UW-Madison will host Thomas Beaumont, chief political reporter of the Des Moines Register, and Charles Fishman, author and senior editor at Fast Company magazine, as writers in residence this spring.

“The program has been just a wonderful way to put students in touch with working professionals and people who are known nationwide,” Dennis Chaptman said, a University Communications spokesperson, who helps coordinate the visits. Beaumont, a UW-Madison alumnus, has appeared as a political analyst on CNN, C-SPAN, MSNBC, Fox News and other networks.

“Tom Beaumont is fresh off a year of covering all of the major political figures in the race for the White House,” Chaptman said.

“I think he’s going to have some tremendous stories to tell, not just work stories about … the campaign trail, but about how the race for the presidency has evolved over the last few months.” Fishman’s book, “The Wal-Mart Effect,” made the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and BusinessWeek best-sellers lists.

“Charles Fishman is just a terrific writer, who has some really great insight on organizations,” Chaptman said.

The writers will spend most of their time visiting classes, but will provide students with one-on-one opportunities during their stay, according to Chaptman.

Beaumont will visit journalism, political science and public affairs classes the week after Spring Break. Fishman will visit business and journalism classes the week of April 6.