Wisconsin newspapers this week are recognizing the importance of open government as a part of Sunshine Week, an annual nationwide celebration of open government that runs March 14-20.
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The WNA has gathered several examples of editorials, columns and news coverage by members highlighting the importance of transparency.
Tired of waiting, some eligible Wisconsinites take action or find help to nab vaccine appointments.
As a continuation of its efforts to increase civic education and engagement, the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation has launched the Wisconsin Civics Games Editorial Writing & Cartoon Contest.
To support these efforts, the WNA Foundation asks that member newspapers run ads promoting the Civics Games contests, publish stories and editorials and publishing winning entries after the winners are announced.
Leland “Lee” E. Smits, who worked for more than 30 years in the advertising department at the Green Bay Press-Gazette, died Saturday, March 6. He was 93.
In 1954, Smits joined the advertising sales staff at the Press-Gazette, starting in classifieds and later moving to retail advertising. In 1965, he was named retail advertising manager, and he was named assistant advertising director in 1971.
Smits also served as president of the Wisconsin Newspaper Advertising Executives Association and was a member of the International Newspaper Advertising and Marketing Executives Association.
Quinten Pfeiffer has been named editor of the Tri-County Press. He succeeds Elyssa Vondra, who is leaving the Press to pursue her doctorate degree.
A northwestern Illinois native, Pfeiffer graduated from East Dubuque High School in 2015 and earned his journalism degree from the University of Iowa in 2019. While in college, he worked for both The Daily Iowan student newspaper and the Iowa Journalist magazine.
Reagan Hoverman has joined the reporting staff of the Inter-County Leader, where he will cover sports and general assignment news. He also will oversee the newspaper’s podcast, which highlights local news and sports.
A native of St. Croix Falls, Hoverman earned his journalism degree from UW-River Falls in spring 2020. During college, he worked at the student radio station, WRFW-FM, and the Student Voice newspaper.
Sarah Knieff is the newest member of the (Red Wing, Minn.) Republican Eagle news staff, the newspaper announced Thursday.
Knieff will cover several beats for the newspaper, including area school boards and the Goodhue County Board. A 2020 graduate, Knieff earned her journalism degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth. While in school, she worked for The Bark student news organization and did freelance work for several publications.
Geraldine “Gerry” Mueller, who worked in the Fond du Lac area as a newspaper reporter and writer, died Friday, March 5. She was 82.
A Milwaukee native, Mueller graduated from the city’s Rufus King High School. During her career, she worked for The (Fond du Lac) Reporter and Kewaskum Statesman.
Andrew “Andy” Thompson, who worked nearly 40 years for The (Appleton) Post-Crescent, died Monday, March 8, at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa. He was 63 and had been undergoing treatment at the hospital for longstanding health issues.
A Clintonville native, Thompson started his journalism career in high school, writing a weekly sports column for the Clintonville Tribune-Gazette. He earned a journalism degree from Marquette University in 1980 and went on to work for the Marinette Eagle-Star and Oshkosh Daily Northwestern before joining The Post-Crescent in 1981.
This year’s Openness in Government Awards recognize Wisconsin’s largest newspaper for its dogged records-based coverage of the pandemic and its commitment to the cause of transparency in government, as well as two newspaper reporters who used public records to expose wrongdoing.
The awards, presented annually by the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, recognize outstanding efforts to protect the state’s long tradition of open government and highlight some of the threats to it. They are being announced in advance of the News Leaders Association’s national Sunshine Week.
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