MADISON – The WNA Foundation on Thursday honored the 2021 inductees to the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame during a banquet and fundraiser in downtown Madison.
This year’s class included Harland and Helen Everson, longtime publishers of The Edgerton Reporter; William “Bill” Hale, former owner of the Grant County Herald Independent and other newspapers; Phil Haslanger, longtime editor and manager of The Capital Times; Margaret “Meg” Jones, former reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; J. Anthony Josey, founder of the state’s first successful newspaper, the Wisconsin Enterprise-Blade; and Lucius W. Nieman, founder of The Milwaukee Journal.
The Eversons, Hale, Jones, Josey and Nieman were honored posthumously.
Nearly 70 colleagues attended the ceremony honoring their peers, which also paid tribute to the late Bob Wills, a longtime open government champion and member of the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame.
Eversons honored for devotion to journalism, community
Dave Zweifel, editor emeritus of The Cap Times, and James Steinbach, director emeritus of Wisconsin Public Television, made remarks about Harland and Helen Everson.
Zweifel recalled his first meeting with Harland at the Everson family farm in Edgerton. He said he was sent at the time to cover the small-town newspaper owner who had decided to run for a seat in the Wisconsin State Assembly.
“He sent a message about how important community journalism is,” Zweifel said.
Steinbach shared memories of Helen and her tireless efforts to support not only the newspaper but also her family and the community.
“Helen made things happen,” Steinbach said. “She loved Edgerton and made sure the city came alive in the paper.”
Daughters Carol and Diane Everson accepted the award on their parents’ behalf.
Diane, who succeeded her parents as publisher of The Reporter, shared a story about her time on the board of the National Newspaper Association, which opened her eyes to just how dedicated her parents were to the newspaper industry.
“I got the chance to travel all over, and I saw successful businesses and not-so-successful businesses,” Diane said. “When I got home, I realized that two of the finest newspaper people were my very own parents.”
Hale recognized for helping mentor peers
Hale was known for always taking the time to develop and celebrate others in the industry. During his time as publisher in Lancaster, he helped mentor several future leaders in the Wisconsin newspaper industry.
John Ingebritsen, publisher of Morris Newspaper Corporation of Wisconsin and Hale’s successor in Lancaster, accepted the award on behalf of Hale and his family, who were unable to attend.
“[Bill] is one of my Hall of Fame people as well,” he said. “I wouldn’t be standing here right now, having spent the last 36 years in the newspaper industry, without him. He deserved to be recognized for his life and his time as a newspaper publisher, and I am so grateful for this opportunity to speak on his behalf.
“Bill was my boss for 17 years, but more than that he was a friend, a father figure, a mentor and a patient teacher. In many ways, he was more like a doting parent than a boss. He had this unwavering belief that the sky is the limit for me. And if you haven’t had the experience of having a boss who felt that strongly in you, I’m sorry to say you’ve missed out.”
Haslanger celebrated as tireless advocate for underrepresented communities
During his career at The Capital Times, Haslanger was a tireless advocate for social and racial justice. He frequently used the power of his role as a newsroom leader to fight for the community in which he lived.
Introducing Haslanger was Kathleen Bartzen Culver, director of the Center for Journalism Ethics at UW-Madison and the person responsible for submitting Haslanger’s nomination.
In addition to his time as an editor and manager at The Cap Times, Haslanger serves on the board of directors for the Center for Journalism Ethics.
Culver described him as kind, deeply caring and as someone who builds bridges.
She discussed the many times in which he has helped others — specifically when it comes to advocating for racial and social.
“There is not a time I can recall in our years of working together that he has not led me or one of our student fellows or even a journalist to better and more inclusive journalism,” Culver said.
Accepting the honor, Haslanger reflected on his career and thanked those that helped him along the way, including Zweifel and Paul Fanlund, current editor and publisher of The Cap Times.
“When I told a friend I was going to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, he asked if this meant my rookie card would increase in value,” Haslanger joked while displaying a press badge from his college years at The Daily Cardinal. “Fifty years ago, I never would have imagined that I would be standing here tonight joining some of Wisconsin’s stellar journalists.”
Jones remembered for sincerity, storytelling
Jones, a Wisconsin classic in every sense, was remembered as the “heart and soul” of the newsroom during her time at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. She was nominated by George Stanley, editor of the Journal Sentinel, who made remarks on her behalf.
Stanley accepted the award on behalf of Carole Jones, Meg’s mother, who was unable to attend.
“Those pictures [in Jones’ induction video], in every single one of them, there’s this big smile. That’s Meg Jones in a nutshell,” Stanley said. “The joy that she brought to life and to her job was evident every day in that smile.”
Significant leaders from the past honored by WNA Foundation
The final two inductees of the night, Josey and Nieman, were honored as part of an effort by the WNA Foundation to recognize leaders from the early years of Wisconsin’s newspaper industry.
A pioneer of Wisconsin’s Black press, Josey was an outspoken champion for equal rights. He co-founded the state’s first successful Black newspaper and used his editorial platform to fight against racial stereotypes.
Nieman, who got his start in newspapers at age 12, founded The Milwaukee Journal and laid the groundwork for what went on to become the state’s largest and most prominent newspaper, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. His legacy lives on through the Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University.
