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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.

Report for America to help fund reporting positions in 6 Wisconsin newsrooms

Dec. 9, 2021

Report for America will provide funding to six Wisconsin newsrooms to support 10 reporting positions in 2022, the nonprofit announced on Wednesday. Of the selected newsrooms, The (Appleton) Post-Crescent will participate in the program for the first time.

With the announcement of 70 new reporting positions, Report for America's 2022 corps will include 325 journalists in nearly 270 newsrooms across all 50 states and three U.S. territories. Selections were made mostly on the basis of which newsrooms defined the most compelling gaps in coverage and plans to deploy corps members, according to an announcement from the organization.

Registration now open for 2022 Wisconsin Civics Games

Dec. 4, 2021

Registration is now open for the 2022 Wisconsin Civics Games. The competition, which aims to promote civics education and encourage Wisconsin high school students to develop an interest in public service, returns after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Regional competitions will be held virtually on Friday, April 22. The top-performing teams will advance to the state finals on Friday, May 13, at the Wisconsin State Capitol, and members of the winning team will receive $2,000 scholarships toward tuition to a Wisconsin college or university of their choice.

WNA Foundation honors 2021 Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame inductees

Nov. 21, 2021

Nearly 70 colleagues attended the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame banquet and fundraiser to pay tribute to their peers. The ceremony also took a moment to honor Hall of Fame member Bob Wills, a longtime open government champion and newspaper editor who died earlier this year.

This year’s class included Harland and Helen Everson, longtime publishers of The Edgerton Reporter; William “Bill” Hale, former owner of the Grant County Herald-Independent and other newspapers; Phil Haslanger, longtime editor and manager of The Capital Times; Margaret “Meg” Jones, former reporter for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel; J. Anthony Josey, founder of the state’s first successful newspaper, the Wisconsin Enterprise-Blade; and Lucius W. Nieman, founder of The Milwaukee Journal.