Mission From the Open Records Completed Archives Summit The work of WNA The WNA’s archive provides WNA member speakers members helped find the members with a decade of and records custodians are last photo of Wiscon- community news and per- scheduled to discuss open sin-enlisted Vietnam vets sonalized public notices links. government at the July 29 killed in action. Madison summit hosted by Attorney General Brad Schimel.

See Page 2. See Page 4. See Page 2. BulletinTHE News and information for the Wisconsin newspaper industry

JUNE-JULY 2015 ... among the world’s oldest press associations WNA Members Fight Back Against Surprise Attack on Open Records

Wisconsin Newspaper Association members stood guard over the July 4 weekend for the public’s right to know how their laws are made and to hold elected officials accountable for their actions.

Wisconsin’s newspapers scored a decisive Independence Day victo- ry for the public’s right to know after a surprise attack on open records law aimed at transparency surrounding lawmakers’ official activities.

Newspapers sprang into action the evening of July 3 as the State Senate’s Joint Finance Committee introduced language gutting open record laws in a 999 omnibus bill. The proposal sought to Public remove from public record legislators’ inter-office communications and bill-drafting activities, effectively obscuring how laws are records laws made. This 11th-hour move came in addition to language adopted in May that exempted University of Wisconsin System schools in Wisconsin from naming finalists for key, highly paid leadership positions. The UW Systems accepts public funding and, since 1992, has followed under attack this protocol along with all state agencies to disclose the five most qualified applicants for the positions in question.

“Wisconsin’s newspapers are to be commended for their vigilant watchdog effort that ultimately led this secretive legislation to be abandoned,” said Wisconsin Newspaper Association Executive Director Beth Bennett. “As newspapers record the history of Wisconsin daily, they’re left with little time time to tell the stories of their own diligent efforts. Thwarting an attempted coup by the Joint Finance Committee was a feat of strength and newspapers deserve credit for effecting change that benefits the public.”

Wisconsin’s newspapers continued their long tradition of record- ing state history by vigilantly defending the public’s right to know. Newspapers took legislators to task, particularly Senator Alberta Wisconsin newspapers inves- tigated the early July attack on Darling and Rep. John Nygren, who introduced the legislation and Wisconsin’s public records law, then refused to comment on its origins or even the bill itself. as seen in these headlines from member publications and an Legislators should reject Newspaper journalists aptly noted that, were this proposal to be editorial cartoon by Phil Hands of passed, no one would be able to ferret out the source of any legislation the Wisconsin State Journal that in the future. ran July 6. public information assault The minute the secretive legislation was introduced, newspaper reporters were on the scene, making the information available to the public. Newspapers alerted the public via social media and then worked around the clock from late July 3 until public pressure led legislative leaders and Gov. Scott Walker to rescind the proposal fewer than 24 hours later. Backlash scuttles open records limits Newspaper editorial boards followed up with July 4 editori- als that detailed what was at risk. They admonished legislative leaders for attempting to pull the wool over citizens’ eyes during a holiday that commemorates independence from a government Wisconsin’s newspapers were at ground zero as national news For more information on the UW System hiring policy, see that similarly obscured its lawmaking activities. Print and online sources, including The New York Times, Washington Post, The Public Records and Open Government Update on Page 6. newspaper editorial pages provided Wisconsin citizens with a Chicago Tribune, Huffington Post and USA TODAY, took notice place to vent their frustration with the proposal and read what other of the attempt to break time-honored open government laws. Read through WNA members’ coverage of the attack on open views. Newspapers took legislative leaders to task for not claiming records rights in this collections of clips from the WNA Digital responsibility for introducing transparency-shrouding legislation At a time when some are skeptical of the role of newspaper Archive. on the eve of a holiday that commemorates the American tradition journalism, the WNA congratulates and thanks its 222 members for of demanding government accountability. upholding the foundations of democracy in service of its readers For more information on the WNA Digital Archive, see and citizens of the state of Wisconsin. WNA: Archiving Wisconsin’s Newspapers on Page 5.

