Eyes on Janesville When Speaker Ryan Was Ready to Endorse, His Hometown Newspaper Broke the Story
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FEATURE: Meet the Woodville Leader, Sun-Argus. Page 2 THETHE June 9, 2016 BulletinBulletinNews and information for the Wisconsin newspaper industry All eyes on Janesville When Speaker Ryan was ready to endorse, his hometown newspaper broke the story BY JAMES DEBILZEN vative agenda. Communications Director Schwartz said the news t wasn’t a scoop in the tra- was unex- ditional telling of newsroom pected. On Ilore. There were no anony- Wednesday, mous sources, cryptic messages June 1, opin- or meetings with shadowy fig- ion editor ures in empty parking garages. Greg Peck Regardless, editor Sid was contacted Schwartz of The Gazette in Sid Schwartz by Ryan’s of- Angela Major photo | Janesville said it was “fun to fice to discuss Courtesy of The Gazette have a national news item that the publi- we got to break,” referencing cation of a ABOVE: House Speaker Paul being the first media outlet to column about Ryan discusses his endorse- announce the Speaker of the “Republican ment of Donald Trump and his House was endorsing the pre- unity and the policy vision with members of sumptive Republican candidate House policy The Gazette’s editorial Board for the presidency. agenda.” on Friday, June 3. Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Janes- “We didn’t LEFT: The endorsement ville, announced in a column really know story broke on The Gazette’s first published on The Gazette’s what we website, www.gazettextra. website on June 2 that he would Greg Peck were getting,” com, on Thursday afternoon. vote for businessman Donald Schwartz Friday’s front page carried the Trump in November, lending said. “We banner headline. his support as the country’s hadn’t solicited his office for this highest-ranking Republican and I had some people say to leader to the once unlikely me, ‘Oh geez, you got a scoop!’ Thursday morning with an em- The language in Ryan’s column They said, ‘We think the column candidate. But it’s not like something we bargo time of 2 p.m. He worked left room for interpretation. speaks for itself.’” Ryan had withheld a formal went and dug up. It landed in with Ryan’s office to trim the “It said, ‘I will be voting for That information was shared endorsement for weeks after our lap. It wasn’t us asking Paul column for space and forward- Donald Trump in November,’” with Schultz, who included Trump won enough delegates Ryan for a favor. I think that ed it to Schwartz and reporter Peck said. “And I thought, is this the reaction in a story he wrote to secure the party’s nomina- might be the impression some Frank Schultz, who cover’s the official endorsement or isn’t about the column. Shortly after tion, expressing concerns about people get. That wasn’t the Ryan’s congressional district. it? In the meantime, I emailed the story was posted online, Trump’s temperament and c a s e .” One question was unclear: (Ryan’s aide) back and asked if commitment to Ryan’s conser- Peck received the column Was Ryan endorsing Trump? it was the official endorsement. See JANESVILLE, Page 4 Opposition to overtime Entries being accepted for increase picking up steam national NEC contest The National Newspaper Newspapers Supporting Edu- Companion bills have been Directors have gone on record Association is seeking entries cation & Civic Literacy. introduced in the House and in agreement that the threshold for its annual Newspapers Entries must have been Senate (S. 2707 / H.R. 4773) Talking needed to be raised, but op- and Education Contest. published or carried out that would nullify the Depart- Points >> posed doubling it. Community Membership in the National between July 2015 and June ment of Labor’s rule issued newspapers and their small- Newspaper Association is 2016. Awards are made to last month that will double the Talking points from the town employees will be unfairly not required for entry in this first, second and third place in threshold for salaried workers NNA in support of the bills penalized by DOL’s one-size- contest. each division. who qualify for overtime pay. can be found here. fits-all scheme. NNA’s Newspaper and Deadline for entries in the The bills would also require The House bill (H.R. 4773) Education contest recognizes 2016 contest is midnight, the agency to carry out a more now has 174 co-sponsors – in- newspapers that have chosen July 6, 2016. All entries for effective analysis of its impact who otherwise qualify for the cluding Rep. Glenn Grothman, a civic literacy, journalism this contest are made online. on small businesses, nonprofits white-collar exemption from R-Campbellsport, and Rep. education or school support Entrants should use code: and public employers. the overtime rules, but earn less Sean Duffy, R-Weston – and program and