Briefing Archives | Page 14 of 28 | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Cross: Now we have to make people want local news

Jul. 9, 2021

Community newspapers can’t do much about a decline in the interest of local news, but there are some things they can do. It starts with understanding the problem, writes Al Cross, director of the University of Kentucky's Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, which publishes The Rural Blog.

In the latest installment of his "Into the Issues" column, Cross offers suggestions on how to draw readers' interest back to the news they need.

polco, coronavirus, voter registration, presidential debates, covid-19

Poll: Should colby be the official state cheese of Wisconsin?

Jul. 7, 2021

A new poll question about whether colby should be named the official state cheese of Wisconsin is available to be used by WNA members. We are asking the question in light of a recently introduced bipartisan bill that would give the honor to the cheese, which was created in 1885 in the central Wisconsin city of Colby.

Poll questions are available through a WNA partnership with Polco aimed at helping newspapers better engage readers and access enhanced data and insights. WNA members who have signed up for an account with Polco can access their local version of the new question, as well as local poll results, on their dashboards. Those who have not signed up can do so here for their own dashboard.

RELATED: Results available for large summer events poll

Evers vetoes bill eliminating personal property tax

Jul. 6, 2021

Assembly Bill 191, which eliminates Wisconsin's personal property tax, has been approved by the state Legislature and now heads to Gov. Tony Evers for his signature.

The WNA is among the many business associations that opposed the tax, levied on businesses for furniture and other miscellaneous office fixtures, as part of the Coalition to Repeal Wisconsin's Personal Property Tax. Its repeal ends a strong signal of support from the state to the business community, the coalition said in a statement.

WNA members are strongly encouraged to consider publishing an editorial supporting the repeal and/or reaching out to Evers to request he sign the legislation.

Your Right to Know: No private email accounts for public business

Jul. 6, 2021

In Wisconsin, it’s perfectly legal for government officials to use their personal emails to do government work — even though a government entity may not have the ability to access personal accounts that can be used to hide conversations from the public.

In the latest "Your Right to Know" column for the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Tom Kamenick argues that to remove barriers to public accountability and improve the efficiency of government operations, the legislature should prohibit the use of personal email accounts for government business at the state and local level.

How to give your advertising some personality

Jun. 30, 2021

Every ad has some kind of personality — and it's important not to leave the ingredient to chance.

In his latest "Ad-libs" column, veteran sales trainer John Foust takes a look at four things that can help clients' ads stand out from their competitors on the page and on the screen.

EagleHerald celebrates 150 years as newspaper in Marinette

Jun. 30, 2021

The EagleHerald last week celebrated its 150th anniversary as a newspaper in Marinette.

The anniversary edition included a 12-page special section filled with historical photos, a brief timeline of local history and stories about the past, present and future of newspapers. Also featured throughout were memories from current and former staff members — including longtime news editor Penny Mullins and former publisher Dennis Colling.

11 tips to grow your agriculture coverage

Jun. 29, 2021

Despite the importance of agriculture reporting, coverage of the industry has been reduced or even eliminated by many traditional media outlets. How and where food is grown or raised, how it is processed and transported, what it costs to buy and how the industry affects the economy and the environment are important to readers, advertisers, agricultural producers and policymakers.

In his latest installment of "Better Writing with Bart," writing coach Bart Pfankuch provides some tips to start or expand your coverage of agriculture.

Orestes Baez appointed to fill open WNA Board seat

Jun. 25, 2021

Orestes Baez has joined the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Board of Directors, accepting an appointment by WNA President Gregg Walker to fill an open seat.

Baez, who serves as regional president of southern Wisconsin for Adams Publishing Group, will fill one of the four daily newspaper seats on the WNA Board. He replaces Randy Rickman, who resigned after being named regional president for southern Minnesota at APG.

Don’t miss our second webinar on newspaper relevance (and watch the first one if you missed it)

Jun. 25, 2021

Last year, the WNA helped launch a new initiative called The Relevance Project, which highlights the importance of newspapers to their communities.

Next month, we’re enlisting the help of project director Tom Silvestri to teach WNA members what The Relevance Project is all about. Silvestri will present two webinars discussing what the project is all about and sharing its free resources, which are aimed at advancing community newspapers and their hard-charging staffs.

the milwaukee times, juneteenth strawberry soda

Milwaukee newspaper shares Juneteenth history through strawberry soda sales

Jun. 18, 2021

The Milwaukee Times, a weekly newspaper that focuses on positive news in the Black community, is selling Juneteenth Strawberry Soda as part of a fundraiser that also serves to share the history of the holiday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this week.

Proceeds from the soda sales go toward the newspaper's Louvenia Johnson Scholarship Fund, named in honor of one of The Times' original founders.

For the past five years, the newspaper has sold the soda out of its office at 1936 N. King Drive during the summer months. This year, The Times expanded the soda's reach by distributing it to three local businesses.