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WNA Member Particpation Vital to DOJ Summit Members, records custodians will discuss Other speakers include Attorney General “... the WNA’s participation and input in public records and open government Schimel, Madison Assistant City Attorney Roger Allen, Manitowoc County Clerk and Legislative the process is paramount.” The Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA) encourages Committee Chairman of the Wisconsin Clerks members to have their voices heard at the Open Government Association Jamie Aulik, Assistant Attorney Summit hosted by Attorney General Brad Schimel from 8:30 a.m.- General Anne M. Benskey, President of Brad Schimel 4 p.m., Wednesday, July 29 at the State Capitol. Wisconsin Institute for Law and Liberty Rick Wisconsin Attorney General Esenberg, Jefferson County Register of Deeds “A free press relies on unfettered access to the records of public and President of the Wisconsin Register of Deeds Brad Schimel entities, therefore the WNA’s participation and input in the process Association Staci M. Hoffman, Crivello Carlson is paramount,” Schimel said. S.C. Attorney Samuel C. Hall Jr., Administrator of the Office of Crime • Evolution of Wisconsin’s Public Records Law Victim Services Jill Karofsky, President of the Wisconsin Freedom of (10:45 a.m.-12:15 p.m.) The WNA worked with the attorney general’s office to design the Information Council Bill Lueders, von Briesen & Roper S.C. Attorney summit. Registration filled up quickly. However, more spaces were Andrew T. Philips, General Counsel for the Wisconsin Public Services • The Cost of Open Government (1:15 -2:15 p.m.) added and interested members can register here. Sign up by 11 a.m. on Commission Cynthia Smith and University of Wisconisn-Madison Friday, July 24 to reserve a buffet lunch for $10. Vice Chancellor for Legal Affairs Raymond P. Taffora. • Wisconsin’s Open Meetings Law – Overview and Discussion 2:30-4 p.m. The summit aims to create an open dialogue between the Justice Electonic forms of public records, including email and video, are Department, public records keepers and those seeking records, like jour- one focus on the summit agenda. The Open Government Summit comes on the heels of the newly nalists. WNA members have the unique opportunity to share their open elected attorney general’s announcement of the creation of the records concerns and ask questions of records custodians at the summit. “The current law has not kept pace with the evolution of tech- Office of Open Government (OOG) at the Wisconsin Department nology and my vision for the outcome of this summit is to develop of Justice in early June. Schimel campaigned on a platform of open Speakers at the summit include WNA legal counsel and WNA a framework for what an overhauled open-government law might government. Legal Hotline Attorney Robert J. Dreps of Godfrey & Kahn, look like,” Schimel said. “We cannot do that without participation former WNA President Chris Hardie and former executive editor and input from the WNA – one of our key stakeholders.” According to a press release, OOG will be responsible for: inter- at the La Crosse Tribune; WNA Foundation (WNAF Secretary- pretation and application of open meetings and public records law Treasurer James Friedman, attorney at Godfrey & Kahn; and The summit is slated to consist of panel discussions including: and other open government-related statues; development of open WNAF Board of Directors member Jeff Mayers, the president of government and policies and protocols; custodial services for WisPolitics.com, an online political news source. • An Overview of Wisconsin’s Public Records Law DOJ records and effective and efficient response to public records (8:45-9 a.m.) requests; development of open government policies and protocols; “I am excited to host this summit where we can discuss the and expert legal counsel to DOJ executive leaders and clients on issues that are most concerning to records requestors, as well as • Protecting Open Government & Public Safety – Policing open government issues and citizen complaints. those fulfilling the requests,” Schimel said. in the 21st Century (9-10:30 a.m.) State Budget Digs into UW Journalism, Media Funding A decrease in instructors, attendance fees. Ethics, a multi-medium The UW Board of Regents course for both print and has passed the tenure lan- courses and tenure protections The Milwaukee Journal broadcast journalism stu- guage previously used by the Sentinel says similar funding dents. Eventually, he said, state and also has a task force for faculty challenge the reductions are becoming the UW-Oshkosh could cre- reviewing the policy. educational environment national norm as states tar- ate a School of Media by get public universities, which combining print and online Despite faculty concerns, By Holly Henschen have other sources of income journalism curriculum with the UW System expects the like tuition, federal aid, grants the radio, television and film Board of Regents to respect Communications Director and donations. Wisconsin Arthur Ranney departments. Gleason warns Timothy Gleason student and faculty interests. Hemant Shah Arthur Ranney retired June 8 after 17 years at is looking for ways to save that technology budgets are University of Wisconsin-Platteville Media Studies money amid a lackluster economy, tax cuts and also on the chopping block, an impediment as digi- “They’re very much vested in our future. They Department. In the last year, Ranney began advis- rising healthcare costs. tal journalism becomes more integrated into media know what we need to remain compeititive and of ing the student radio station in addition to the stu- curriculum. the highest quality for our students,” Alex Hummel, dent newspaper because the department he chaired What’s more: the budget’s relaxation of profes- associate vice president for communications for the was short-staffed. sors’ traditional tenured job security amounts to a Another biting element of the budget, educators UW System. “Their commitment’s there and that’s threat to free speech. These factors can create an say, is the chilling effect caused by the removal of what we expect.” But his position, along with two other vacant unfavorable environment for current and prospec- legally protected tenure. spots, won’t be filled. There’s no money in the bud- tive students and instructors. Nonetheless, journalism administrators say they get to fund those salaries. In the fall, four full-time Tenure is basically a contract between a uni- worry about attracting world-class staff and stu- journalism instructors will be working in the Media At Ranney’s encouragement, the staff of versity and a professor. Tenured professors are dents to UW campuses as politics affect the aca- Studies Department, compared to seven a year ear- UW-Platteville’s student newspaper, the Exponent, promised job stability in exchange for benefiting demic climate. lier. Without a chair, the Media Studies Department ran a story on the impacts of the budget cut on the university through teaching, published research now operates as part of the School of Business. UW-Platteville in each issue of the Gov. Walker’s and service. Without protection in state law, which The student and faculty backlash to the 2015 initial proposal was introduced in January. Some was removed in the budget, tenure is controlled by biennial budget, similar to that of Act 10, has “We are seeing a serious impact on student college newspapers, Ranney noted, are the prima- the UW Board of Regents. Sixteen spots on the prompted graduate students and professors media,” Ranney said, who said “the various ry medium for university news, rather than local 18-member board are appointed by the governor. to renege on the offers they had accepted to assaults on the system” influenced his decision to newspapers. Several Wisconsin college newspa- come to UW-Madison, said Hemant Shah, retire. Ranney’s departure leaves one journalism pers have transitioned to online publications as Typically, tenured faculty are academic freedoms chair of UW-Madison’s Journalism and Mass instructor to advise all of UW-Platteville’s student funds diminished. that journalism chairs equated with free speech. Communications Department. The furor over state media: the newspaper, as well as the radio station Removing legally protected tenure may hinder pro- cuts to the UW System budget is déjà vu from the and television station. He has offered to give “free “We’re a source for news that you’re just not fessors’ ability to produce what they consider to be weeks of protest around the State Capitol in 2011 consultations” to students in his retirement to help going to read anywhere else,” Ranney said. meaningful work. For instance, professors without as Act 10 cut state workers’ benefits and limited fill the instructional void. state-mandated tenure could publish research that collective bargaining rights, he said. Department chairs say the quality and quantity sheds a negative light on lawmakers, causing offi- Ranney’s former students and colleagues are of education and training for journalism students cials to seek their ouster or endanger state funding. These conditions leave current journalism among UW journalism and media departments put decreases with budget cuts. Class sizes will grow instructors with more responsibilities and less in a pinch as the 2015-17 Wisconsin biennial bud- as funding for instructional staff dries up. Course “The assault on tenure means it becomes risky appealing conditions to offer prospective educators get cut $250 million of funding from the System. offerings will be trimmed, which may increase the to talk about covering current events in the class- and researchers when funding for their salaries Departments across UW campuses prepared for time to graduation. room,” Gleason said. “It becomes risky conducting becomes available, Shah said. the decrease well in advance, the fifth time in the research on how politicians try to sway public last six budget cycles that funding was significantly Combining classes and departments could be opinion. It becomes risky reporting the truth. This “The best free agents don’t go to bad teams that decreased. The budget also includes a two-year a remedy to budget cuts. Timothy Gleason, chair is why tenure should exist.” pay comparatively low, have outdated facilities and tuition freeze for in-state undergraduates that disal- of the Journalism Department at University of have hostile ownership,” Gleason said. lows UW schools from offsetting losses by raising Wisconsin-Oshkosh, said his school offers Media 3 WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 WNA news WNA Member Efforts Locate Last Vietnam Vet Photo

Leading up to Independence Day, Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA) members suc- cessfully exercised the power of the press to honor our state and country.

After nearly a year of dedicated work, the last of 1,116 photos of Wisconsin veterans killed in Vietnam was found May 25, making it the fifth state to do so. Newspapers rallied to publish the names of the soldiers whose photos were miss- ing, hoping to reach a family member or friend. Found photos were sent to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Foundation (VVMF) for their Faces Never Forgotten project. The VVMF posted veter- ans’ photos, along with their date of birth, home- town, date of death and the Vietnamese province where they were killed. On this Wall of Faces, the public can post comments to the site. The VVMF started the campaign in 2014 to account Above: The last of 1,116 photos of Wisconsin-en- for photos that were destroyed in a 1973 fire at the listed Vietnam Veterans who were killed in National Personnel Records Service in St. Louis. action is of Willy Bedford, who died in action Nationally 58,286 photos were originally missing. in Vietnam in May 1970. Right: The letter from With the help of state newspaper associations like Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund CEO Lee Allen the WNA, nearly 42,000 photos have been found sent to Gov. Scott Walker confirming that all of Wisconsin’s missing veteran photos were to date. accounted for. The Fund set up an online Wall of Faces showcasing the photos. It will be recre- Dodge County Pionier Publisher Andrew ated in the education center in Washington D.C. Johnson spearheaded the effort in Wisconsin that is scheduled to begin construction in 2016. and supported it on the national level through the NNA in honor of his oldest son U.S. Army students to hunt down the remaining photos and Lt. David, who was killed in January 2012 write an article about the fallen veterans. while serving in the in Afghanistan. At the 2015 Wisconsin Newspaper Association and Trade Read the stories by UW-Milwaukee journalism Show, Andrew Johnson manned the National students here. Newspaper Association booth and promoted the Faces Never Forgotten project. There, University Congratulations, WNA members! Thank you of Wisconsin-Milwaukee journalism instructor for your enthusiastic participation in the Faces Jessica McBride joined the cause and enlisted her Never Forgotten campaign! WNA Has Left the FlashNews O-W Enterprise Marks The Journal Sentinel Goes Re-opening after 2014 Fire Back to the Green (Capital Newspapers) The O-W Enterprise in Owen reopened on The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel revived the July 10 after a fire destroyed their building four-page Green Sheet section, a former nearly one year before. They’ve dubbed the staple of the Milwaukee Journal that was Building new building “The Phoenix” and held hold a launched during World War I and ran until ribbon-cutting ceremony. 1994, when green newsprint was difficult to find. Read more. Newsroom Pub Sold Evjue Foundation Grants $14 The Newsroom Pub in Milwaukee, a bastion of the Milwaukee Press Club, along with million to Non-profits the adjacent Safe House bar, was sold The Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of to The Marcus Corporation by Dave and the Capital Times, granted more than $1.4 Shauna Baldwin. According to Milwaukee million to 86 area non-profits and funding for Press Club President Mark Kass, Marcus 27 programs University of Wisconsin-Madi- Corp. CEO Greg Marcus said, “We want you son programs. UW grants include $10,000 for (the Press Club) to remain part of the Safe the annual William T. Evjue keynote address House. There is no question about it.” We’ll at the school’s Ethics Center Conference drink to that! Read more. and $19,200 in Evjue internships in writing, Editor & Publisher Recognizes editing and publishing. Read more. the Green Bay Press-Gazette APG of Wisconsin Acquires 3 The Green Bay Press-Gazette was one of six newspapers mentioned in an Editor & LaPean Publications Publisher story, “Sales Champions.” Scott Adams Publishing Group, LLC bought the Johnson, president and publisher at the Evergreen Country Shopper, North Country Green Bay Press-Gazette and Press-Ga- Suan and Evergreen Zone 2 from LaPEan Ladies and gentlmen, it’s finally happened! The Our phone numbers amd email addresses zette Media, discussed the newspaper’s Publications, based in Ashland. Read more. Wisconsin Newspaper Association moved from remain the same, as does our billing address: 319 State of Opportunity program to help 1901 Fish Hatchery Road to our new office at E. 5th St., Des Moines, IA 50309. connect job seekers with information and Obama Introducess New 34 Schroeder Court Suite 220, Madison WI advice on local jobs. Read more. Overtime Rules 53711. We’re still getting settled in, but we’d love to Pres. Obama introduced labor rules that give you a tour. Give us a call at 608.283.7623 if extend overtime benefits to certain em- We’re just off of the Whitney Way Exit on the you’re in the neighborhood and stop on by! ployees earnning $50,440 or less annually. Beltline on Madison’s West Side. Read more. WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 WNA news

Need to Know

JULIA HUNTER Hunter is the Director of Member Services for the Wisconsin Newspaper Association. She can be reached at [email protected] or 608.283.7622.

