Member News

Veteran journalist Kevin Passon has been named editor of the Antigo Daily Journal and will take over the role Aug. 31. He replaces Lisa Haefs, who retired earlier this month.

Passon currently serves as managing editor The (Cottage Grove) Herald-Independent and McFarland Thistle. Both newspapers are owned by Adams Publishing Group.

Bryann Bozeman has joined the advertising staff at Unified Newspaper Group as a customer relationship coordinator, UNG announced Monday.

Serving as a link between account executives and their advertising clients, Bozeman will be responsible for ensuring quality advertising, marketing and customer service for UNG advertisers.

Veteran journalist Matt Milner has been named editor of the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram, the newspaper announced Sunday.

Milner, who was born in Dallas and grew up in St. Louis, replaces Gary Johnson, who left the Leader-Telegram in late June after 34 years with the newspaper. Johnson now serves as university relations specialist at UW-Eau Claire.

Matt Johnson, who previously held the role of Fennimore Times editor from 1992 to 2001, is returning to the newspaper as editor, the Times announced Thursday.

Johnson also is publisher of The Monroe Times and will continue in that role. Both newspapers are owned by Morris Newspaper Corporation of Wisconsin.

After leading the Wisconsin State Journal newsroom for nearly 12 years, editor John Smalley will step down from the role later this month, the newspaper announced Thursday.

As an Evansville native who grew up reading the State Journal, Smalley described the editor role as his “dream job.” Each year, he marked his anniversary date by wearing a tuxedo to the newsroom. His last day at the newspaper will be Aug. 21.

Unified Newspaper Group on Monday announced several changes in its leadership positions, including the retirement of regional publisher Lee Borkowski. Borkowski is retiring after more than a decade as general manager. Longtime group editor Jim Ferolie has been named to fill her role overseeing UNG’s four Madison-area community newspapers.

With Ferolie’s promotion, reporter Kimberly Wethal has been named news editor for the group. Emilie Heidemann, who joined UNG in November 2018 as a community reporter, will serve as the community and business editor. Mark Nesbitt has been named sports editor, moving up from his assistant sports editor role as Adam Feiner steps down.

The (Rice Lake) Chronotype last month announced three new additions to its newspaper staff — two in sales and one in the sports department.

Deb Fosberg-Wheeler, who previously worked in the Spooner Advocate advertising department, will serve as an advertising sales specialist. Jill Johnston, a Minnesota native who graduated from UW-Stout in 2014, will work as a regional sales and promotions specialist for parent company Adams Publishing Group. And Travis Nyhus will serve as a general reporter and sports editor, coming to The Chronotype after stints at The Chippewa Herald and the (Menomonie) Dunn County News.

Nearly four decades after she started at the newspaper, Antigo Daily Journal editor Lisa Haefs announced her retirement Friday.

Haefs started at the Daily Journal in October 1983 as a general assignment reporter and society editor. She also covered the Antigo school board and city council.