2020 has been a turbulent period beyond the conventional methods of description. In terms of COVID-years, the past 12 months have had the glacial progress and weight of 12 regular human years.

Each month brought a new chapter of events for the public to process, which required an expanded vocabulary to explain the news and a library of images to show the extent of what was happening. It was a very dangerous year for photojournalism with a pandemic and civil unrest. To be embedded in the heart of events as they unfolded required physical stamina, professional skill, and a fair amount of luck to avoid serious injury.

The news features presented here for this shared topic were published as original editorial content, and were reported by the staff of Milwaukee Independent in 2020. This compilation also reflects our transformational mission, in a format that explores deeply personal issues and documents those inspirational stories, serving as an example for the community.

The Year In Review (YIR) series has evolved from the simple annual feature that highlighted top stories of the year. It has since become a more summarized presentation of important themes, packaged together for readers. This collection of content again presents our work, in a way that helps educate and inform the public who may have missed the stories originally, or want to see how the past 12 months connected the dots on related subjects.

This "Year in Review” series that highlights different aspects of the news coverage from Milwaukee Independent over 2019.
Our mission of transformative journalism means that we are editorially independent. Our staff determines what is important news to report on, and in what voice to speak on issues. No one influences our opinion, and no one edits our editors. We are free from commercial bias and are not influenced by corporate interests, political affiliations, or a public preferences that rewards clicks with revenue. As an influential publication that provides Milwaukee with quality journalism, we depend on public support to fulfill our purpose. Our award-winning photojournalism, columns, interviews, and features have helped to achieve a range of positive social impact that enriches our community. Please join our effort by entrusting us with your contribution. Your Support Matters - Donate Now