Former WNA President and current Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Famer George Stanley will be among the panelists participating in “The Changing Landscape for Local Media” at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 17 at Viterbo University’s Nola Starling Recital Hall.
Nola Starling Recital Hall is located at 929 Jackson St. in La Crosse.
The local news industry is in the midst of a seismic transformation— shaped by technological disruption, shifting audience habits, and evolving business models.
During the past three decades, few industries have experienced such rapid and far-reaching change. This compelling program held on Constitution Day brings together a panel of leading experts to unpack the forces reshaping local journalism and to spotlight three innovative models that are successfully navigating this new terrain.
Panelists include Stanley, the former editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, who currently serves as CEO of Wisconsin Watch. Stanley will provide an overview of the national and state dynamics effecting the media industry.
Other panelists include:
• David Stoeffler, a Viterbo grad and former editor of the La Crosse Tribune, who is the CEO of the Springfield Daily Citizen, a non-profit online news source in Springfield, Missouri. In operation for a little over three years, they now have more reporters on staff than the local newspaper.
• Kathie Obradovich, who works as the Iowa Editor-in Chief for the Iowa Capital Dispatch, a non-profit source for quality community journalism. The IDC promotes a business model with no paywall or advertising.
• Chris Palmer, who is Vice President/General Manager at WKBT News 8 Now in La Crosse. He will discuss the approaches used to expand news coverage in Eau Claire and the surrounding rural areas.
• Ezra Wall, who is a Regional Manager, editor and host at Wisconsin Public Radio. He will serve as moderator for the event.
Whether you’re a media professional, policymaker, or engaged community member, this conversation offers fresh insights into the future of local news — and why it matters more than ever.
The event is free thanks to sponsorship by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association, Great Rivers United Way, the La Crosse Area Chamber of Commerce, the La Crosse Education Foundation, UW-La Crosse and Western Technical College.
The event is being presented by LeaderEthics in cooperation with the D.B. Reinhart Institute for Ethics in Leadership.
To register go to leaderethics.us or scan the QR code attached to this article.
