Former reporter and UW-Whitewater newspaper advisor Sam Martino, newspaper publisher Carlton DeWitt and former newspaper managing editor and current Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation President Scott Peterson have been selected for induction into the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame induction ceremony and banquet will take place on Thursday, March 5 at The Madison Concourse Hotel & Governors Club in downtown Madison. The event will be held in conjunction with the 2026 Wisconsin Newspaper Association Convention and will begin at 5 p.m. with a cocktail hour, followed by dinner at 6 p.m.
Sam Martino
Sam Martino completed his journalism degree at Michigan State University in 1962. He pursued the work he began in college by joining the Associated Press and United Press International where for 10 years he worked as a contributing writer to the Washington Post, New York Times, Christian Science Monitor and Capital Times.
Sam was also experienced journalism from the governmental side, working as a public information specialist in the Army National Guard, which included federal duty during the Detroit riots in 1967. The turbulent 60’s also saw Sam reporting on the aborted presidential campaign of Michigan Governor George Romney.
Sam covered state, regional and local government during his time with several large, regional news organizations. While working for the Minneapolis Tribune, Sam covered Vietnam War protests in Madison, a takeover of the Wisconsin state assembly and a black-student rebellion at the UW-Madison.
His work resulted in his selection for an American Political Science Congressional Fellowship which led to him becoming the Washington D.C. press secretary for former Vice President and Minnesota Senator Hubert H. Humphrey.
In 1974, Sam’s work at the Milwaukee Journal resulted in him being named Journalist of the Year by the Society of Professional Journalists. In 1975, he was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize and received United Press International’s top news writing award for lengthy coverage of the Menominee Indian occupation of the Alexian Brothers novitiate near Gresham. His work is part of the Wisconsin Historical Society’s historical record of that event.
Sam retired in 2000 from the Milwaukee Journal after 27 years of working as an investigative reporter. Inspired to impart his knowledge of shoe leather reporting to an entirely new crop of journalists, Sam then joined the UW – Whitewater teaching staff.
For 12 years, Sam inspired future journalists and acted as advisor to The Royal Purple student newspaper. Sam’s work was recognized with a distinguished advisor award and a student award for being an instructor who made a difference in students’ lives. In 2010, Sam received the College Media Advisors National Advisor Award for helping to lead the Royal Purple into the digital age by adding multimedia content where readers could experience the publication outside of print. He retired as Royal Purple advisor and from teaching at UW-Whitewater in 2011.
During his later years, Sam worked alongside Diane Everson at The Edgerton Reporter as a regular contributor.
A stalwart supporter of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and newspapers, Sam died on April 20th, 2024, from a heart attack while mowing the lawn at his home in De Forest, WI. He is survived by his loving partner, Judy, three children and two grandchildren.
Carlton DeWitt
Carlton DeWitt is the current owner/publisher of the Glenwood City Tribune Press Reporter and the Colfax Messenger. The Tribune Press Reporter has been continuously published for 136 years, 73 of which have been under the leadership of the DeWitt family, while the Colfax Messenger has been in publication for 129 years, 27 under Carlton’s ownership.
Carlton’s career in the newspaper business began at age 13, when his mother Lucille told him to “go sweep the floors” of the newspaper. In 1952, Carlton’s parents Ross and Lucille DeWitt purchased the Glenwood City Tribune and operated the paper until selling it to Carlton, and his wife Paula in 1974.
Carlton graduated from Glenwood City High School in 1959 and went on to further his education at Dunwoody Institute in Minneapolis where he learned the printing business. After graduating from Dunwoody in 1961, Carlton returned home to work alongside his parents.
In 1984, the DeWitt family purchased the Boyceville Press Reporter and combined it with the Glenwood City Tribune, naming it the Glenwood City Tribune Press Reporter. Part of Carlton’s motivation in purchasing the Press Reporter was to ensure that the Boyceville community would continue to have a newspaper that would cover local events.