Don’t Let the News Escape You

Eight years after he admitted to murdering a sheriff’s deputy, I wrote to David Sweat requesting an interview.

He was serving a life sentence at Clinton Correctional Facility for one of the most brutal murders in Broome County, N.Y., history. I was a watchdog reporter at the Press & Sun-Bulletin in Bing- hamton. And, like many crimes, there were some unanswered Tee Off at theTrees Retreat questions. Unfortunately, Sweat denied my request. An afternoon on the greens in the Retreat, see the Trees Testimony below The tentative schedule for the retreat is: Northwoods will kick off the 2015 from Woodville Leader Publisher Paul “I have given it a lot of thought and don’t see how anything posi- Wisconsin Newspaper Association Seeling. Thursday, Sept. 17 tive could come of it for anyone,” Sweat wrote in his reply. Foundation (WNAF) Trees Retreat. • Afternoon: Golf Outing The WNA has booked a block of rooms Since I didn’t get the interview, no story was written. Even if I had, The annual retreat, part business and part at the Days Inn in Eagle River near Trees • Evening: Cocktail reception, dinner I can’t guarantee there would have been. fun, is a homecoming for WNA members. for Tomorrow. The rate us $79 for Thursday and campfire The retreat began in the late 1950s when and $89 for Friday. Lodging during this But that wasn’t the point. publishers bought a tract of land in Eagle time will be limited due to a concurrent River to visit annually and plant trees for regional event, making it important to Friday, Sept. 18 In June, Sweat and fellow inmate Richard Matt escaped from the relaxation and bonding. The Trees Retreat reserve your room now. Another housing • Morning: Education and WNA Board Dannemora, N.Y., prison where they were incarcerated. Weeks has evolved into two days of family fun option is the dorm-style bunkhouses on the Meeting after their escape, Matt was shot and killed while being pursued in the beautiful outdoors. Now managed Trees for Tomorrow campus (click here by police. Sweat was captured alive, after also being shot during by Trees for Tomorrow, an educational and scroll down to “Lodging” for photos). • Late Morning: WNA Memorial Pylon an attempt to elude officers. When news first broke of their forest, the WNA Publishers Forest and Contact WNA regarding bunkhouse book- Dedication and Induction Ceremony escape, I shared Sweat’s letter—which I had held onto along with Memorial Pylon stand as monuments to ing and availability. several other newsroom relics—with my friends via social media. To my surprise, it garnered interest from several news outlets— the Wisconsin newspaper industry and the • Midday: Luncheon including the Press & Sun-Bulletin and CNN—who had an interest publishers who’ve devoted their livelihood The WNA is reaching out to members in publishing it. The public was fascinated by a glimpse at the to the communities they serve. and their families to create the best Trees • Afternoon: Education and WNA Board personality of an escaped murderer that my letter seemed to Retreat WNA has seen to date. We invite Meeting provide. The 2015 WNAF Trees Retreat holds your memories of Trees Retreats passed. an extra event: the dedication of the new Contact [email protected] • Evening: Steak Fry at the WNA The news outlets all asked why I’d decided to write him. Memorial Pylon. Constructed of Rushmore to share your “Trees” story. Publishers Forest Granite to withstand the elements, the new There was no new information that had been revealed. There Pylon replaces a wood-and-press plate mon- Fundraising for the WNAF Pylon ongo- Do you have contact information for wasn’t a big anniversary approaching. ument to Wisconsin’s deceased newspaper ing. A special thanks to generous donations WNA members who would like to come to publishers. The annual Memorial Pylon cere- from our members, but we’re not done yet! the Trees Retreat? Please send it along and I was following up. mony is an opportunity to honor the publish- To donate to the Memorial Pylon fund, we’ll reach out to them. ers who passed away the previous year and contact WNA Member Services Director It’s a valued part of what we do as journalists and can be easily honor the Wisconsin newspaper industry. Julia Hunter at 608.283.7622 or Julia. PLEASE NOTE: The dates for the Trees overlooked when facing the daily grind of deadline pressure and [email protected]. Retreat have changed: the retreat will be breaking news. It can also be a challenge because of turnover For a first-person description of the Trees held Friday Sept. 17 and Saturday, Sept. 18. in reporting positions—I wasn’t even working at the Press & Sun-Bulletin when Sweat killed Broome County Sheriff’s Deputy Kevin Tarsia. I learned about it through a combination of talking Trees Testimony with my editors and scanning the newspaper archives. But news stories don’t typically have a natural conclusion, even though some might appear to. A sentencing, for instance, isn’t The WNAF Trees That first year, I didn’t quite know what education sessions and inestimable net- the end. In fact, many investigative stories are discovered by Retreat has become a to think of the Trees for Tomorrow Camp (a working with industry peers. It is also a time journalists who looked where no one was looking or asked ques- yearly reunion with my private non-profit organization providing and place to associate with those incredible tions after everyone else had lost interest. WNA family. It would natural resources education) accommoda- people who are living and solving many be impossible to dis- tions either, where you sacked out just like of the challenges that I face daily at the At my first newspaper job as a crime and court reporter in count the business any other young camper on a bunk bed Sun-Argus, Woodville Leader and even the Kentucky, I put the name of each criminal I covered through the and industry rewards I in one of the rustic cabins with shared Valley Values Shopper. It is where I make Vinelink alert system. That way, even with my faulty memo- have garnered at Trees, communal bathroom facilities. Three of connections and receive advice. It is where ry, I was notified every time an inmate had a change in status. but that isn’t the only Paul Seeling the meals were served in the pine-paneled I was given the courage to pursue the devel- Because I never disabled these alerts, I was able to tip off my old bounty I have received. Trees Dining Hall with 20 other Trees par- opment of our website MyGatewayNews. newspaper earlier this year when the man behind a 2006 murder ticipants, WNA staffers and guest lecturers. com. was released back into the community after serving half of his I went to my first “Trees” in late August sentence. of 2005 when I made the last minute deci- However, the annual round of golf piqued From that very first session, my peers sion to attend the WNA event for the regular my interest somewhat. This is a fierce welcomed me as an equal even though their So if you’re not already, when you put your next series to bed, educational component offered as part of competition for a shot at getting immor- publications are generally larger or may or announce the election of a new public official, or write a story the “Trees” retreat. talized; first-place team members’ names have been in their families for a couple about malfeasance discovered through your latest records are engraved on the traveling well-worn of generations. In sharing our brief time request, mark your calendar. Write a note for yourself—a week Heck, I didn’t have any time for a retreat, “Presidents Cup” trophy. I was sure my together in the informal setting of Trees, my out, a month out, a year out. Or, if it’s crime-related, sign up for a and I didn’t know any of the WNA members. game would never be good enough to be respect for their dedication, their commit- Vinelink alert. Given that, I certainly wasn’t all that inter- on the winning team, but I wanted to go out ment to serving their respective communi- ested in the social aspects that are also part and play just to see and experience a new ties with the highest professional standards Maybe there won’t be a new story when you follow up, and may- of the schedule such as going out for dinner course, so I signed up for the golf outing as and their personal sacrifices has grown be there will be. Or maybe you’ll discover something that will be useful—or of interest—in the future. as a big group or the trip out to the WNA part of my first “Trees” adventure. immensely and given me a deep sense of Demonstration Forest that publishers start- unequaled pride for our industry. You never know when the story is over. ed in 1958 or the annual Friday-night steak The Trees experience has become a price- fry. Nor did I have a clue what a “Memorial less and rewarding annual experience that -Paul Seeling, Do you know of any great tools or sites that are helpful when Pylon Ceremony” was. I now would not consider missing. Yes, it a publisher, Woodville Leader tracking stories? Let me know at [email protected]. business retreat where there is invaluable 5 WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 WNA news WNA: Archiving Wisconsin Newspapers

