In his latest column for The Relevance Project, executive director Tom Silvestri writes, for the Community Forum to transform our beloved newspaper industry, we need a few good pioneers.
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation is pleased to announce the distinguished industry leaders who will be inducted into the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame on Thursday, Nov. 18, at The Madison Club, 5 E. Wilson St., Madison.
The 2021 inductees are Harland & Helen Everson (posthumous), The Edgerton Reporter; William “Bill” Hale (posthumous), Grant County Herald Independent, Lancaster; Phil Haslanger, The Capital Times, Madison; Margaret “Meg” Jones (posthumous), Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; J. Anthony Josey (posthumous), Wisconsin Enterprise-Blade, Milwaukee; and Lucius W. Nieman (posthumous), The Milwaukee Journal.
Michael E. “Mike” Mathes, past president of the WNA and former longtime publisher of the (Kiel) Tri-County News, died Friday, Oct. 1, following a brief battle with brain cancer. He was 68.
Mathes started his career at the Kiel Record — now the Tri-County News — with his father, Earl, who was editor and publisher of the newspaper. Mike took over after Earl retired in 1986, running the paper alongside his brother, Joe. He served as publisher for more than 30 years until selling the newspaper in September 2019.
During his time as publisher, Mike was an active member of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. He served as WNA president in 1996 and was the longtime master of ceremonies of the annual WNA Trees Retreat in Eagle River.
The WNA Foundation contest committee has voted to make several changes ahead of the 2021 Better Newspaper Contest, including the elimination of three daily categories and one daily circulation division.
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation on Friday honored 26 industry leaders during this year’s Memorial Pylon virtual ceremony. Those unable to join us for the live premiere can watch a replay of the ceremony below or on our YouTube channel.
The video features photos and biographies of the inductees along with memories shared by family, friends and former colleagues.
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.
The WNA Foundation will honor 26 industry leaders during a virtual Memorial Pylon ceremonyon Friday, Aug. 20.
Watch a replay of the virtual awards ceremony announcing the winners of the 2021 Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing & Cartoon Contest.
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.
The United States Postal Service today announced a planned adjustment of postage rates for the public and commercial mail users, the National Newspaper Association announced. For community newspapers using periodicals mail to reach readers, the average rate increase will be nearly 9%, effective August 29. The first-class stamp will move from 55 to 58 cents.
The rate increase is part of a new USPS business plan that also includes a weakening of service standards for mail that is moving across the country.
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