Member News

Ashlie Fanetti, who has spent the last two years reporting on arts and entertainment for the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram, has joined the Bloomer Advance as a reporter, copy editor and page designer. A native of Bloomer, she previously worked as a student intern at the paper.

In 2021, Fanetti earned her bachelor’s degree in journalism from UW-Eau Claire, where she served as managing editor of the student publication, The Spectator, and spent a year as a professor’s assistant in the journalism and communications department. 

After seven years with the Vilas County News-Review, editor Michelle Drew is embarking on a new journey. March 20 was her final day at the newspaper. Drew joined the News-Review as lifestyle editor in March 2017. She was promoted to assistant editor in 2019 and editor in December 2021.

A number of new faces will take the reins upon Drew’s departure, including new associate editors Jacob Heid and Josephine Hinderman.

Pete Wasson, who has served as editor of the Ashland Daily Press for the past six years, is stepping down from the newspaper. His last day will be Friday, March 29, he announced March 1 in a farewell column.

During his tenure, he served as the Ashland County media coordinator for the Wisconsin Court System, facilitating media access to the state's circuit courts, Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. Before joining Adams Publishing Group, Wasson served as local news editor and assistant managing editor at the Wausau Daily Herald. 

Gavin Michaelson, who recently earned his master's degree from Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, has joined the staff of the La Crosse Tribune as a full-time news reporter. His first day was Feb. 5.

Born and raised in Hudson, Wisconsin, Michaelson graduated in 2022 from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities with a double bachelor’s degree in political science and mass communication. While attending UM-Twin Cities, he wrote for the student newspaper The Minnesota Daily as a columnist.

David Sherman, who previously served on the WNA Board of Directors, has been named vice president of sales for Lee Enterprises’ Southeast Wisconsin region, which includes The Journal Times in Racine, the Kenosha News and the Lake Geneva Regional News, the company announced earlier this month.

Sherman most recently served as regional vice president of sales and marketing effectiveness at Nielsen. Prior to Nielsen, he was the director of sales at Audacy in greater Milwaukee.

Emily Conroy, who previously worked as a journalist in Wisconsin, has joined the staff of the Waupaca County Post as a reporter. In her new role, she will cover the Iola, Scandinavia and Manawa areas.

While attending UW-Fox Valley, Conroy served as the editor of the student newspaper, The Fox Journal. She also was a copy editor and reporter for the UW-Eau Claire publication, The Spectator. In 2010, Conroy moved to the Manawa area, and worked for the Manawa Messenger and Clintonville Chronicle in 2011 and 2012, respectively.

Longtime sports journalist Tim Sullivan has joined APG Wisconsin as news editor for the Watertown Daily Times and the (Fort Atkinson) Daily Jefferson County Union.

A native of Michigan with roots in southeastern Wisconsin, Sullivan is a 2008 graduate of the University of Michigan. Prior to joining APG, his work focused primarily on collegiate sports journalism, covering his alma mater for seven years and, for the past eight years, Virginia Tech football and basketball.

John Blais, who previously served as general manager for Capital Newspapers, has been named the CEO and publisher of the Colorado-based multimedia company Ballantine Communications.

In addition to his work in Madison, he previously served as executive director for the St. Jude League/Claretian Publications. During that time, one of its publications U.S. Catholic Magazine, was named Magazine of the Year by the Catholic Media Association in 2022 and 2023.

Clarice Case, who has worked as a journalist for the (Mayville) Dodge County Pionier since 2021, has been named editor of the newspaper and two other Multi Media Channels publications, the Kewaskum Statesman and the Campbellsport News.

She succeeds Mitchell B. Keller, who stepped down in December to accept a deputy editor position with a global construction magazine. During her time at the Poinier, Case has covered sports, government, schools and local events.

Laura Hughes, who worked at The Monroe Times for more than four decades, has retired.

She began her career with Monroe Publishing in August 1982 as a secretary and classified order taker. Three years later, she joined the sales team at The Times, and in 2004, she was named advertising manager. Hughes said she is looking forward to traveling with her husband and spending time with her family. Her last day at the newspaper was Wednesday, Jan. 31.