Dee Hall

Your Right to Know: Local news deserves a break today

Feb. 1, 2022

In the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council's latest "Your Right to Know" column, Wisconsin Watch managing editor Dee J. Hall writes about the Wisconsin Local Media Advertising Tax Credit, which she says deserves to pass, because preserving the public’s right to know hinges on keeping local news outlets — and the local businesses that advertise with them — alive and well. The column is available for republication and can be downloaded here.

election laws, voter registration, voting, 2020 elections

Poll suggests voting, election laws should be top 2022 priority

Feb. 1, 2022

Polco users and readers visiting WNA member websites from Jan. 19 to 31 were asked what issues they believed should be the top government and election priority in 2022.

Out of 526 respondents, 44% said voting and/or election laws should be the top priority, while 26% said inflation and the economy were most important. Fourteen percent of respondents chose COVID-19 and health care as their top priority, while another 16% were split.

capitol report, wispolitics

Nicholson enters gubernatorial race with criticism of GOP

Jan. 31, 2022

Republican gubernatorial candidate Kevin Nicholson told WisPolitics.com he is running against a GOP “machine” that failed to do more on school choice, election security and critical race theory when it had a chance. He lumped rival Rebecca Kleefisch in with a “decaying” party establishment.

winter, water, hydrant

The sound of winter

Jan. 31, 2022

If below-zero temperatures had a sound, it would be this: the clang of an iron maul striking the frozen apron of a manure spreader.

patricia raab

Patricia Raab, former News Graphic Pilot managing editor, dies at 85

Jan. 28, 2022

Patricia Raab, who in the 1980s served as managing editor of the (Cedarburg) News Graphic Pilot, died Thursday, Jan. 6. She was 85.

After earning her journalism degree in 1958 from Marquette University, Raab started her journalism career as a columnist for the Peoria (Ill.) Heights Herald. In 1979, she joined the Port Washington Pilot as a reporter. Following a merger with the (Cedarburg) News Graphic, she went on to be named managing editor of the News Graphic Pilot until 1985, when she and her husband moved to Naperville, Ill.

After the couple returned to Ozaukee County in 1992, Raab spent time as night editor for The Milwaukee Journal before rejoining the News Graphic as a staff writer.

Jason Adrians

Jason Adrians named VP of local news for Lee Enterprises

Jan. 28, 2022

Jason Adrians, who has served as executive editor of the Wisconsin State Journal since September 2020, has been named vice president of local news for Lee Enterprises. Longtime city editor Phil Brinkman has been named interim editor while the newspaper searches for Adrians' replacement. 

In his new role, Adrians will be the top news executive for all Lee local news organizations, including the State Journal. He previously had held the role of national editor for Lee since January 2017.

kevin obrien

Kevin O’Brien steps down as Tribune-Phonograph editor

Jan. 28, 2022

Kevin O'Brien, longtime editor of The (Abbotsford) Tribune-Phonograph, is stepping down from the role. In a farewell column, O'Brien noted his decision was due to a personal medical issue. He said he hoped to continue his journalism career once his health is back on track.

O'Brien has served as Tribune-Phonograph editor since August 2008. During his time as editor, the newspaper won numerous awards in the WNA Foundation Better Newspaper Contest, including O'Brien's recent first-place honors for local column and general news photo.

John Foust, advertising, ad-libs

Is an ‘8-inch frying pan’ holding you back?

Jan. 27, 2022

In his latest "Ad-libs" column, veteran sales trainer John Foust uses the story of a man who restricted the fish he caught to only those that fit in his frying pan as a comparison to rejecting new ideas and only keeping those that fit the way you've always done things. 

Is an "8-inch frying pan," holding you back from reaching new goals?

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