His dedication to community reporting and the people’s right to know, was further exhibited when he purchased the Colfax Messenger in 1998. The Tribune Press Reporter is currently the official newspaper for Glenwood City, Boyceville and several townships in the area, while the Colfax Messenger was recently named the official newspaper of the City of Menomonie and Dunn County. Both municipalities stated that the reason behind this is the impartial and in-depth coverage that the Colfax Messenger supplies on a weekly basis.
Carlton’s passion for the 1st Amendment and freedom of the press along with the history of the newspaper industry is still very much alive as proven by his involvement with the Minnesota Newspaper Foundation Museum at the Minnesota State Fair where each year he can be found setting hot type and running the Linotype which he donated to the museum.
Carlton is a member of the Glenwood City Fire Department, serving as Fire Chief for twenty-five years. He is also active in his church and serves on the City of Glenwood City Council.
Carlton survives his wife of 57 years, Paula. Together they have three sons, six grandchildren and three great grandchildren.
Scott Peterson
From his early days as a freelance reporter at the Lake Country Reporter in 1978 to his later roles as managing editor, editor-in-chief, and group editor overseeing more than a dozen publications — and now as WNA Foundation President — Scott Peterson’s influence on Wisconsin newspapers is deeply significant.
At the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel owned NOW News Group, Scott managed one of the largest suburban news operations in the state, leading a staff of more than 40 journalists and producing 19 weekly publications, magazines, and digital platforms. Under his leadership, those newsrooms captured nearly a thousand awards — including Eppy Awards, state “Newspaper of the Year” honors, and repeated recognition from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association for excellence in reporting, design, and editorial writing.
After retiring from his position with the NOW publications, Scott served as group editor for Adams Publishing Group-Southern Wisconsin, where he began as managing editor of Watertown Daily Times before being prometed to an expanded role as group editor. As group editor Scott was responsible for the editorial oversight of Daily Jefferson County Union and Madison area weeklies (serving Sun Prairie, Lake Mills, Waunakee, DeForrest, Cambridge-Deerfield, McFarland-Cottage Grove, Lodi, Waterloo-Marshall and Poynette), His responsibilities would later include being named managing editor of the Daily Jefferson County Union in Fort Atkinson.
Scott has been a steward of his community. His leadership in community projects continues as demonstrated by his exemplary leadership as President of the Lake Country Rotary Club, the Hartland Chamber of Commerce, and Senior Warden of St. Matthias Episcopal Church. And as the founder of the Yule Feed Families holiday food drive — which has raised more than $1 million for local pantries — he has demonstrated that the values of service and community responsibility that define great journalists also define great citizens.
As President of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation since 2018, Scott has helped ensure that local journalism in Wisconsin continues to thrive and adapt.
During his WNA Foundation presidency, Scott presided over projects that included the WNA internship program, Wisconsin Civics Games, the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame, high school and college journalism awards, the annual Better Newspaper Contest and many more.
“His dedication to fostering growth, collaboration, and positive change in his community is a testament to his character and values,” wrote WNA Executive Director Beth Bennett. “His contributions have left an indelible mark on the industry and the communities he has served, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of journalists.”
“For his lifetime of achievement, his tireless advocacy for community journalism, and his lasting impact on Wisconsin newspapers and the people who produce them, I can think of no one more deserving of this honor than Scott Peterson,” wrote former WNA Executive Director Peter Fox.
Scott and his wife Nancy have two sons, two grandchildren and one grandchild due in January 2026.
About the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame
Created in 2001 to honor visionaries and innovators in the Wisconsin newspaper industry, the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame recognizes both living and deceased individuals with induction.
Hall of Fame nominations are open to anyone, living or deceased, who has contributed above and beyond the call of duty to newspapers and newspapering in Wisconsin. This includes publishers, editors, reporters, photographers or any other newspaper personnel with significant contributions to the newspaper industry.
