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pat reilly at podium

Dodgeville publisher Pat Reilly elected WNA president

J. Patrick "Pat" Reilly, co-owner of The Dodgeville Chronicle, has been named president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.

WNA Past President Gregg Walker passed the gavel to Reilly during the Better Newspaper Contest awards banquet on Friday, June 24, in Madison, and the appointment became official on Thursday following a unanimous vote at the WNA annual meeting, which was held virtually. In addition to Reilly and Walker, who will serve a term as past president, the following members were elected to serve as officers on the WNA Board: George Stanley, editor and senior vice president of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Kris O’Leary, publisher of The (Edgar) Record Review and Jeff Patterson, president of APG Media of Wisconsin.

Bill Howe at podium

Longtime Wisconsin newspaper publisher Bill Howe dies at 99

William H. “Bill” Howe, publisher emeritus of the (Prairie du Chien) Courier Press and 2018 inductee to the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame, died Friday, July 22, at the age of 99.

As the third of five generations of Howes who owned and published the Courier Press, Howe joined the family business in 1946. He and his brother Lyman “Jack” Howe — also a Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame inductee — led the Courier until retiring in 1997. During his career, he also co-owned The Guttenberg (Iowa) Press and North Iowa Times in McGregor, Iowa.

us capitol

Help pass the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act

The next two weeks are crucial for getting the Journalism Competition and Preservation Act (JCPA)— a bipartisan bill that would allow news publishers to collectively negotiate with Facebook and Google for fair compensation for the use of their content — over the finish line. The bill is going to markup in the House the last two weeks in July, and we are asking you to help us with a BIG push to get support from as many members of Congress as possible.

WNA seeking nominations for Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association is accepting nominations for the 2022 Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame class through Monday, Aug. 15.

Nominations are open to anyone — living or deceased — who has contributed above and beyond the call of duty to the Wisconsin newspaper industry. It is expected that the individual should have dedicated at least 15 years to newspapering. However, length of service is not a major determinant.

The Monroe Times, EagleHerald named 2021 Newspapers of the Year

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation honored the work of newspapers across the state during the WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest Awards Banquet on Friday, June 24, at The Madison Concourse Hotel and Governor’s Club in downtown Madison, Wis.

Recipients of 2021 Newspaper of the Year Awards were Publisher Todd Colling and the EagleHerald, Marinette, (Daily Division) and Publisher John Ingebritsen and The Monroe Times (Weekly Division).

memorial pylon ceremony

Members pay tribute to industry leaders during 2022 WNA Trees Retreat

Members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, family and friends gathered Thursday and Friday in Eagle River, Wis., to pay tribute to industry leaders during the 2022 WNA Trees Retreat and Memorial Pylon Ceremony. It's the first time the event has been held in-person since 2019, and inductees who were honored virtually in 2020 and 2021 were also memorialized.

In addition to being enshrined on granite pylons at the WNA Memorial Grove on the Trees For Tomorrow campus in Eagle River, this year's honorees also have been added to the WNA's virtual pylon.

Evjue Foundation continues support of Wisconsin Civics Games

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation has received its fourth grant from The Evjue Foundation in support of the Wisconsin Civics Games. The $5,000 grant brings Evjue's total support of the games since its launch by the WNAF to $25,000.

RELATED: Evjue grant honors Maraniss family and supports journalism

The Evjue Foundation was among the sponsors of the 2022 Civics Games. Additional sponsors included the WNA Foundation, Godfrey & Kahn, League of Wisconsin Municipalities, League of Women Voters of Wisconsin, News Tracker, Wisconsin Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Wisconsin Counties Association, Wisconsin’s Senate Scholars Program and WisconsinEye.

Indian Trail wins 2022 Wisconsin Civics Games State Championship

A two-person team from Indian Trail High School and Academy has won the 2022 Wisconsin Civics Games State Championship. The competition, presented by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation, took place May 13 at the Wisconsin State Capitol.

The winning students were Joshua Cao and Alexandra Maldonado. The team was advised by social studies teacher Marla Day.

Wisconsin Civics Games

Wisconsin Civics Games regional winners to advance to state championship

More than 150 students from 29 schools competed Friday in the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation's Civics Games regional competitions. The top three scoring teams from each region advance to the state championships on May 13 at the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison. Each member of the state championship winning team will receive a $2,000 scholarship to a Wisconsin college or university.

Region 4, which had the largest number of teams competing, will determine which teams will advance to the state finals from 9 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, May 3, when six teams reconvene virtually to complete Rounds 3 and 4 of the regional competition.

WNA announces new comprehensive, member-only health care network

The WNA is pleased to announce that it will begin to offer a member-only, comprehensive health care network plan through The Alliance and Trinity Marketing Services in the coming weeks, following approval by the WNA Board of Directors last month.

The WNA Alliance Comprehensive Healthcare Network plan partners with over to 34,000 doctors and health care providers across the Midwest. Using its robust provider pool, the Alliance will work with members to develop custom provider networks that optimize savings and quality.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association