Summit to address Wisconsin’s urgent workforce shortages slated for Aug. 11 in Eau Claire

Leaders from Momentum West, the Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce and Competitive Wisconsin Inc. will convene a statewide summit on how to best strengthen community recruitment and retention of workers needed to protect the state's economic future and wellbeing. In April, the WNA Board of Directors voted unanimously to join CWI, a non-partisan coalition dedicated to strengthening Wisconsin's economy, and members are encouraged to share information about the summit.

The in-person and virtual event for local government officials, employers, community leaders and interested residents will be held from 8 a.m. to noon on Thursday, Aug. 11, at UW-Eau Claire. 

Jim Pumarlo

Plan now to recognize first responders

Are you looking for a project that can energize your news staffs, generate new advertising revenue and underscore the value of a local newspaper to potential new subscribers?

Pamela Powers headshot

Longtime Leader-Telegram journalist Pamela Powers dies at 59

Pamela Powers, a public relations specialist for the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and former (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram journalist, died Saturday, July 22, 2022, at her home in Boyceville. She was 59.

After graduating from Northwestern High School in 1983, Powers earned a bachelor's degree in communications and political science from UW-Superior and a master’s degree in journalism from Columbia University. In July 1989, she joined the Leader-Telegram, where she worked for 28 years, earning a reputation as a gifted, well-respected journalist who knew how to put people at ease. She left the paper in 2017 to work in UW-Stout's communications department. Six months ago, she joined UW-River Falls as a public relations specialist.

Mike Ramczyk joins Kenosha News

Longtime sports journalist Mike Ramczyk is joining the Kenosha News as a full-time sportswriter, the Burlington Standard Press reports.

Ramczyk was the sports editor for Southern Lakes Newspapers, including the Burlington Standard Press, from 2013 to 2019. Since his position was eliminated in 2019, he has worked as a freelance sports journalist for the newspaper group and other publications, including the Kenosha News and the Racine County Eye.

John Foust, advertising, ad-libs

Attention, retention key to image and response advertising

There are two types of advertising: image and response.

The first is designed to give people a good impression of the advertiser. The latter aims to generate an immediate response to a specific offer. In his latest 'Ad Libs' column, veteran sales trainer John Foust shares what these two ad types should have in common — especially if they're going to be successful.

Court ruling kneecaps records law

For four decades, courts have held that plaintiffs in open records lawsuits are entitled to costs and legal fees — whether they win the case or "voluntarily" turn over the records after being sued.

But last month, the Wisconsin Supreme Court upended the latter path to recovery — a move that open government advocates worry will be a blow to transparency. In the most recent "Your Right to Know" column from the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, Wisconsin Transparency Project president Tom Kamenick looks to what might be next in the case. 

Party lines weren’t that fun

The world of communication is now in our pocket thanks to the marvels of technology. Our powerful smartphones have so many bells, whistles, gadgets and apps that the actual concept of being a telephone seems like an afterthought.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association