News & Announcements | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

National journalism summit examines nonprofit models for newspapers

Jun. 10, 2022

A nonprofit business model is an increasingly attractive alternative for newspapers that have seen their profit margins fall and those with an interest in accessing grants and tax-deductible contributions. The potential of the nonprofit model for rural papers was the topic of programming last week during the National Summit on Journalism in Rural America.

The summit was presented by the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues and the College of Communication and Information at the University of Kentucky. Summit sessions can be viewed on YouTube.

ISWNE registration deadline is June 15

Jun. 10, 2022

The annual conference of the International Society of Weekly Newspaper Editors — planned for July 20-23 at the University of Kentucky — will have programs on localizing national politics becoming, dealing with the challenges of social media, new business models for weeklies, the government's role in the news business, university help for community newspapers, shared interests between newspapers and libraries, and the hallmark of the conference: critiques of member editorials and editorial pages.

Registration fees start at $300 and include lodging. The deadline to signup is Wednesday, June 15. Questions? Email al.cross@uky.edu.

WNA Trees Retreat, Pylon Ceremony set for June 9-10

Jun. 3, 2022

Friday, June 3, is the last day to register for this year’s WNA Trees Retreat next week in Eagle River.

During the retreat, we'll remember Pylon honorees from 2020, 2021 and 2022. Come a day early and join us for the annual golf outing and traditional steak fry in the WNA Press Forest.

Photographer Thomas Walter Dorman dies at 70

May. 28, 2022

Thomas Walter Dorman, a former newspaper reporter, sportswriter and photographer, died on Sunday, May 15, 2022. He was 70. He died doing what he loved and "was out photographing the full lunar eclipse when his coronary heart stopped," according to his obituary.

He discovered his love of photography through working in community newspapers and never went anywhere without a camera. Dorman considered himself a "street photographer," taking pictures of everyday people and events.

Jacob Resneck, Bennet Goldstein join Wisconsin Watch as Report for America corps members

May. 27, 2022

Two new Report for America corps members have joined Wisconsin Watch, the nonprofit news organization has announced. They will worked to increase coverage of statewide threats to democracy and environmental and agricultural issues in the Mississippi River Basin.

Jacob Resneck, who previously worked in Juneau, Alaska as an editor and reporter for the nonprofit public media consortium CoastAlaska, will cover democracy-related issues, initially with an emphasis on rights in the workplace. Bennet Goldstein, who comes to Wisconsin Watch from the Omaha World Herald in Nebraska and daily papers in Iowa, including the Dubuque Telegraph Herald, will staff the Mississippi River Ag & Water Desk.

Evjue Foundation continues support of Wisconsin Civics Games

May. 27, 2022

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation has received its fourth grant from The Evjue Foundation in support of the Wisconsin Civics Games. The $5,000 grant brings Evjue's total support of the games since its launch by the WNAF to $25,000.

The Evjue Foundation was among the sponsors of the 2022 Civics Games. Additional sponsors included the WNA Foundation, Godfrey & Kahn, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, News Tracker, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin’s Senate Scholars Program and WisconsinEye.

Indian Trail wins 2022 Wisconsin Civics Games State Championship

May. 13, 2022

A two-person team from Indian Trail High School and Academy has won the 2022 Wisconsin Civics Games State Championship. The competition, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, took place May 13 at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

The winning students were Joshua Cao and Alexandra Maldonado. The team was advised by social studies teacher Marla Day.

Wisconsin Civics Games regional winners to advance to state championship

May. 3, 2022

More than 150 students from 29 schools competed Friday in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation's Civics Games regional competitions. The top three scoring teams from each region advance to the state championships on May 13 at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Each member of the state championship winning team will receive a $2,000 scholarship to a Wisconsin college or university.

Region 4, which had the largest number of teams competing, will determine which teams will advance to the state finals from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, May 3, when six teams reconvene virtually to complete Rounds 3 and 4 of the regional competition.

Using your special insight to recommend election choices

May. 2, 2022

Coverage of public affairs – recording the actions and inactions of governing bodies from local to federal levels – demands attention from newsrooms year-round. And for good reason. Elected officials regularly debate and craft public policies that affect citizens’ everyday lives.

Volunteers needed to judge Arkansas editorial contest

Apr. 29, 2022

As part of our 2022 contest judging partnership, the Arkansas Press Association needs 20 additional volunteers from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association to judge its editorial contest this spring.

The deadline to sign up is Sunday, May 1. All judging will be done online and is scheduled to begin next week, with a deadline of Friday, May 20.