By Holly Henschen ‘The Wisconsin Model’ Communications Director Wisconsin Newspaper Association The WNA’s push to create its complete digital archive may be used as an example for other states. “Bite the bullet,” said Tim Redman, head of archive at Thomson Reuters. “Plan hard and take “The Wisconsin Model: Preserving newspa- the plunge [into archive digitization] sooner than pers for the digital age,” an article written by Ron later.” Larson, serials resources librarian at the Historical Society, will be published in the Newspaper In a recent story at journalism.co.uk, the repre- Research Journal this summer. Larson served sentative for one of the world’s most successful as newsroom librarian at the Wisconsin State newswires discussed the potential that digital Journal, and later the Capital Times as well, for archives hold for news organizations, including 30 years. enriched reporting and better context. “This archive is constantly being main- Well ahead of the curve, the Wisconsin tained, backed-up and monitored,” Larson said. Newspaper Association has offered its members “Preservation of the pages is key and involves and the public a newspaper archive that extends integrity checks of the data, ensuring the file Above: Bound versions of the Wisconsin back 10 years. The Wisconsin Newspaper remains fixed or unchanged.” Historical Society’s vast collection of United States newspapers line shelves along with Association’s digital archive has made the state’s extensive archives of Wisconsin newspapers. newspapers available to residents and members This process is by managed by Guttery, who, Right: The collection includes some of the old- through an innovative arrangement — the first among her other responsibilities, ensures a com- est newspapers in U.S. history, like the Boston and only of its kind in the United States. WNA plete digital edition of each newspaper is uploaded Evening Post. members upload each published page to form an to the archive. At the onset of the partnership, extensive digital library. The Wisconsin Historical WNA Executive Director Beth Bennett stressed Society ensures it’s complete by cross-refer- the importance of the archive’s completeness and “This is not a passive process, but requires having encing the digital archive to print editions. The accuracy. someone monitoring it every day,” Bennett said. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), a state agency tasked with advancing pub- lic education and libraries, provides access to the archive through BadgerLink, its online education Keeping Your Archive Accurate and reference portal. Wisconsin residents can The WNA counts on members to keep the • Special Section/Insert Reminder Newspapers can hyperlink directly to their access every issue of more than 200 Wisconsin archive up to date by uploading all newspaper Members, when you send your digital pages to archived database of searchable legal notices newspapers, dating back from March 2005 to pages, including special sections. Along with 10 the WNA archive, please make sure you are on WisconsinPublicNotices.org. Just use the 90 days before the current date. For the first six years of your newspaper’s history, this living uploading all pages of all sections, especially following model: months of 2015, the WNA’s newspaper archive archive also provides a personalized, online link special sections and inserts. on BadgerLink logged nearly 6,500 visits and to your community’s public notices. 11,455 page views. If you know you haven’t uploaded special sec- http://wna.eclipping.org/wna/legals/psetup/5- • To access the tions in the past, please contact Denise.Guttery@ LETTER-SPECIFIC-CODE-FOR-EACH- The benefit for member newspapers is that they WNA Digital Newspaper Archive, WNAnews.com or by phone at 608.283.7630 to NEWSPAPER can search the WNA archive for specific content members may contact Media Services Director devise a way to get that content into the archive. and download an entire page or a cropped article. Denise Guttery at The five-letter code is WI, followed by the three [email protected] or 608.283.7630. • Personalized Public Notices Links letter code you use to label your newspaper. Find “If an employee of a member newspaper wants Please provide your publication name and an Not only does the Wisconsin Newspaper Asso- your code here. Example: Appleton, Post-Cres- to access an edition from last week, last month email address for the account. Archive access ciation Archive hold years’ worth of community cent - http://wna.eclipping.org/wna/legals/psetup/ or three years ago, it can be done,” said Denise instructions are available here. history, it also holds public notices. wiapc. The 5-letter code is wiapc. Guttery, WNA Media Services Director. “We are here to help.”

Archiving, Tracking News Preserving History with Newspapers

The archive was born from a need to update Ensuring the accuracy of the WNA’s digital “When we have school groups, teenagers who Historical Society’s collection to hold up well more WNA’s clipping service, now known as News archive is just a small part of the Wisconsin may not be reading newspapers, its’ a way of touch- than a century later. Tracker. Historical Society’s efforts to preserve newspapers. ing something that’s old and fragile, but it’s import- ant to give a person a connection to real events in Silk and animal skins could also be printed on Until 2005, clipping service employees pored The Historical Society boasts one of the largest the past that have effects on the world we live it,” — the textile only needed to be flexible enough to over physical newspapers for mentions of key- newspaper archives in North America, second only Knies said. go through a press. But these materials were low in words specified by clients, including politicians, to the Library of Congress. The collection is housed May and June, 1863, when Vicksburg, Mississippi, law firms, non-profits and trade groups. Clippers on the University of Wisconsin-Madison campus. One of the Historical Society’s points of pride is was besieged by the Union Army. cut out articles with scissors and mailed them its U.S. ethnic newspapers. The biggest part of the weekly to clients keeping tabs on topics or More than 25 percent the WHS collection focuses collection is African American publications: 129 titles “They had the presses, and the ability to print, but mentions in the media. But, with the onset of on Wisconsin community newspapers. The archive from 30 states, mostly small weeklies from towns they just didn’t’ have the paper,” Knies said. “One the digital era, the clipping service was “slowly covers nearly every community in the state since like Winston-Salem, North Carolina, and Selma, of the raw materials they had was wallpaper, which bleeding to death,” said former WNA Executive the first newspaper, The Green Bay Intelligencer, Alabama. The Society also has newspapers published was taken off of walls and recycled. It’s great advan- Director Peter Fox. Revenue shrank as clients did was published in 1833, two and a half years before by American Indian communities, including 62 titles tage is its durability. Lots of times, those things have self-searches of keywords online to find results Wisconsin became a territory. from 20 states and Canada, many published on res- survived to the present day because they’re curiosi- from newspaper websites. ervations. U.S.-based Hispanic, Korean, Jamaican ties and they’re a very stable medium.” “The most complete understanding of the and Haitian publications also fill the archive. So the WNA contracted with a digital imaging American experience is through these papers,” said Editions of some of the country’s oldest newspa- company to replace the manual clipping service. Helmut Knies, collection development coordinator pers, like The Boston Evening Post and the Hartford Now, clippers comb through pre-sorted digital for the library archives at the Society. “It’s also News Curiosities, Relics Courant, can also be found in the collection. During clips for relevant mentions of keywords, allow- difficult because it’s not a one-stop shop and you the revolutionary movement, newspapers were a ing for a great volume of clips to be emailed have to make an effort to find what you’re look- One curiosity of the Historical Society’s collec- vital to informing communities in the 13 colonies to clients. In order to offer a more comprehen- ing for, which is one of the achievements of what tion is newspapers printed on wallpaper, published that later formed the United States. sive service, News Tracker also partners with the WNA and BadgerLink have done to create a in Confederate states. Paper shortages during the Universal Information Service to offer relevant research tool.” Civil War led publishers to strip paper from walls “Having that written down and distributed and digital clips from broadcast and social media. and print stories with headlines like “Yankee News.” making arguments to other colonists who had a Around the same time, the Wisconsin Historical greater sense of allegiance to the British, getting Society, which hadn’t made the jump to digital, Connecting to the Past Under normal circumstances, newspapers were that information to them was almost as important as heard news of the WNA’s growing archive. The printed on ‘rag paper,’ a cotton paper also used to fighting the British,” Knies said. “If we have access organizations combined their efforts, teaming up The archives boast 4,000 newspaper titles includ- make cotton. It holds up much longer than cur- to that, we’re going to keep that and preserve it for in 2009 with the DPI. ing ethnic, labor and pre-Revolutionary newspapers. rent wood pulp-based pages and contains no acid, the future.” which allows volumes of bound newspapers in the 6 WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 Education & Open Records

