Amber Edwards has always worked full time, yet she found herself without a home due to a lack of affordable housing options in the Green Bay area.
Microsoft has given $300,000 to help six Wisconsin newsrooms launch a collaborative journalism lab that will produce in-depth local reporting projects, which will be made available for republication by other news organizations.
The NEW News Lab — a collaboration between Fox Valley 365, Green Bay Press-Gazette, The (Appleton) Post-Crescent, The (Green Bay) Press Times, Wisconsin Public Radio and Wisconsin Watch — will report on racism as a public heath crisis, affordable housing shortages, local school funding and local judicial systems.
Patrick Wood, Multi Media Channels CEO and publisher of its weekly newspapers and other publications, has released a new book, the company announced this week.
The book, “Dear Reader: Meditations, Musings and Moments in Time,” is a compilation of columns Wood has written for MMC newspapers over the last four years. In the book release announcement, it is described as a “beacon” intended to uplift and enlighten readers.
Bob Heisse, executive editor of River Valley Media Group in La Crosse, has donated $50,000 to endow a journalism scholarship for students at his alma mater, Pennsylvania State University. A Pennsylvania native, Heisse earned his bachelor’s degree from the school after receiving a scholarship himself as an undergraduate — something that helped inspire him to give back.
Heisse has led the River Valley Media Group newsrooms since September, when he succeeded Rusty Cunningham, who retired after more than 40 years with Lee Enterprises. Prior to his move to La Crosse, he served as executive editor of the Kenosha News.
The finances of Wisconsin’s two largest school districts are stronger than expected as they begin to grapple with their 2022 budgets, thanks to federal relief funds and voter approval of referenda allowing them to exceed state revenue limits.
Angie Maag, a southwestern Wisconsin native, has joined The Monroe Times as a reporter.
She earned her degree last month from UW-Madison, where she triple-majored in communication arts, psychology and journalism. While in college, Maag wrote for Bell Magazine, a student publication with a focus on equality and marginalized communities and genders. She also served as a reporter for Sconnie Sports Talk, writing about Wisconsin Badgers men’s hockey, tennis and other sports.
The Press Times has added staff writer Lea Kopke to its newsroom.
Last year, Kopke, a senior at UW-Eau Claire, served as an intern for the newspaper and was the managing editor of The Spectator student newspaper. Her current position as staff writer is funded by the Microsoft Journalism Initiative.
Polco users and readers visiting WNA member websites from May 19 to 31 were asked what large events they planned to attend this summer. Results from the poll are now available for members to help inform their reporting, as many annual summer events return amid the reduction of pandemic safety measures.
Poll questions are available through a WNA partnership with Polco aimed at helping newspapers better engage readers and access enhanced data and insights.
Adams Publishing Group has named Randy Rickman regional president for APG Media of Southern Minnesota.
Rickman previously served as APG’s regional president for northern Wisconsin and publisher of the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram. He also was a member of the WNA Board of Directors. Prior to joining APG and the Leader-Telegram, Rickman served as publisher of the Kenosha News from June 2016 to November 2018.
Jeff Patterson, APG Central Division president and WNA Board member, will take over as regional president for APG's northern Wisconsin group.
Joseph Fumo, who started his career as a Wisconsin newspaper reporter before going on to become an author and technical writer, died Monday, May 24, at his home in Black Mountain, N.C. He was 66.
After earning his journalism degree from UW-Madison, he worked as a reporter for The Mauston Star, the Beloit Daily News and The (Passaic, N.J.) Herald-News. He later became a technical writer, most recently working for Trane Technologies.
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