This article by Lauren Ingeno of Inside Higher Ed starts off with a slightly misleading bend to it.

Why would the Republican controlled legislature in Wisconsin want to block an investigative journalism center?

If you dig down, however, the reasons become fairly clear.

Journalism Center a Target

Legislation that would bar University of Wisconsin professors from working with a nonprofit journalism center and kick the center off the Madison campus is a “direct assault” on academic freedom, the UW journalism school’s director says.

In a 12-4 vote during the wee hours of Wednesday morning, the Republican-controlled Joint Finance Committee introduced a motion that would prohibit the nonprofit Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism from occupying its two offices in a campus building at the University of Wisconsin at Madison.

The provision would also prevent University of Wisconsin employees from doing any work related to the investigative journalism center.

When asked why the center might be a targeted by lawmakers, Downey said there is really “no context or explanation,” but speculated that they might think the “center is acting in a partisan way.” (Among its numerous funders is a charity affiliated with the liberal philanthropist George Soros, as conservative watchdogs are quick to note.) But Downey said the center has “never been shy” about scrutinizing the university and being a watchdog for those in power, be they Democrat or Republican.