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Wisconsin Watch co-founders, creators of one of the nation’s top nonprofit news outlets, leaving as leadership transition begins

Jun. 19, 2023

Andy and Dee J. Hall, the investigative journalists who co-founded Wisconsin Watch in their family basement, are leaving after building one of the nation’s most successful nonprofit news and training organizations.

The Wisconsin Watch board of directors announced the planned departures as part of a succession plan that will ensure stable leadership. Four veteran staff leaders will continue to guide the editorial and business operations under interim executive director Barbara Johnson, a longtime journalism executive and Wisconsin Watch volunteer. The board will begin a search for a new CEO immediately.

WNA Foundation honors 11 industry leaders during Memorial Pylon ceremony

May. 18, 2023

The WNA Foundation will honor 11 industry leaders during this year’s Memorial Pylon ceremony June 8-9 at the Trees For Tomorrow campus, 519 E. Sheridan St., Eagle River.

The pylon ceremony will begin at 11:30 a.m. Friday, June 9, and will be followed by lunch. Friends, family and members of the public are invited to attend, and are encouraged to attend the WNA steak fry, which will be held in the Press Forest, on Thursday, June 8. The deadline to register is Thursday, June 1.

West Bend wins 2023 Wisconsin Civics Games state finals

May. 12, 2023

Four students from West Bend East & West High Schools have been named champions of the third annual Wisconsin Civics Games, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation. They were among 62 students from 13 schools across the state who participated in the competition May 12 at the state Capitol in Madison, after advancing from a field of 166 during regional contests held virtually last month.

The winning team, advised by social studies teacher Mark Drake, included Owen Damkot (captain), Danny Zolp, Abby Lockrem and Myah Latour. They comprised one of two teams from their school to make it to the finals. Each will be awarded a $2,000 scholarships to a Wisconsin college or university of their choice.

WNA members urged to contact lawmakers in support of ad tax credit

May. 5, 2023

As the members of the state Joint Finance Committee work on the 2023-25 state budget, they’ve been asked to consider a tax credit that will

Wisconsin Civics Games state finals set for May 12 at state Capitol

May. 5, 2023

Students from 13 high schools across the state will compete in the Wisconsin Civics Games state finals — presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation — on Friday, May 12, in Madison.

The state finals are open to the public, and media outlets are encouraged to attend. Welcoming remarks will begin at 9 a.m. in Room 411 South. Speakers include Gov. Tony Evers, Attorney General Josh Kaul, Wisconsin Supreme Court Justice Patience D. Roggensack and UW System President Jay O. Rothman. The Games, which will be broadcast on WisconsinEye, are expected to conclude at approximately 3 p.m.

15 teams advance to Wisconsin Civics Games state finals

Apr. 14, 2023

Sixty-two students from 13 schools across Wisconsin will compete during the 2023 Wisconsin Civics Games State Finals on May 12 at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison.

WNA names 2022 Newspapers of the Year

Mar. 24, 2023

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation honored the work of newspapers across the state during its 2022 Better Newspaper Contest Awards Banquet on Friday, March 24, at The Madison Concourse Hotel in downtown Madison, Wis.

WNA president Pat Reilly testifies in support of Senate Bill 117

Mar. 17, 2023

WNA President Pat Reilly on Thursday testified in support of legislation that would allow for the recovery of attorney fees and costs under the state's public records law when an authority voluntarily or unilaterally releases a contested record after an action has been filed in court.

Senate Bill 117, co-sponsored by Republicans Sen. Duey Stroebel and Rep. Todd Novak, rolls back a Wisconsin Supreme Court decision from 2022 that restricted the public’s ability to recover fees when suing for records.

‘Opees’ honor and chastise

Mar. 8, 2023

For the 17th consecutive year, the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council has named its annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees, in honor of national Sunshine Week, March 12-18. Five winners and one loser were selected from among an uncommonly large number of nominations.

Honorees include a group of residents concerned about the impact of a local park redevelopment, a school board member who blew the whistle on his colleagues for being too secretive, and a longtime city official who has made a habit of accessibility.

Center for Journalism Ethics to host ‘Ethics, Urgency & Climate Journalism’ on April 28

Mar. 6, 2023

The UW-Madison Center for Journalism Ethics will host its 14th annual conference on Friday, April 28, at the Wisconsin Institutes for Discovery in Madison. It is free, open to the public and made possible by generous sponsorships from craig newmark philanthropies and the Evjue Foundation. The WNA also is among the conference's participating sponsors.

"Ethics, Urgency & Climate Journalism" will bring together news media professionals, non-profit news leaders, media innovators, academics, climate change communicators, students and the public to address the ethical dimensions of covering climate change for our local, state, national and global communities.