WNA Education reveals all the tips and best practices. Register here. • Increase Your ROI on Sales Calls • How to Craft an Engaging Lede *Student/advisor fee waiver 1-2 p.m., July 31 1-2 p.m., Aug. 13 Have you ever “winged” a sales call? Little to In this webinar, we will cover everything from WNA-Sponsored Webinars • Easily and Quickly Sort, Organize and Process no preparation before meeting with a customer is how to write a basic news story in inverted pyr- Your Photos 1-2 p.m., July 30 the norm for many salespeople. Often, the result amid style to the emotion-filled feature piece. The following webinars are available for $35 each Are you spending too much time looking of those calls is not as successful or as profitable This presentation includes an overview of several to WNA members and free to college newspaper through your digital photos trying to find the best as it could be. This webinar will focus on how to common and effective styles of ledes, as well as advisors and journalism students. Contact Holly. ones, only to settle on whatever’s “good enough” prepare for a sales presentation while not relying tips for how to keep ledes concise and compelling. [email protected] for more information. after a few minutes? With today’s digital cameras, on a script or winging it. During the program, we should be taking LOTS and LOTS of photo- we will discuss: interviewing techniques; uncov- • New Ways to Grow Audience Online: • Community Faces Photography graphs of every event. Taking them is easy … it’s ering customer needs; creating customized mar- Social Stories for Snapchat, Periscope and 1-2 p.m., July 23 what to do next that can be a killer. With Adobe’s keting campaigns; the 8 steps to a successful Facebook 1-2 p.m., Aug. 20 Populating your websites and newspapers with Bridge and Photoshop, you already have one of sales presentation; and tips to implement each Social media makes reaching new audiences easi- plenty of photos of local residents, taken at commu- the most powerful photo-processing duos on the step of the presentation process. Register here. er than ever. But where should you invest your time? nity events, is a great way to build readership, con- planet. Learn how to use them together properly *Student/advisor fee waiver Periscope, Snapchat and Facebook’s dive into video nect with people in your coverage area and increase to slice your photo production time dramatically, change the way we reach our social readers. Learn to page views. But there’s an art to the creation and improve quality and leave your photos in a format use live video, Facebook video and Snapchat to mine promotion of these galleries - this presentation that is flexible for changing later. Register here. new audiences and be creative with social stories.

Education Regional Production

• Ed Henninger Design Workshop • APME NewsTrain Friday, Aug. 14 in Burnsville, Minnesota Oct. 29-30 at Northern Illinois University in DeKalb Matters Join the Minnesota News Media Institute and trainer Ed At NewsTrain, you’ll learn how to produce enterprise stories Henninger, one of the world’s leading design consultants for efficiently, get started with data journalism, maximize your use of community newspapers, for a daylong workshop focused on news social media for reporting, as well as for personal branding and design. Last summer, Ed’s news design session sold out! This year, community engagement, shoot engaging smartphone video, use he’s back in Minnesota for more.Ed has worked with newspapers audience analytics to get your stories read, take creative approaches TONY SMITHSON all over the world and is bringing his expertise to MNA members to local features coverage, and unleash your watchdog with beat for one day only! Seats are limited so sign up today. For schedule mapping. For schedule and registration, click here. and registration, click here. Smithson is Vice President of Printing Operations at Bliss Communications, Inc. in Janesville.

Public Records and Open Government Update Tear Down that Wall

Racine requester that no record exists,’ the statute The request was denied on the grounds Sometimes a newspaper’s traditional “wall” between production doesn’t require it.” that its release 1) “could cause unfair dam- and advertising can be so formidable that, as one co-worker put The Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled that age to the reputation of the subject of it, “you couldn’t see over it, let alone get past it.” But publishers the City of Racine Police and Fire com- “The public is entitled to learn what the records if unsubstantiated allegations have some very good reasons to encourage close relationships mission did not violate open records laws their representatives decide behind closed contained in a closed investigation file between their advertising sales staff and their production staff. when it did not immediately release details doors and how they voted,” Dreps writes. were disclosed as the allegations may be • Improved Customer Focus: With regular contact with the of a controversial vote requested by The “Unfortunately, the Supreme Court’s deci- factually inaccurate;” 2) runs “counter to sales team, the production staff becomes more custom- Journal Times. sion makes that right virtually unenforce- the legislature’s recognition of the need er-focused, and advertisers aren’t just “ink on paper.” Getting able. In this era of 24-hour news, a month- to keep personnel records confidential to a sense of the lengths the sales staff go to secure an The Court’s June 18 ruling concerned long delay in answering a public records maintain the reputational and privacy inter- advertiser’s business is a good reminder to the production a February 2012 closed session meeting request is not reasonable — but the Supreme ests of the individual employee;” and 3) staff of the importance of their work and their role in mak- regarding the reopening of a search for a Court held otherwise.” Read more. Other employees might be discouraged ing the newspaper successful. new police chief after the only white candi- from bringing complaints, frustrating “the date out of three in the running dropped out. Lake Geneva public interest in investigating and evaluat- • Improved Quality: By gaining some understanding of the After criticism from the black community, ing the performance of public employees.” challenges that the production staff faces, sales reps can the council reversed its decision two days provide better advice to customers when it comes to their later. Nonetheless, the council refused to The village of Genoa City was ordered The lawsuit states “denial of public advertising materials. Providing better quality materials honor the newspaper’s request for informa- to pay the Regional News of Lake Geneva access generally is contrary to the public improves both the look of the newspaper and the effective- tion regarding who made and supported the $13,000 in attorney fees related to an open interest, and only in an exceptional case ness of the ad. motion to reopen the search, as well as how records lawsuit. may access be denied,” and alleges the each member of the board voted. school district is in violation of the law. • Improved Creativity: Production staff generally has a The editor of the Regional News request- Read more. deep understanding of the options available to customers, The Journal Times filed a complaint on ed access to surveillance footage of a including color positioning, unusual press configurations, March 16, 2012, and continued with legal uniformed police officer from the village or little-used insert zoning combinations, among others. action after the commission released infor- stealing. The request was denied for months UW System This additional perspective can be an additional tool in the mation on the vote on March 22, 2012. The and then granted nearly a week after the salesperson’s toolbox when presenting a marketing plan to newspaper argued that the initial denial of officer pleaded guilty to misdemeanor theft. The 2015-17 Wisconsin Biennial Budget advertisers. information and lack of timely response The newspaper filed suit for compensatory signed by Gov. Scott Walker July 12 con- • Faster Problem Solving: Eventually, something will go violated open meetings and open records damages related to unreasonable delay in tained language that closed public records wrong. When that happens, a close relationship between laws. In addition, the suit argued that the granting access to public records, as well as regarding potential hires for University of production and advertising makes the problem solving easier commission should pay the newspaper’s attorney fees and court costs. Read more. Wisconsin System leadership. and quicker. Advertising customers will benefit from quick legal fees because of it its failure to disclose resolutions and clear answers to their questions. the information. Beloit Since 1992, UW has been required to release the names and backgrounds of the So buy them a round of drinks, have a company picnic or just The newspaper’s attorney, Robert Dreps, The Beloit Daily News filed a lawsuit top five finalists for key administrative include both groups in planning meetings for the next special however, stated that the Supreme Court’s against the city’s school district after the posts, a rule in place for the leaders of state section. The investment you make demolishing the “wall” will decision “injects unnecessary confusion denial of an open records request for an agencies. The law allowed the public to vet soon pay for itself. into the state’s open records law on a num- incriminating document sent by the dis- their potential public servants in the UW ber of fronts.” trict’s superintentdant to its former board System. president was denied. WNA LEGAL HOTLINE >> The “most egregious” part of the ruling, The law now requires UW to name only Keep this number handy: 800.362.2664. The WNA Legal Hotline Dreps wrote in an emailed statement on On June 5, the Beloit Daily News sub- the single leading choices for the positions means help is just a phone call away! WNA-member editors, report- Thursday, is that although the state’s attor- mitted an open records request seeking after of System president and vice presidents, as ers and advertising staff may call toll-free to ask an attorney for ney general has argued that a government learning of the letter, which was was sent after well as each campus’s chancellor and vice immediate help when they are denied access to government meet- body must promptly respond that a request- a female administrator that accused the super- chancellor. Coaches and top administrators ings or records, have concerns about a story that could involve libel ed record does not exist, the court has intendent of harassment was given a retirment no longer need to be named. Read more. or privacy questions, face Freedom of Information (FOI) principles disagreed —“acknowledging that, while and severeance package that included a or have a question about the legality of an ad. ‘it might be a better course to inform a secrecy clause agreed to by both parties. 7 WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 Industry news

