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Equity to be focus of Center for Journalism Ethics’ annual conference

Feb. 25, 2022

The Center for Journalism Ethics at the University of Wisconsin-Madison will host its 13th annual journalism ethics conference at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery on Friday, April 29, in Madison. The conference is free, open to the public and made possible by generous sponsorships from Craig Newmark Philanthropies and the Evjue Foundation.

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association, which is also a conference sponsor, will send out a link to the virtual conference to WNA members on the day of the event.

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NNA announces virtual fellowship program on March 15

Feb. 25, 2022

The National Newspaper Association Foundation this week announced that this year's News Fellows program will go virtual.

The fellowship will focus on climate change and be held on March 15. There were seven open spots as of Tuesday, which will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Interested students or those wishing to nominate a Wisconsin college student for the fellowship should contact Lisa McGraw, public affairs manager for the Michigan Press Association, at lisa@michiganpress.org.

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UW Varsity Band Concert tickets now on sale

Feb. 17, 2022

Tickets for the University of Wisconsin’s annual Varsity Band Spring Concert are now on sale. This year’s concert is the band’s first since 2019 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will feature two shows, each beginning at 7:30 p.m., on Friday, April 22, and Saturday, April 23, at the Kohl Center on the UW-Madison campus.

Concert highlights this year will include “Bohemian Wait for It,” “Country Classics,” “The Music of Panic at the Disco,” and classic UW favorites like “Space Badgers,” “If You Want to Be a Badger” and the signature Badger Band finale. All proceeds from the event benefit the band.

WNA, Rebuild Local News testify on behalf of advertising tax credit bill

Jan. 21, 2022

Members of the Wisconsin Assembly Committee on Ways and Means heard testimony on Wednesday in support of a bill that would provide small businesses with a tax credit to advertise in local media.

Speaking on behalf of the members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association were Mike Hollihan, Multi Media Channels, Richard Lee, Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association, WNA President Gregg Walker, The Lakeland Times (Minocqua) and WNA executive director Beth Bennett. Representatives of Wisconsin-based media were joined in supporting the measure by the Rebuild Local News Coalition.

Volunteers needed to judge Arkansas advertising contest

Jan. 21, 2022

As part of our 2022 contest judging partnership, the Arkansas Press Association needs at least 10 volunteers from the Wisconsin Newspaper Association to judge its advertising contest next month. The deadline to sign up is Friday, Feb. 4. All judging will be done online and is scheduled to begin Monday, Feb. 7, with a deadline of Friday, Feb. 18.

If you have any questions, email WNA Membership & Programming Specialist Jordan Schelling at jordan.schelling@wnanews.com.

Ross McDuffie named president of Madison Media Partners

Jan. 11, 2022

Veteran newspaper executive Ross McDuffie has been named president of Madison Media Partners, the parent company of the Wisconsin State Journal and The Capital Times that was formerly known as Capital Newspapers.

McDuffie joined the company in August 2020, as vice president of sales and marketing. In his new role, he will serve as the senior operational leader and chief revenue executive. McDuffie previously held roles with Rome, Georgia-based News Publishing Company and McClatchy.

Your Right to Know: How to obtain public records

Jan. 4, 2022

While the process of making a public records request is relatively simple, it is a formal process nonetheless and there are a few steps to follow. In the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council's latest "Your Right to Know" column, reporter Steven Potter outlines the steps required to obtain public records.

The column is available to WNA members for republication at no cost.

James Burgess, former State Journal publisher and WNA past president, dies at 85

Dec. 27, 2021

James E. "Jim" Burgess, a longtime publisher for Lee Enterprises, past president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, and member of the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame, died Monday, Dec. 20, in Madison. He was 85.

Burgess was named publisher of his hometown newspaper — the La Crosse Tribune — in 1972. In 1984, he became executive vice president of Lee Enterprises and publisher of the Wisconsin State Journal, a role he held until 1993. A tireless advocate for the newspaper industry, Burgess served as president of both the WNA and Inland Press Association. In 2005, he made a $1 million gift to the UW-Madison School of Journalism and Mass Communication to help establish the school's Center for Journalism Ethics.

Larry Tobin, former Tomahawk publisher, WNA past president and Hall of Fame member, dies at 75

Dec. 13, 2021

Larry Tobin, former publisher of the Tomahawk Leader, died Sunday, Dec. 12. He was 75.

During his third job out of college, as director of member services for the Wisconsin Electric Cooperative Association, Tobin was assigned to attend the 1973 Wisconsin Newspaper Association convention, where he met his future wife, Kathleen Ann Branen. He joined the staff of the WNA in 1977, serving as assistant manager and legislative coordinator.

In 1982, the Tobins purchased the Tomahawk Leader, which they ran together for 37 years. Larry spent a combined 21 years on the WNA Board of Directors and the WNA Foundation board, serving as president of each, and held a fierce loyalty to the WNA — often stating it “brought all the best things to his life.”

New state bill aims to support local media, small businesses

Dec. 10, 2021

A recent piece of legislation co-authored by Todd Novak, a former newspaper editor who now serves in the Wisconsin State Assembly, aims to provide financial relief to local media and small businesses that have been pummeled by the COVID-19 pandemic. Introduced on Dec. 9, Assembly Bill 762 would give small businesses that purchase advertising in local media outlets a 50% tax credit. A story profiling Novak and highlighting the legislation is available to WNA members for republication.