COTTAGE GROVE — Veteran journalist Kevin Passon has been named editor of the Antigo Daily Journal and will take over the role on Aug. 31. He replaces Lisa Haefs, who retired earlier this month.
He currently serves as managing editor for another Adams Publishing Group newspaper, The (Cottage Grove) Herald-Independent and McFarland Thistle, which last week announced Passon would be leaving. Passon spent six years as managing editor of The Herald-Independent, during which time it merged with the McFarland Thistle. He oversaw the combined newspaper beginning in February 2016.
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Passon notes that he and his wife both grew up in Shawano, about an hour’s drive southeast of Antigo. The move will allow them to return closer to home and family.
Prior to joining the Herald-Independent, Passon had long stints at newspapers in Oconomowoc, Waupun and Beaver Dam. He started his full-time journalism career in 1989 as an editor for the Waupun Leader News. While in Waupun, he also served as a reporter for the Daily Citizen in Beaver Dam.
In March 2000, Passon left the Waupun newspaper to take over as editor and publisher of the Oconomowoc Enterprise. He remained in the role for nearly 12 years, leaving in September 2011.
