Longtime political observer, editor to visit UW campus

The publisher of a leading publication for leaders of state and local government will visit UW–Madison for a one-week residency.

Peter Harkness, who has been editor and publisher of Governing since it was founded 15 years ago, will be in on campus as part of the Public Affairs Writer in Residence program April 28-May 2.

During the week, he will speak to journalism and political science classes, consult with individual students and meet with local media professionals.

Before joining Governing, Harkness was editor and deputy publisher of the Congressional Quarterly, a Washington information company known for publishing what is regarded as the unofficial and independent bible covering the U.S. Congress.

Harkness has watched government at all levels, from Washington to states, cities and counties, for 30 years. His reporting assignments have included the White House, Congress and national politics.

He is a recipient of the Raymond Clapper Award for investigative reporting, given by the White House Correspondents Association, and is one of the few journalists to be inducted as a fellow at the National Academy of Public Administration.

Governing’s circulation has grown to more than 85,000 state, city and county leaders across the nation. The magazine recently was nominated for a third time as a finalist for the National Magazine Award, the highest honor in the industry.

The Public Affairs Writer in Residence program is sponsored by the LaFollette School of Public Affairs, Department of Political Science, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, and University Communications and supported by the University of Wisconsin Foundation.