News & Announcements | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

Bennett to lead Newspaper Association Managers

Aug. 6, 2021

Beth Bennett, executive director of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, was elected president of Newspaper Association Managers today during the group’s 98th annual conference in Madison. Bennett has led the WNA since 2010 and previously served as the Illinois Press Association’s director of government relations. She also serves on the Board of Directors for the National Newspaper Association and is a past president of TEMPO Madison.

WCIJ, Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service receive $1.4 million grant

Jul. 30, 2021

The American Journalism Project has awarded a $1.4 million grant to the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism and Milwaukee Neighborhood News Service to be distributed over three years, WCIJ announced Friday.

The grant is intended to support the efforts by WCIJ and NNS to reshape local news in Milwaukee and across the state and will help them support additional staff positions. The two nonprofits have partnered since spring 2020 on the News414 project, which uses text messages, social media and other tools to provide important news to underserved audiences in the Milwaukee area.

WNA Foundation to honor 26 in Memorial Pylon ceremony

Jul. 16, 2021

The WNA Foundation will honor 26 industry leaders during a virtual Memorial Pylon ceremonyon Friday, Aug. 20.

Evers vetoes bill eliminating personal property tax

Jul. 6, 2021

Assembly Bill 191, which eliminates Wisconsin's personal property tax, has been approved by the state Legislature and now heads to Gov. Tony Evers for his signature.

The WNA is among the many business associations that opposed the tax, levied on businesses for furniture and other miscellaneous office fixtures, as part of the Coalition to Repeal Wisconsin's Personal Property Tax. Its repeal ends a strong signal of support from the state to the business community, the coalition said in a statement.

WNA members are strongly encouraged to consider publishing an editorial supporting the repeal and/or reaching out to Evers to request he sign the legislation.

Jason Joyce leaves Cap Times to become Isthmus publisher

Jul. 2, 2021

After eight years with The Cap Times, city editor Jason Joyce is leaving to become publisher of another Madison newspaper, Isthmus.

The move marks Joyce's return to the newspaper where he served as digital media director for nearly 15 years before joining The Cap Times in 2013 as news editor.

Joyce joins the Isthmus just as it returns to print after a hiatus of more than a year. In March 2020, the independent alt-weekly shut down indefinitely due to the pandemic. Five months later, it announced it would become a nonprofit news organization, rolling out a new membership program.

wisconsin civics games editorial writing & cartoon contest

Watch: Wisconsin Civics Games editorial contest awards ceremony

Jul. 1, 2021

Watch a replay of the virtual awards ceremony announcing the winners of the 2021 Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing & Cartoon Contest.

EagleHerald celebrates 150 years as newspaper in Marinette

Jun. 30, 2021

The EagleHerald last week celebrated its 150th anniversary as a newspaper in Marinette.

The anniversary edition included a 12-page special section filled with historical photos, a brief timeline of local history and stories about the past, present and future of newspapers. Also featured throughout were memories from current and former staff members — including longtime news editor Penny Mullins and former publisher Dennis Colling.

Orestes Baez appointed to fill open WNA Board seat

Jun. 25, 2021

Orestes Baez has joined the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Board of Directors, accepting an appointment by WNA President Gregg Walker to fill an open seat.

Baez, who serves as regional president of southern Wisconsin for Adams Publishing Group, will fill one of the four daily newspaper seats on the WNA Board. He replaces Randy Rickman, who resigned after being named regional president for southern Minnesota at APG.

Don’t miss our second webinar on newspaper relevance (and watch the first one if you missed it)

Jun. 25, 2021

Last year, the WNA helped launch a new initiative called The Relevance Project, which highlights the importance of newspapers to their communities.

Next month, we’re enlisting the help of project director Tom Silvestri to teach WNA members what The Relevance Project is all about. Silvestri will present two webinars discussing what the project is all about and sharing its free resources, which are aimed at advancing community newspapers and their hard-charging staffs.

the milwaukee times, juneteenth strawberry soda

Milwaukee newspaper shares Juneteenth history through strawberry soda sales

Jun. 18, 2021

The Milwaukee Times, a weekly newspaper that focuses on positive news in the Black community, is selling Juneteenth Strawberry Soda as part of a fundraiser that also serves to share the history of the holiday, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported this week.

Proceeds from the soda sales go toward the newspaper's Louvenia Johnson Scholarship Fund, named in honor of one of The Times' original founders.

For the past five years, the newspaper has sold the soda out of its office at 1936 N. King Drive during the summer months. This year, The Times expanded the soda's reach by distributing it to three local businesses.