WNA Members Earn Postal Update NNA Awards

The Wisconsin Newspaper Association (WNA) proudly con- USPS Delays Closing Wisconsin gratulates our members who placed in the National Newspaper Association’s (NNA) 2015 Better Newspaper Editorial and Advertising Contests. Processing Centers

The Door County Advocate in Sturgeon Bay placed in the General Successful lobbying from the Wisconsin In January, processing and distribution of out- Nebraska Signal in Geneva, Nebrasla, said an Excellence Division. General Excellence winners will be announced Newspaper Association and national indus- going mail from Madison’s distribution center alarming deterioration in rural mail service was at NNA’s Annual Convention & Trade Show to be held Oct. 1-3 in try groups has put off the closing of a U.S. was shifted to Milwaukee, though the process- being reported across the country. The NNA is a St. Charles, Missouri. The Door County Advocate also won: Postal Service (USPS) processing and dis- ing and distribution center there is still open. national newspaper industry group. • Second place, Best Sports Feature Story or Series, Non-daily tribution center. Division, for “Winning is his game.” Although the USPS said it intends to The National Newspaper Association • Third Place, Best Sports Photo, Non-daily Division, circ. In response to complaints of delayed ser- proceed with the network changes, the pace (NNA) has called for measurement of 5,000-9,999. vice from the newspaper industry and many of change has slowed significantly. Many on-time delivery of rural mail, which often • Honorable mention, Best Family Life/Living Section/Pages, mailers, the U.S. Postal Service has changed closings that had firm July-September dates affects the publishers of weekly newspapers. Daily & Non-daily Division for “Your Key to the Door its planned schedule for consolidating and now have To Be Determined notations. The Rural senators are pushing Congress to Weekly;” and closing many mail processing plants this USPS said in a statement that deferred con- enact a postal reform bill that will keep the • Honorable mention, Best Family Life/Living Section/Pages, year, including on in Eau Claire and another solidation activities will resume next year. plants open. NNA Postal Committee Chair Daily & Non-daily Division for “Lifestyle.” in Wausau, originally scheduled to shutter Max Heath requests that newspapers report in July, according to United States Postal National Newspaper Association (NNA) chronic breakdowns in service to NNA. The The Edgerton Reporter won: Service (USPS) data released June 11. President John Edgecombe Jr., publisher of The current closing and consolidation schedule • First Place, Best Editorial, Daily & Non-daily Division, circ. less than 3,000 for “May 7, 2014;” • Honorable Mention, Best Editorial, Daily & Non-daily Division, circ. less than 3,000 for “Shooting;” USPS Offers Mobile Engagement Discount • Third Place, Best Use of Photographs, Daily & Non-daily Division; “Chilimania photos;” Shoppers and other third-class mail pieces are eligible for a 2 The discount is calculated in PostalOne! and applied to the post- • Honorable Mention, Community Service Award, Daily & percent shipping discount through a U.S. Postal Service mobile age statement at the time of mailing. The discount is deducted from Non-daily Division for “Created community Book and Film engagement promotion. the postage amounts of qualifying product categories that are paid Festival - now celebrating 10 years;” at the time of mailing. Postage prices listed in the published price • Honorable mention for Best Multiple Advertiser Section, Non- The 2015 Mail Drives Mobile Engagement Promotion, which list apply to the mailing and the discount is applied to those prices. daily Division, circ. less than 5,000 for “Lakes Edition;” and runs through Dec. 31, offers business mailers with an upfront 2 • Honorable mention, Best Multiple Advertiser Section, Non- percent postage discount on Standard Mail letters and flats that Standard Mail letters and flats are eligible for the discount, as daily Division, circ. less than 5,000 for “Book and Film include a mobile barcode or print/mobile technology. The barcode well as nonprofit standard mail letters and flats. Periodicals, all Festival promotional piece and program.” must be by readable or scan-able by a mobile device and lead to first-class mail, bound printed matter and media mail are not eligi- a mobile-optimized shipping website or the ability to complete a ble for the program. The Vilas County News-Review in Eagle River won: financial transaction. • First Place, Best Use of Local Photography in Ads, Daily & Non-daily Division for “Derby thank-you ad;” Stormy Weather • Third Place, Best Editorial Page(s), Daily & Non-daily Division, circ. 6,000 or more for “Editorial-Opinion- Commentary.” • Third Place, Best Special News, Sports or Feature Section or Edition, Daily & Non-daily Division, circ. 3,000-9,999 for “Salute to Emergency Personnel;” • Honorable Mention, Best Newspaper Website, Daily & Non- daily Division; • Honorable Mention, Community Service Award, Daily & Non-daily Division for “Warm the Children;” and • Honorable Mention Best Family Life/Living Section/Pages, Daily & Non-daily Division for “Lifestyle.”

The Tribune-Phonograph in Abbotsford won Third Place, Best Feature Story, Non-daily Division, circ. 2,000-3,999, “Chains of Command.”

There were 1,413 entries in the Better Newspaper Editorial Contest and 282 entries in the Better Newspaper Advertising Contest to total 1,695 entries. More than 500 awards were won by 149 member newspapers in 33 states. Recent storms moved across Wisconsin, creating impressive photo opportunities like this, posted on Walworth County Today’s Facebook page. FTC Eyes Native Advertising as Sales are Forecast to Triple by 2018

The Federal Trade Commission advised pub- above all else. recognize what they’re seeing is advertising or in video format here. Around the same time, lishers to be transparent in native advertising as not,” Engle said, according to Consumer Affairs. the Interactive Advertising Bureau (IAB) has revenue streams from the sponsored content and “When the publisher is creating the content, compiled a “Native Advertising Playbook” to placement grow. they’re more involved in the process, and that “An ad is deceptive if it misleads a signifi- provide a framework for dialogue native adver- creates some potential liability,” said Mary Engle, cant percentage of consumers,” AdExchanger tising and to facilitate commerce. The playbook Native advertising, also known as sponsored associate director for advertising practices at the reported Engle said. She noted that a significant includes a Recommended Industry Guidance content, is paid editorial-style content produced FTC, according to AdExchanger. Engle spoke at percentage is 10%-15 percent of consumers. The for Advertising Disclosure and Transparency for and published on behalf of an advertiser. Though the early June Clean Ads I/O Conference in New FTC tests consumer perception to measure if ads native ads, which includes six core types of the there’s not an industry-wide definition for native York, hosted by AdExchanger, an online source mislead them. ads. ads, the content typically falls into three broad of news on data-driven digital adverting. categories. The type of native most journalists Current FTC guidance on digital advertising The IAB recommends disclosing paid native recognize is sponsored content like articles that A growing number of news sources offer native applies print regulation to the evolving online ads must clearly and prominently by: encourage engagement with a brand. However, advertising option to offset losses from declining marketplace. However guidelines from the FTC native content also includes display ads and wid- sales. Native ads are expected to bring in $7.9 does not carry the same legal weight as regula- 1. Using language that conveys the advertising gets that link to other websites, yet appear to be billion in 2015 and nearly triple to $21 billion in tion, though it does hint at areas that are ripe for has been paid for, even if the unit of advertising part of the original site, as well as social media 2018, according to research by BusinessInsider’s enforcement action. does not contain traditional promotional advertis- ads, like Facebook News Feed placement and BI Intelligence unit. ing messages and promoted Tweets. In March 2013, the FTC released a guide, 2. Ensuring the disclosure is large and visible Visibly labeling native content is key to run- “.com Disclosures,” to guide digital advertis- enough for a consumer to notice it in the context Creating paid content that can be perceived as ning it responsibly. ers. Later in the year, the Commission held a of a given page and/or relative to the device it’s editorial copy or placement can lead to conflict workshop on native advertising, “Blurred Lines: being viewed on. for most publishers, who value their credibility “For us, the concern is whether consumers Advertising or Content?” which can be viewed 8 WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 Among friends

