mary jane spletter

Former Milwaukee Sentinel reporter Mary Jane Spletter dies at 74

Mary Jane Spletter, who started her writing career as a reporter for the Milwaukee Sentinel, died Thursday, May 6, at her home in Oakland, Calif. She was 74.

She graduated in 1965 from Appleton’s Xavier High School, where she served as editor of her high school newspaper, before going on to study journalism at UW-Madison, where she was president of the Coranto Sigma Iota professional journalism sorority. 

After graduating in 1969, Spletter took a reporter role at the Milwaukee Sentinel, where she worked for four years before moving to Berkeley, Calif., where she went on to a long career in public information and technical writing.

John Foust, advertising, ad-libs

4 things bosses do that can hurt employee morale

In many cases, there are lessons to be learned from negative boss-employee encounters.

In his latest "Ad-libs" column, John Foust shares four examples of things a boss can do that may ruin morale among employees.

new news lab, microsoft

Microsoft launches NEW News Lab with Wisconsin newsrooms, foundations

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 book, mmc, dear reader

MMC publisher Patrick Wood releases new book of columns

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

Editor gives $50K to endow journalism scholarship at Penn State

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.

Angie Maag

Angie Maag joins The Monroe Times reporting staff

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.

fireworks, july 4, summer events

Results available for large summer events poll

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.

Wisconsin Newspaper Association