Thursday, March 11, 2026
5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. – Capitol Ballroom
- Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame Banquet: Created in 2001 to honor visionaries and innovators in the Wisconsin newspaper industry, the Wisconsin Newspaper Hall of Fame recognizes both living and deceased individuals with induction. Must register to attend banquet.
Hall of Fame nominations are open to anyone, living or deceased, who has contributed above and beyond the call of duty to newspapers and newspapering in Wisconsin. This includes publishers, editors, reporters, photographers or any other newspaper personnel with significant contributions to the newspaper industry.
Friday, March 12, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m. – Registration and continental breakfast available to all convention attendees
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – University ABCD
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – Senate
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. University ABCD
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – Senate
11:45 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. – Capitol Ballroom
- Branen Family Student Luncheon, sponsored by Multi Media Channels
- WNA Foundation will celebrate Wisconsin’s outstanding student journalists, announcing the winners in its college and high school Better Newspaper Contests.
1:00 p.m. – 1:45 p.m. – Conference Room I
- JEA Advisors Meeting
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – University ABCD
- Legislative Update
- Mark Graul – Arena Strategy Group, LLC
- Beth Bennett – Wisconsin Newspaper Association
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – Senate
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – University ABCD
- Legal update: defamation, public notice, open meetings and FOIA
- Max Lenz and Brian Spahn – Godfrey & Kahn
- Beth Bennett – Wisconsin Newspaper Association
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – Senate
4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – University ABCD
- Annual Meeting
- Wisconsin Newspaper Association members will hold a brief meeting, during which new officers will be elected. All are welcome and WNA members are especially encouraged to attend.
5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. – Capitol Ballroom
- Cocktail Reception
- Raise a glass with friends and colleagues, relax, and recap the day’s events before attending the Hall of Fame banquet. The cocktail reception is open to all attendees of convention and those attending the banquet
6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. – Capitol Ballroom
- Better Newspaper Contest Awards Banquet
- The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation salutes the achievements of Wisconsin newspapers. We’ll showcase the finest work of Wisconsin’s photographers, honor the newspaper veterans we lost in 2025, and celebrate the winners of our Better Newspaper Contest, Best of Division, and the Daily and Weekly Newspapers of the Year.