CLINTONVILLE KEWASKUM SHEBOYGAN FALLS Ruth Curtiss Former WNA Founda- Andrew and Laura Johnson, publishers of the Kathy Roehrig, advertising production coordi- Ruth Curtiss, former tion summer intern Scott Campbellsport News and the Dodge County nator for The Sheboygan Falls News for eight co-publisher of the Bellile, previously a UW-Os- Pionier, are now the owners and publishers of years, is leaving the newspaper for a sales Republican Journal in hkosh student working at the Kewaskum Statesman. position in her hometown of Fond du Lac. Darlington, died June 14 at the school’s Advance-Titan age 97. The University of newsper, has joined the Wisconsin-Madison alum Clintonville Tribune-Gazette graduated summa cum and the New London Press MADISON WAUSAU laude in economics and Star as a reporter. Bellile pre-law while working for Mike Ivey, a veteran reporter was a WNA Foundation Raina Beutel, a recent UW- a local law firm. In college, she met her husband with 30 years under his intern with the Campellsport News in 2014. He Eau Claire graduate, has E. Bowden Curtiss, with whom she bought and belt at the Cap Times, has has experience as a news editor, reporter and taken on the breaking news published the newspaper after WWII. On press left the newspaper. After cartoonist. Read more. beat at the Wausau Daily day, no page escaped her scrupulous proof- covering sports, City Hall, Herald. The beat includes reading eye. Curtiss, a mother of five, was a the environment, politics a focus on public safety. leader in securing support for Darlington’s public and — for the last 10 years Beutel’s experience includes swimming pool and advocating for the current — business, Ivey plans to EAU CLAIRE working at the student high school. freelance, spend more newspaper and television Courtney Kueppers, the time with his family and and radio stations in college. Read more. 2015 representative of the volunteer at the Simpson Street Free Press, an Wisconsin Newspaper after-school program for Dane County middle Mary Ann DeBehnke Association Foundation to and high school students. Read more. the National Newspaper Mary Anne (Balke) DeBehn- Association Foundation NATIONAL NEWS ke, former society editor at News Fellow Program, is the Oshkosh Northwestern, working as an intern at the CASPER, WYOMING MANITOWAC died June 11 at age 85. Washington D.C. bureau Mindy Burton, former as- Debhenke later served as of the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Kueppers also Tyler Henderson was named sistant night editor at the the social editor at the San served as editor-in-chief to The Spectator, community content spe- Wisconsin State Journal, marcos Record in Texas, the student newspaper of UW-Eau Claire, as cialist for the Herald Times was named the manag- where here husband Don- well as a part-time reporter for the Eau Claire Reporter and the Sheboygan ing editor for the CaspEr ald was stationed with the Leader-Telegram. Press, writing for and editing Star-Tribune, Wyoming’s’ U.S. Air Force. Read more. community and editorial only statewide newspaper. pages. Henderson was Burton joined the newspa- previously a sports producer per in February 2014 as the at WUEC FM in Eau Claire. He ELLSWORTH news production manager and also served as Anne Nicol Gaylor has written for the nationally acclaimed All About the opinion editor. Read more. Rick Hardy, formerly a Jazz website and Volume One Magazine in Eau business communications Claire. Henderson interned at the Sheboygan Press, Anne Nicol Gaylor, former manager for 3M and finan- and was the multimedia editor of UW-Eau Claire’s owner and editor of the Middleton Times-Tribune, cial advisor at the French student newspaper, The Spectator. Read more. HARLINGEN, TEXAS firm AXA, joined Rivertown died June 14 at age 88. The Multimedia as a recruit- Lisa Seiser, former man- nationally known founder of ment marketing specialist aging editor of the Lake the Freedom From Religion Foundation was a Tomah on the Jobs HQ team. NEW RICHMOND Geneva Regional News, has He will represent Forum been named news editor native. Read more. Communications’ products at the Valley Morning Star Mike Foley, managing editor of the New Rich- in western Wisconsin and eastern Minnesota. in Harlingen, Texas. After mond News, is leaving his position to work in Hardy is a UW-Stout graduate. Read more. serving for seven years in communications for the Minnesota Department Jack Kellett Lake Geneva, Seiser spent of Transportation in St. Paul. three years at the Daily Union in Junction City, Kan- Jack Kellett, a former sas. Read more. news reporter for the Os- EAU CLAIRE hkosh Northwestern in the Dick Hall filed his final From the Woodlot column MINERAL POINT late 1960s, died May 23 at in The Country Today and age 77. Kellett later taught will enter retirement after Joelle Doye, former editor in Winneconne then in writing for more than 18 of The Democrat Tribune CHICAGO Mequon until his retirement in Mineral Point, has taken years. After teaching for Area man Steve Hannah, in 1998. He loved reading a position as communica- decades in the Wisconsin the former executive and teaching his students tions director for the Min- Department of Natural editor at the Milwaukee about nature and wildlife through books like eral Point School District. Resources, Hall began Journal, will step down “Where the Red Fern Grows.” Kellett and his Doye is one of the WNA’s writing for newspapers in down from The Onion, wife Arlene moved to a lake house in Win- Future Headliners, a group 1993 after being offered the satirical newspaper chester in 2000. He is remembered for asking, of young journalists recog- an outdoors writing position by the Oshkosh he helped transform “Do you think I look like Brad Pitt?” Read more. nized for their contributions to the industry. Northwestern. Read more. into diverse digital media company. Hannah, who will step down July 1, is remains a minority owner and will continue as chairman of the board. Don Woerpel GREEN LAKE OSHKOSH The Onion was founded in 1998 by students at Don Woerpel, editor of The Nate Beck is the new community business re- UW-Madison. Former Oshkosh Northwestern regional editor Star News in Medford for 15 porter covering Fond du Lac and Oshkosh for the Lynne Johnson was named a member of years, died at age 80. The Oshkosh Northwestern.Beck the Board of Directors of the Thrasher Opera editor also wrote a book, was a WNA Foundation House Corporation in Green Lake. Johnson “The 79th Fighter Group intern at the Courier Sentinel retired to Green Lake after nearly 24 years as -30- Over Tunisia, Sicily and Italy in Cornell and the Tribune senior managing director of Communications in World War II.” He served Record Gleaner in Loyal. at the University of Wisconsin Foundation. in the U.S. Air Force as a Beck also has experience at The Thrasher Opera House promotes the arts, Michael Brickley radar operator from 1952- the National Law Journal/ provides a community gathering place, and 1956 on the border of Montana and Canada, Legal Times in Washington preserves historic Thrasher’s Opera House. Michael Brickley, co-found- as well as in Southern Japan. He worked as a D.C. covering federal courts, er of the Milwaukee linotype operator for several print shops and as well as at The Reporter in newspaper Cityside, died also as the editor of newspapers in Marshall Fond du Lac. Beck was also a staffer at University January 15 at age 61. The Waterloo and Deerfield, as well as the advertis- of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s student newspaper, The graduate of UW-Milwau- ing manager for the Monona Community Herald. Spectator. kee’s journalism program Read more. and UW-Madison Law School also worked as a lawyer and legal editor for West Publishing. Read more. 9 WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 Industry columnists

