News & Announcements | Wisconsin Newspaper Association

7 Wisconsin newsrooms to host Report for America journalists in 2021

Dec. 8, 2020

Report for America has announced that seven Wisconsin newsrooms have been selected as host newsrooms for the national service program.

The initiative of The GroundTruth Project is a two-year program that delivers a wide-range of benefits to its corps members. Beyond paying up to half of the journalists’ salaries, it provides ongoing training and mentorship by leading journalists, peer networking, and memberships to select professional organizations.

State may face toughest budget challenge since 2011

Dec. 8, 2020

Next year, Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers and newly elected lawmakers likely will confront the state’s toughest budget challenge since 2011, Wisconsin Policy Forum reports in the latest installment of Fiscal Facts.

This difficult budget scenario, amid elevated unemployment, slowing state tax collections, and increased demand for social services created by the ongoing pandemic, projects general fund spending to exceed revenues by $373.1 million in the two-year budget running from July 2021 to June 2023 — a difference equal to about 1% of spending over the two years. However, that shortfall could grow considerably if the governor and lawmakers provide additional funds for other programs.

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Three Multi Media Channels newspapers moving to new office

Nov. 30, 2020

Three Multi Media Channels newspapers — the Campbellsport News, Kewaskum Statesman and (Mayville) Dodge County Pionier— will relocate in January to a single office in the village of Theresa.

The move comes following the sale of the Pionier building in Mayville. Also up for sale is the building in Campbellsport, which since April 2019 has housed both the News and Statesman.

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Nominations due Jan. 15 for Anthony Shadid Award

Nov. 16, 2020

The Center for Journalism Ethics is seeking nominations for the Anthony Shadid Award for Journalism Ethics, the Center announced Monday. The deadline for submitting nominations is Jan. 15, 2021.

The Shadid Award, now in its 12th year, recognizes ethical decisions in reporting stories in any medium, including print, broadcast and digital, by journalists working for established news organizations or publishing individually. The award focuses on current journalism and does not include books, documentaries or other long-term projects.

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Marsy’s Law remains in place for now following judge’s ruling that ballot question was improper

Nov. 9, 2020

A judge has determined the statewide ballot question on “Marsy’s Law” was improperly worded. However, the law will, for now, remain in effect.

Since Marsy’s Law has taken effect, at least one public records custodian has indicated that he believes Marsy’s Law restricts access to certain information about crime victims contained in public records. However, as WNA attorney James Friedman outlines in a statement from the WNA
, the law includes no reference whatsoever to records and “simply has no impact on the public’s right to access government records in Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin reporters debunk election misinformation

Nov. 8, 2020

As misinformation spread like wildfire in the days after Election Day — from rumors about artificially inflated vote totals to claims of ballots being mysteriously found in the early hours of the morning — Wisconsin reporters took to Twitter and other platforms to debunk false claims being spread on social media. We’ve compiled a roundup of some of their efforts.

WNA to co-host panel on accessing public officials during pandemic

Oct. 26, 2020

With meetings being held online, government officials are finding it easier to avoid public scrutiny. How are journalists getting around this and other hurdles brought about by the pandemic? What are their legal options?

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the Wisconsin Broadcasters Association have assembled a panel of journalists and experts on open government to discuss these issues during a webinar on Nov. 19.

Daily Jefferson County Union completes digitization project

Oct. 22, 2020

Through a partnership of library and newspaper groups, all past issues of the Daily Jefferson County Union are now available online, the Fort Atkinson newspaper announced last week.

With the completion of the project, readers can now access issues dating from 1870 to 90 days ago through the WNA’s Archive of Wisconsin Newspapers, which is hosted by Badgerlink.

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Racine County Eye receives $5,000 investigative reporting grant

Oct. 21, 2020

Racine County Eye, an online news organization, is among 10 recipients of investigative reporting grants from the Fund for Local Journalism, the Local Media Foundation announced Wednesday.

Racine County Eye will receive a $5,000 stipend toward its “No Voice” project, which aims to educate the public about the social injustices faced by felons. The project intends to give convicted felons a voice as it defines the problem and compares and contrasts solutions from other states and how they may work in Wisconsin.

Beth Bennett named to NNA Board of Directors

Oct. 21, 2020

WNA executive director Beth Bennett has been elected to the National Newspaper Association Board of Directors.

Bennett will serve as one of five directors on the NNA board. Her term runs through October 2022.