John Nichols has become both a household name for Madisonians and an esteemed political blogger on a national scale. As both an associate editor for The Capital Times and a beat writer for The Nation, Nichols has opined on topics ranging from WikiLeaks to Sarah Palin. As the author of eight books and contributor to The New York Times and The Progressive, Nichols has come into the national spotlight as an authority on the future of print journalism and new media.
However, Nichols makes our list because of his loyalty to reporting on local issues Madisonians care about. Nichols constantly reminds his readers of the history behind the stories making headlines and often uses his columns to act as the sole watchdog on issues many journalists avoid. Nichols' commitment to taking a tempered liberal stance on both local and national issues has made him one of the most notable voices of reason in Madison and the national political sphere.
—Hannah Furfaro
