcast journalism, his quick rise through the ranks, and his challenges in maintaining a semblance of normalcy in his day-to-day life. More than just a personality profile, the article offers a perspective on the evolution of politics and media in our turbulent 21st century. “Behind the Scenes on Capitol Hill” was one of On Wisconsin’s most-viewed stories online for 2021, as well as generating extraordinary engagement on social media, with thousands of likes and shares. Among those praising the story on Twitter were CNN’s Jake Tapper, Brian Stelter, and Poppy Harlow and the New York Times’s Jonathan Martin. The article also inspired the university to invite Raju as the winter 2021 commencement speaker.