JOHN FOUST ED HENNINGER KEVIN SLIMP JIM STASIOWSKI

Ad-libs Design for Readers Newspaper Technology Writing Matters John Foust has conducted training programs for Ed Henninger is an independent newspaper Kevin Slimp is a speaker and trainer in the Jim Stasiowski, the writing coach for The Dolan thousands of newspaper advertising profession- consultant and Director of Henninger Con- newspaper industry. Visit www.kevinslimp.com Co., welcomes your questions or comments. als. Many ad departments are using his training sulting. He offers comprehensive newspaper or e-mail [email protected]. Call him at 775- 354-2872, or write to 2499 videos to save time and get quick results from design services including redesigns, workshops, Ivory Ann Drive, Sparks, Nev. 89436. He has in-house training. Email for information: john@ design training and design evaluations. Visit Lessons from Experience coached reporters at newspapers and magazines johnfoust.com henningerconsulting.com or email in dozens of states. [email protected]. Take it From Here I don’t know about you, but I’m not much of a How Writers Can Do Better sitter. By that, I mean I can sit through speech Simplicity is in the Details for a few minutes, but then I usually start to get I remember stopping for directions to a golf bored. That’s when my mind starts drifting and course. “How do I get to Sea Palms?” I asked. my body gets squirmy. I have often stated—both on my blog and during It was Memorial Day weekend, and I was The young man behind the counter of the presentations—that I am not a friend of writers. That may sound strange, coming from a guy watching a movie, “Action in the North Atlantic,” convenience store responded with his own that gives speeches for a living, but it’s proba- a tribute to question, “From here?” I almost laughed out loud I am a friend of readers. bly the reason that I usually finish talking a few at the absurdity – and the profoundness – of Years ago, during a workshop I gave for a client, minutes ahead of schedule. I empathize with the courage of the men who manned the World his comment. Directions always start from the audience. War II shipping convoys that delivered life-sav- where we are at the moment. a reporter blurted out: “But we’re in the busi- ness of writing.” ing supplies to Russia. The exception comes when I hear someone re- The game of golf provides us with a fine ad- ally smart. Funny, I can sit and listen to a brilliant As I had seen a thousand times in such movies vertising parallel. Let’s say you hit your drive “No, we are not,” I said, slowly and carefully mouthing each word to make my position clear. thinker for hours, although it seems people with as “Casablanca,” “The Maltese Falcon,” “To Have into the trees (I’ve been there, done that many the most to say generally are the ones who say and To Have Not,” etc., at one point in the movie, times). You’re in trouble and need to get out. “We are in the business of bringing meaning to readers’ lives.” it in the shortest amount of time. Humphrey Bogart, an officer on one of the Since you can’t start over, you have to take the ships, lit a cigarette. next shot “from here.” Let’s take a look at some Now, that wasn’t my statement. It’s actually the That was the case three days ago, when I steps to take when your golf ball – or your heard Dr. James Hildreth, dean of the College of You know how your brain sometimes just starts advertiser – is in the trees: single most important sentence in “On Writing Well,” by William Zinsser. I recommend Zinsser’s Biological Sciences at the University of Califor- darting around like a beagle in your backyard? nia, Davis, a pioneer in HIV and AIDS research, 1. Find the ball. book time and again—and many of those who In other words, figure out where address the graduating Ph.D. and Masters My brain did that with Bogey’s smoking. “here” is. Analyze the advertiser’s original goals have taken my advice and read it have thanked me for it. candidates at The University of Arkansas. and marketing tactics. What has worked in I wondered: What role did smoking play in his the past? Can you pinpoint what made things Dr. Hildreth spoke for no more than five minutes, amazing career? veer off course? Has the budget been wisely We are in the business of bringing meaning to readers’ lives. But just how do we do that? but I’ll never forget what he said. “You should allocated or has it been spent on an impromptu know,” he began, “that most of what you’ve (We do know, of course, that smoking probably basis? What about external forces? Have new learned in your time as a student is wrong.” He killed Bogey at age 57. He died of throat cancer.) competitors entered the market? Where are Here are some points I’d share with those who write for newspapers: had my attention as he continued, “But that’s your potential customers spending their time OK. The most important thing you’ve learned at His career spanned the 1930s, 1940s and much and their money? DO A STORY LINE. Write the gist of your story this university is how to think.” of the 1950s, an era in which smoking cigarettes was as popular as such addictions as texting 2. Pick a target. Obviously, the long range in one line (or less) across the screen of your computer. That one line will help you stay on I couldn’t help but think of all the speakers and Facebook are today. objective is to put the ball in the hole. But for and teachers I’ve had over the years. Just try now, the task at hand is to move closer to that topic as you write. If you can’t put it into one sentence, then you’re going to struggle. “helping” a middle school student with home- So the fact he smoked wasn’t surprising. goal, not necessarily put it in the hole with one work. When I try to help my children with their swing. Should you go for the green and try to math homework, I quickly learn that math has But think about his voice: gravelly, resonant, a blast it through a gap in the trees? Or should BE BRIEF. You may think your story has to be long for it to be complete. Nope. It has to be as changed and my answers are no longer valid. bark rather than a coo. Would he have had the you punch it laterally into the fairway, to create same commanding presence with a higher a better lie for your next shot? brief as possible. Why? Because readers will see that your article goes on…and on…and on… Dr. Hildreth is right. The most important thing pitch? Did cigarettes – and I’m not advocating and they will stop reading (if they ever start). we learn through education and experience is smoking – give him the voice he needed to What’s best for your advertiser? Should you how to think. Accepting information as gospel, become the nonpareil screen performer of his invest a big piece of the budget in an effort to They will decide they don’t have time to read your entire piece. just because it comes to us from an “expert” is time? go for the green? Or play it safe with a high- no more valid than assuming everything we’ve er-percentage shot? BREAK IT UP. Find ways to cut your story into learned in school is valid. And how about the cigarette as prop? 3. Pick the right club. Once you decide where pieces that make it easier to follow, easier to read. If, for example, you have a story about five Maybe we could learn something about news- Today a smoker in a movie is looked down and how far you want to hit the ball, the next papers from Dr. Hildreth. Perhaps our teachers upon, considered stupid or weak or antisocial. step is to choose a tactic. If you go for the people running for office, it’s much better to run a package of five separate stories—one on each have been wrong. Maybe we’ve been listening to But in Bogey’s time, the cigarette had a differ- green, you can propose a big blow-out sale experts when we should have been using our ent meaning. Smokers were virile (Bogey) or – with substantial savings on a number of of the candidates—than one long piece on all of them. own experience to think about the best ways to sophisticated (Lauren Bacall), and if both were products and/or services. move our publications forward. smoking, it surely implied sex (Bogey and Bacall). BE CLEAR. Throw the jargon in the junk bin. If you play it safe, you can: (1) run image ads Of course, I could be wrong. What, you must be wondering, does all that while you work out a better long-term strate- Just what is a “feasibility study,” really? And what does “ubiquitous” mean? If it’s something have to do with writing? gy, (2) dust off and re-use a former offer that Tech survey offers glimpse into the past worked well, or (3) best of all, test some offers your 12-year-old daughter doesn’t understand, odds are your reader won’t, either. It’s the lesson we keep learning and relearning: in smaller doses to determine what you should Robyn Gentile, Tennessee Press Association, Journalists should notice people, think about incorporate in a larger promotion. PUT THE BIG STUFF FIRST. Readers want to dropped by my office to give me a folder re- their mannerisms, their voices, the colors they cently. “I thought you might be interested,” she wear, what their offices or desks or homes or 4. Have a solid swing. know what your story is all about—without A bad swing can result said. cars or lawns look like. Look for clues to per- in an even worse location for your next shot. So having to wade through several paragraphs to read it. So put the important points first. Save sonality, responsibility. Find ways to get details. make sure to pay careful attention to funda- Was I ever. It was a survey I had conducted 12 Use some, discard most. On Memorial Day itself, mentals. A great concept won’t work if it is the less important material and the background paragraphs for later in the story. years ago for Tennessee Press Association, I covered a ceremony at the Black Hills National introduced with a weak headline. A compelling to determine what type of technology needs Cemetery, not far up Interstate 90 from Rapid offer will flop if the expiration date is too soon. existed among member papers. And a message which is loaded with claims and exaggerations will be ignored by consumers.

Read the rest of the column on the WNA website Read the rest of the column on the WNA website Read the rest of the column on the WNA website Read the rest of the column on the WNA website >> >> >> >> 10 WNA BULLETIN | JUNE-JULY 2015 About WNA We’re here for you! The Wisconsin Newspaper Association exists to strengthen the newspaper industry, enhance public understanding of the role of newspapers, and protect basic freedoms of press, speech and the free flow of information.

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