Member News

Just over a month shy of his 20-year anniversary with the newspaper, editor Ian Stepleton announced last week that he was leaving the Ripon Commonwealth Press.

Stepleton joined the newspaper in 2000 as a reporter, moving up to managing editor in 2003. He took over as the Commonwealth‘s top editor in 2006 and has remained in the role ever since.

Jonathan Bailey, a reporter for the newspaper since 2011, will take over Stepleton’s role as editor.

Richard Lee has been named general manager of Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association.

Lee takes over for retiring general manager Doug Panek. As part of his role, Lee will oversee publishing of the (Frederic) Inter-County Leader and the (Shell Lake) Washburn County Register. A UW-Stout graduate, Lee has a strong ties to Frederic.

After more than four decades as sports editor of The (Rice Lake) Chronotype, Dave Greschner has announced his retirement. His final issue will be July 15.

Tammy Stesenski, who in 1993 founded the City Pages alt-weekly in Wausau, is stepping away from the newspaper several months earlier than planned, she announced last week in a column.

Vanessa Swales, a former New York Times reporting fellow, has joined Wisconsin Watch as an investigative reporter, the non-profit newsroom announced Wednesday.

Four decades after joining the Wisconsin State Journal newsroom, longtime sports columnist Tom Oates has announced his retirement.

Angie and Roger Griepentrog, owners of the Freedom Pursuit newspaper, have launched a new publication, the Seymour Source.

Shannon Rabotski is the newest member of The Monroe Times reporting staff, the newspaper announced Saturday.

Doug Panek, who started at the Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association part-time sweeping floors in high school, is retiring after 33 years as manager, the company announced Thursday.

The American Civil Liberties Union of Wisconsin has named former journalist Alyssa Mauk as communications director, the organization announced Monday.

Mauk will handle communications strategy for the ACLU of Wisconsin, as well as media and public relations, social media and website management. She previously spent five years as a reporter for The Journal Times in Racine.