Andrew Johnson, owner and publisher of three weekly newspapers in Wisconsin, is a passionate and tireless advocate for newspapers who has spent countless hours fighting on behalf of the industry and offering stability during turbulent economic times.
Whether the challenge involves newsprint tariffs, legal notices, open records or postal delivery issues, Johnson refuses to back down when newspapers are threatened. His efforts and brutally honest testimony proved crucial in the fight to repeal tariffs that severely jeopardized the future of print newspapers and the industry as a whole.
Everything Johnson does is with his community’s best interest at heart. That includes spearheading the Gold Star Memorial Trail in Dodge County, which will serve as a memorial to Wisconsin military members killed in action.
Johnson, who owns and publishes the (Mayville) Dodge County Pionier, Kewaskum Statesman, and Campbellsport News, recognizes the value of newspapers to the communities they serve. Perhaps nothing embodies that commitment more than his undertaking of the Vietnam Faces project. Working with newspapers throughout the state, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and UW-Milwaukee, Johnson successfully found photos of all Wisconsin soldiers listed on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C.
When Johnson speaks about the industry, you can feel his excitement and passion. He is truly an inspirational leader who has earned the respect of his peers locally and nationally.
