Managing Editor at WISN-TV (Channel 12)
Renee Raffaelli is a featured speaker for our upcoming City Wide event focused on “Serving and Leading in an Anxious World.” This City Wide is hosted by Wisconsin Lutheran College on their campus in Siebert Hall on October 29th from 11:30am-1:30pm. Renee’s presentation, Somebody Needs to Do Something will certainly provide ideas on how new servant leaders can engage in impactful service.
While at Marquette University studying newspaper journalism, Renee stumbled into a college radio DJ stint that changed her path from print to broadcast journalism.
An internship at WISN-AM/WLTQ-FM radio in Milwaukee in 1987 led to a job in television and eventually a full-time position as a newscast producer, while still a full-time student at Marquette University.
After 2 years at WISN, she took on her first management role as Senior Producer at WBAY-TV in Green Bay, WI. Missing Milwaukee, she returned to WISN-TV in 1991 for a series of producing jobs, including launching the station’s first p.m. newscast in 1993.
Renee produced daily fast-paced newscasts, traveled for coverage of major events such as political conventions, a presidential inauguration, a Packers Superbowl run, a rare Wisconsin F-5 tornado, and produced nightly documentaries during the Jeffrey Dahmer trial. She was later named Executive Producer of the evening newscasts. It was difficult work with an unpredictable schedule, but Renee quickly learned that her passion for providing meaningful coverage and safety information to the public was her calling.
An opportunity to work in her hometown took her to Chicago in 1997 where she produced nightly news at CBS 2 Chicago. She was the force behind nightly newscasts anchored by Lester Holt, worked with late movie critic Gene Siskel, and led the station’s coverage of Chicago Bulls NBA Championships in ’97 & ’98.
In 1999, a marriage proposal and a job offer enticed Renee back to Milwaukee. She returned to WISN-TV, married talented WISN photojournalist David Bakken and was named Managing Editor.
In that role, Renee was (and is) responsible for planning and managing daily news content, investigations, political coverage, and special projects. Over the years, Renee produced high-profile political debates with longtime Milwaukee anchor Mike Gousha and the Marquette University Law School that focused on local and statewide races.
Renee is currently part of a team that earned the trust of more viewers in the Milwaukee-metro area than any other television news operation. WISN maintains household viewing dominance in the market and continues to be one of the most-watched ABC affiliates in the nation.
Awards include a Peabody, Emmys, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, the Associated Press and the Milwaukee Press Club, In 2015 Renee was recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences with a lifetime achievement Emmy, and was inducted into the NATAS “Silver Circle” for excellence in journalism.
Renee is a mom to 2 college-aged boys. She feels fortunate to work for Hearst Television, where accurate news reporting, in-depth political coverage, and commitment to the community through journalism is a priority.
City Wide
October 29, 2024
11:30am-2:00pm
Wisconsin Lutheran College
Siebert Center
8800 West Bluemound Road
Milwaukee, WI 53226