wisconsin capitol, civics education

Advertising tax credit bill to be heard by Assembly committee

In advance of a public hearing Wednesday for the WNA's advertising tax credit bill, publishers are strongly encouraged to call members of the Assembly Committee on Ways and Means and request they support the passage of Assembly Bill 762. The bill aims to give financial relief to news organizations and small businesses by providing a 50% tax credit to advertise in local media. 

The hearing is scheduled for 12:30 p.m. Wednesday in Room 225 Northwest of the state Capitol. Industry representatives testifying on behalf of the bill for the WNA include Richard Lee, Inter-County Cooperative Publishing Association, Mike Hollihan, Multi Media Channels, WNA President Gregg Walker, The (Minocqua) Lakeland Times, and WNA executive director Beth Bennett.

delivery, print, newspaper, newspapers, production

Gannett to eliminate Saturday print editions for 9 Wisconsin papers

In response to response to "continued rapid shifts toward digital news consumption," Gannett is eliminating the Saturday print editions for many of its newspapers effective March 12, the company announced Thursday. 

The change will not impact the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel or The (Fond du Lac) Reporter, which had ceased Saturday publication previously. Saturday papers will remain available as e-editions for The (Appleton) Post Crescent, Green Bay Press-Gazette, (Manitowoc) Herald Times Reporter, Oshkosh Northwestern, The Sheboygan Press and Wausau Daily Herald. For three central Wisconsin newspapers — the Marshfield News-Herald, Stevens Point Journal and (Wisconsin Rapids) Daily Tribune — the issues will be replaced by Sunday editions. 

john adams

John Adams, former Journal Sentinel deputy editor, dies at 46

John David Adams II, a baptist minister-turned-journalist who was known for innovation and mentorship, died Thursday, Jan. 13, at his sister's home in Paloma, Ill. He was 46 and had been diagnosed in 2018 with stage 4 cancer.

After college, Adams worked for several years as a youth pastor before returning to school in 2008 and to earn his master's degree in journalism. In 2016, he was named deputy editor of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, where he worked until moving to Phoenix in 2018 to join The Arizona Republic. Prior to moving to Milwaukee, Adams worked at the Los Angeles Times, where he won a Pulitzer Prize as part of the newspaper's team that covered the 2015 mass shooting in San Bernardino, Calif.

mary marik

Mary Marik, former Washington Island Observer editor, dies at 76

Mary Marik, a longtime contributor and former managing editor of the Washington Island Observer, died Monday, Dec. 27, at her home in Chicago. She was 76.

Mary and her husband, Warren, moved to Washington Island in 2008, and were involved for many years with the Observer. Following the 2012 sale of the newspaper to a group of 15 families, she was named managing editor and Warren served on the newspaper's board of directors.

She served in the role for a year before stepping down in 2013, but she continued to contribute to the newspaper and served on its board. The obituary credited her as being "instrumental in developing the Observer into the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and state-recognized official paper it is today."

Nominations sought for 2022 Opee Awards

The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit group that works to protect access to public meetings and records, is now accepting nominations for its annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees.

Nominations and supporting documentation should be submitted by Wednesday, Feb. 2, to FOIC president Bill Lueders at blueders@gmail.com. The winners will be selected by a Council committee, as in past years. The Council reserves the right to issue special awards or to not give an award in a particular category.

ross mcduffie, madison media partners

Ross McDuffie named president of Madison Media Partners

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.

animals, 60 below

The day Wisconsin froze to 60 below zero

Old memories become blurry with the passage of time, but A particularly cold Sunday 45 years ago, when temperatures hit 60 below zero, was memorable across western and northern Wisconsin.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association