*Additional sessions pending. Check back daily for updated information.
Thursday, March 6
WNA board of directors meeting during the afternoon.
In the evening, the Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit group that works to protect access to public meetings and records, will host its annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees and Guest Speaker – Jim Malewitz.
This is open for anyone wanting to attend, but you must register.
Friday, March 7
Michael Bolden, the CEO and executive director of the American Press Institute, will offer a comprehensive vision for the future of local news, essential for those invested in community well-being and journalism. He will highlight the opportunity to use challenges as catalysts for innovation, forging a future for local journalism that is more robust, inclusive, and deeply connected to the communities it serves.
–
More information to come.
–
In a world in which not everyone understands the value of local news, how can journalists make connections with potential readers? With potential sources? In this session, we’ll get inside the mindset of emerging audiences. We’ll look at how people get information in an increasingly complex media environment and how journalists can engage strategically with people they’re not already reaching.
–
About a quarter of all adults say they get news from YouTube, not to mention recipes, reviews, and finding things to do in their communities. Join Bill Day from Magid as he shares the latest research and lessons from the field on engaging viewers and unlocking revenue from YouTube in 2025. *Beneficial for both news and sales.
–
WNA Foundation will celebrate Wisconsin’s outstanding student journalists, announcing the winners in its college and high school Better Newspaper Contests.
–
–
Our research shows that 94% of people say AI use in journalism should be disclosed. In this session, we’ll look at emerging standards for AI ethics policies and disclosures. We’ll also talk about what the public does and does not understand about AI and the opportunity local journalists have to earn trust through transparency and model responsible exploration of new technology.
–
Join Bill Day from Magid as he shares the latest research from their consumer tracking studies. Learn how consumers feel about the state of their personal economy, their spending plans for the year, and what you need to know to help them navigate the year ahead. You’ll walk away with actionable intelligence you can use to inform your reporting, shape your subscription messages and inform your pitch tomorrow.
–
Panel discussion about innovative ways for newspapers to think about business models, funding and covering community news.
–
The best sales teams everywhere succeed by solving problems for their clients, not simply by selling them the product du jour. Join Bill Day with Magid as he shares the latest research from local advertisers on what they want from your sales team, they challenges they face in their marketing efforts and how you can help them solve their problems and sell your solutions. You’ll walk away from this hands-on training session with concrete tools to strengthen your sales teams and improve your sales efforts.
–
Discover effective strategies to identify potential advertisers across various sectors and offer tailored advertising opportunities in print, online platforms, and events.
This session will present numerous advertising ideas.
–
Wisconsin Newspaper Association members will hold a brief meeting. All are welcome and WNA members are especially encouraged to attend this annual meeting, during which new officers will be elected.
–
Toast your friends and colleagues, unwind and discuss the day’s events before settling in for the annual awards dinner.
–
The Better Newspaper Contest Awards Banquet salutes the achievements of Wisconsin newspapers.
We’ll highlight the best work of Wisconsin’s news photographers, memorialize newspaper veterans we lost over the last year, our Better Newspaper Contests, Best of Division and the Daily and Weekly Newspapers of the Year.
–
