Briefing Archives | Page 17 of 28 | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

UW-Madison’s Kathleen Bartzen Culver named Scripps Howard teacher of the year

Apr. 26, 2021

Kathleen Bartzen Culver, director of UW-Madison’s Center for Journalism Ethics, has been named Teacher of the Year for 2020 in the 68th Scripps Howard Awards. Culver, who also is an associate professor and the James E. Burgess Chair in Journalism Ethics, has been a member of the UW journalism faculty for more than 20 years.

The annual awards, which were announced last week during a virtual awards show, will be rebroadcast May 8-9.

Students, newspapers sought for 2021 summer internship program

Apr. 23, 2021

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation is accepting applications from students and member newspapers for its 2021 Summer Internship Program.

Up to four college journalists will be placed at WNA-member newspapers across the state during the summer of 2021. Schedules — including any possibility of remote work during the pandemic — will vary based on the newspapers’ preferences, but interns will earn approximately $3,200 for an eight-week, full-time internship. Participating newspapers will receive a stipend from the WNA Foundation to help cover costs, but must provide at least $1,200 in matching funds for intern wages.

Bill would require legislators to stop deleting public records

Apr. 22, 2021

A bill introduced earlier this month seeks to eliminate the Wisconsin statute that excludes legislators and their staff from having to retain certain records, effectively allowing them to skirt the state’s public records law.

Senate Bill 289 was introduced on April 8 by Sen. Chris Larson (D-Milwaukee) and Kelda Roys (D-Madison). The Wisconsin Newspaper Association has registered its support of the legislation with the Ethics Commission.

Pat Simms’ family creates journalism scholarship fund

Apr. 20, 2021

The family of longtime Wisconsin State Journal reporter Pat Simms has created a journalism scholarship fund in her name. The fund will be used to support students "with a passion to study journalism."

Simms, who served as a journalism instructor and adviser after retiring from the State Journal in 2011, died Monday, April 5, after a fight with cancer. Those interested in contributing to the fund are directed to send donations to the M. Patricia Simms Journalism Scholarship Fund, c/o Meanwell Investment Group, 1 Erdman Place, Suite 200, Madison, WI 53717-2171.

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Students: Order duplicate awards by May 2

Apr. 15, 2021

Are you a college or high school journalist who won a 2020 WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest award and needs a duplicate plaque or certificate? Place your order by May 2.

Certificates are $6 and plaques are $60. Shipping & handling is included. The typical turnaround is 3-4 weeks.

O’Rourke launches new websites for former RiverTown newspapers

Apr. 15, 2021

O’Rourke Media Group announced last week it has launched new websites for its former RiverTown newspapers, ditching its previous regional model for a more local focus.

Rivertowns.net, the previous online home of the (Ellsworth/Red Wing, Minn.) Republican Eagle and the (Hudson) Star-Observer, is being replaced by individual websites for each newspaper. The regional website was launched in August 2019, coinciding with the mergers of several newspapers.

Results available for post-mandate mask-wearing poll

Apr. 15, 2021

Out of 1113 respondents to a recent WNA-Polco poll, 77% said they would continue wearing a mask in public in the absence of a statewide mandate. The full results and a breakdown of the data are now available to WNA members for use in their reporting.

Poll questions are available through a WNA partnership with Polco aimed at helping newspapers better engage readers and access enhanced data and insights.

What makes a good ad headline? Try these 3 tips

Apr. 5, 2021

Pick up any newspaper — or go to any online news site — and you’ll find article headlines that reveal the subjects of those articles. Doesn’t it make sense that the same should apply to advertising headlines?

Veteran sales trainer John Foust offers three questions to ask yourself next time you're writing a headline for an ad.

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Appeals court upholds dismissal of walking quorum case

Apr. 2, 2021

A court of appeals panel has upheld the dismissal of an open-meetings complaint filed by Heather Holmes, general manager of The Lakeland Times and The Northwoods River News, the newspapers reported Friday.

The complaint contended the Rhinelander mayor and four members of its city council participated in an illegal walking quorum through a series of personal communications, email messages, in-person meetings, and communications that resulted in the writing and signing of a letter of reprimand to the city council president. The newspaper is looking at possible next steps in the case, which could include another appeal.

Your Right to Know: Record location fees invite abuses

Apr. 1, 2021

Wisconsin’s open records law, passed in 1981, allows records custodians to charge for the “actual, necessary and direct” cost of making and sending copies, as well as the “actual, necessary and direct” cost of locating them, if this latter charge exceeds $50.

In the latest "Your Right to Know" column, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council President Bill Lueders argues it's a practice the Wisconsin state Legislature should consider ending.