Bart Pfankuch

Sharpen your writing by reading stories aloud

Sep. 1, 2020

Reading text aloud performs two basic yet critical analytical and diagnostic functions — it quickly shows if the prose is smooth, flows well and is pleasing to the eye and ear and where the clunks in copy are located; also, it reveals whether information is being presented in a logical, clear and meaningful progression, writes veteran journalist Bart Pfankuch.

It’s perhaps the best way for a writer or editor to check their work for flow, accuracy, clarity and meaning.

Peter Kwong

Welcome to my tempura haven

Aug. 31, 2020

My wife’s bumper crop of veggies gave me a great idea: Why don’t I bread them with a tempura batter and deep-fry them? Problem solved!

polco, coronavirus, voter registration, presidential debates, covid-19

Poll: Which issue is most important to you in the 2020 election?

Aug. 27, 2020

A new poll question about which issue is most important to voters in the 2020 election is now available to be used by WNA members.

Results from our previous poll question about Kamala Harris’ impact on voting decisions also are available. Out of 328 respondents, 38% said it had no impact on their decision. Of the remaining voters, 30% said it made them more likely to vote for Joe Biden and 26% said it made them more likely to vote for Donald Trump.

John Foust, advertising, ad-libs

Read any good catalogs lately?

Aug. 27, 2020

There are other approaches to advertising creativity, but catalogs excel when it comes to descriptions of product features and benefits, writes veteran sales trainer John Foust.

In his latest installment of “Ad-Libs,” Foust points to some standout examples from L.L. Bean catalogs.

Dian Page

Longtime Press-Gazette journalist Dian Page dies at 85

Aug. 26, 2020

Longtime Wisconsin journalist Dian Shirley Page died Friday, Aug. 14. She was 85.

Page started her newspaper career at the Mankato Free Press, before moving on to serve as women’s editor for the (Eau Claire) Leader-Telegram and as a reporter and copy editor for the Oshkosh Daily Northwestern. In 1970, she joined the staff of the Green Bay Press-Gazette, where she would remain until her retirement in 1998.

Mary Jo Villa

Mary Jo Villa leaving leadership role with APG, The Gazette

Aug. 26, 2020

Longtime newspaper executive Mary Jo Villa is leaving her leadership roles with Adams Publishing Group and The (Janesville) Gazette, the company announced Monday.

Throughout her career of more than 30 years, Villa has held several executive leadership roles with The Gazette and its parent companies. She moved into her most recent role following APG’s purchase of Bliss Communication’s newspapers and printing facility in 2019.

Taking over for Villa as president of APG’s southern Wisconsin group is Orestes Baez, who comes to Wisconsin after spending two years in Michigan as the regional vice president and group publisher of a chain of Gannett-owned newspapers

kevin passon

Kevin Passon to take over as Antigo Daily Journal editor

Aug. 26, 2020

Veteran journalist Kevin Passon has been named editor of the Antigo Daily Journal and will take over the role Aug. 31. He replaces Lisa Haefs, who retired earlier this month.

Passon currently serves as managing editor The (Cottage Grove) Herald-Independent and McFarland Thistle. Both newspapers are owned by Adams Publishing Group.

Former Milwaukee Journal promotion manager Harvey Kroboth dies at 94

Aug. 26, 2020

Harvey Leonard Kroboth, a former longtime member of The Milwaukee Journal advertising department, died Aug. 6 in Riverside, Calif. He was 94.

After graduating from Milwaukee Art School, Kroboth worked at Gimbels and J.C. Penney before joining the copy service department of The Journal in 1952. Eventually, he moved up to promotion manager and went on to spend the rest of his career at The Journal until retiring in 1980.

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