Thursday, March 5, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Continental breakfast available to all convention attendees
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – University AB
- Student Editor Panel – Kate Roberts Edenborg, University of Wisconsin-Stout
- Kyra Balch, Indian Trail High School and Academy
- Alyssandra Becker, Indian Trail High School and Academy
- Avery Chheda, The Daily Cardinal – UW-Madison
- Grace Edenborg, Menomonie High School
- Chase Keller, Royal Purple – UW-Whitewater
- Madelyn Rybak, Pulaski High School
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – University CD
- Round Table Discussion – public notices, working with the community, developing your own internship program
- Beth Bennett, Wisconsin Newspaper Association
- Pat Wood, Multi Media Channels
- Gail Johnson, Restaino & Associates, Realtors, Relocation Division
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. University AB
- Social Media: effective distribution strategies
- Jessica McBride, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – University CD
- How to use AI to enhance Ad Sales
- Kevin Berrier, MDDC Press Association
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 CD
- Reporter, Shooter, Poster: The One-Person News Operation: discuss equipment, methods to make it easier to do both and optimization on social media posts
- Kris Leonhardt and Kaity Leikness – Multi Media Channels
1:30 p.m. – 2:45 p.m. – University AB
- AI Games Part 1 – Introduction to the Games and tips to build an AI presentation
- Kevin Berrier, MDDC Press Association
3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. – University CD
- Legislative and Legal updates: 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. – University AB
- AI Games Part 2 – Teams will get experience with hands on team building and development of an AI presentation
- Kevin Berrier, MDDC Press Association
4:45 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. – University CD
- 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.
- Jeff Patterson – Adams MultiMedia
- 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. – 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.
- Newspaper publisher Carlton DeWitt
- Former reporter and UW-Whitewater newspaper advisor Sam Martino
- Former newspaper managing editor and current Wisconsin Newspaper Association Foundation President Scott Peterson
8:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. – Capitol Ballroom
- President’s Reception: Please join us for a cocktail reception honoring the service and leadership of the 2025 WNA Board President, Jeff Patterson. This special gathering celebrates Jeff’s dedication to the Wisconsin Newspaper Association and the lasting impact of his commitment to journalism, advocacy and member service.
Friday, March 6, 2026
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
Continental breakfast available to all convention attendees
9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m. – University AB
- Member Discussion – what is working and what isn’t
- David Eliot, Peninsula Pulse
- Dave Wood, Multi Media Channels
- Kelly Lecker, Wisconsin State Journal
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. University CD
- Tools of the Trade – Investigative Reporting Techniques moderated by Mark Treinen, Cap Times
- Danielle DuClos, Cap Times
- Jim Polzin, Wisconsin State Journal
- Jenna Rae, TMJ4 Milwaukee
10:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m. – University AB
- National update from the National Newspaper Association
- Jeff Patterson, Adams MultiMedia
- Pat Wood, Multi Media Channels
11:45 a.m. – 3:00 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.