assisted in its NAE15. The Department of Labor than $47,476, to begin punching the Senate bill (S. 2707) has 42 success through use of the To learn more about the ruling increases the threshold a clock. In addition to their reg- co-sponsors – including Sen. newspaper’s various resourc- NNA Newspaper and Edu- for salaried workers who qualify ular salary, employers will be Ron Johnson, R-Wisconsin. es. Entries may be made in cation Contest, visit http:// for overtime pay from $23,660 required to pay them time-and- The House Education and two categories: Traditional www.newspapercontest.com/ to $47,476. If the new rule takes a-half for the hours they work Workforce Committee has Newspaper In Education Contests/NewspaperandEdu- effect as planned on Dec. 1, it that exceed 40 in a workweek. scheduled a hearing on the new Stories and Curriculum and cationContest.aspx. will require most employees NNA and the WNA Board of rule on Thursday, June 9. 2 THE BULLETIN | JUNE 9, 2016 Member News We Are The WNA Meet the Sun-Argus & Woodville Leader Name of Newspaper: Sun-Argus, Woodville Leader, Valley Values Shop- per and www.mygatewaynews.com Founded: Nov. 4, 2004 Coverage Area: Sun-Argus—Spring Valley and Elmwood, Pierce County; Woodville Leader—Woodville and Baldwin, St. Croix County Owner or Parent Company: Gateway Publishing, Inc. Publisher and Editor: Paul J. Seeling Publication Schedule: Weekly on Thursdays Number of Employees: Four Does the newspaper have a mission statement or motto? Sun-Argus: The Gateway to Pierce County; Woodville Leader: The Gateway to Western Wis- consin What do you see as the main role for the newspaper in your community? To chronicle the lives and events of the readers and their communities. What are your newspaper’s biggest strengths? We are hyper local, we have great contributing writers and rely on good photographs to help tell our sto- ries in print and on our award-winning Bill Lawler photo website. Pictured above is the home office of Gateway Publishing and staff, from left: What are your newspaper’s biggest Paul J. Seeling, publisher and editor; Jennie Bazille, office administrator; Emmy SpringX Valley challenges? Too small of a demograph- Lightburn, creative. Not pictured: Ben Seeling, creative and web administrator. ic area and shrinking retail businesses to support us. An aging readership. Not reporter/writer and one feature writer better than we have for the last 12 years. enough revenue to grow and maintain each battling cancer and a number of Newspaper Address: W2855 730th adequate resources. difficult financial issues. Avenue, Spring Valley, WI 54767 What was your newspaper’s biggest What are the newspaper’s top goals Phone: 715-778-4990 accomplishment during the last year? during the next 12 months? To contin- Website: www.mygatewaynews.com Continuing to publish in spite of one ue to serve our communities as well or Email: [email protected] Capitol expert joins WCIJ Stewart named VP BY LAUREN FUHRMANN al journalists and paid student Matthias also staffed Speak- of news operations for Wisconsin Center for interns, as well as news organiza- er’s Task Forces on the funding Investigative Journalism tions that work with the Center. and governance of the Wiscon- “Mary is one of the most sin Technical College System, USA Today Network Mary Matthias, the top attor- knowledgeable and respected mental health, Alzheimer’s and ney in the nonpartisan agency experts at the Capitol,” said Andy dementia, and puppy mills. Mizell Stewart III, incoming build the nation’s largest dig- that provides legal and policy ad- Hall, co-founder and executive She collaborated with the UW president of the American ital-first news organization,” vice to the Wisconsin Legislature, director of the Center. School of Medicine and Public Society of News Editors, Lipman wrote to staffers. retired from nearly three decades “Her persistent pursuit of the Health’s Population Health Insti- has been named USA Today “Mizell previously was of state service and became a re- truth will serve the best interests tute and the La Follette School of Network’s vice president Managing Director and Chief porter for the Wisconsin Center of the public and our democra- Public Affairs as a partner in the of news operations, a new Content Officer of Journal for Investigative Journalism. cy. We’re honored to have her Evidence-Based Health Policy position. The announcement Media Group, where he di- A native of Sheboygan, Mat- aboard.” Project. was made by Joanne Lipman, rected content strategy for a thias joined Matthias earned a bache- The Center is increasing the Gannett Co. Inc. chief con- team of 700 journalists at 14 the Wiscon- lor’s degree in political science quality and quantity of investi- tent officer, publications, including the sin Legisla- from the University of Wiscon- gative reporting in Wisconsin, on June 2.