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.

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.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association