http://issuu.com/wnanews/docs/november_bulletin_photos?mode=window&viewMode=doublePage
Browse November's collection of photos gathered from WNA-member newspapers. Click the thumbnail and take a look. Want to submit a photo for next month's gallery? Send the photo or newspaper name, date and page number where the photo appeared to [email protected].
WNA News
Among Your Friends
Industry News
Industry Columnists
About
WNA Services grows its business
WNA Services, Inc. (WNAS) continues to grow its enterprises in 2012 through its Wisconsin News Tracker (WNT) ventures. Profits from WNT are used to keep WNA member dues steady while enabling increased member services and further advancement of the newspaper industry in Wisconsin.
In 2012, Wisconsin News Tracker expanded by assuming management of the Utah Press Association clipping service. In September, a proposal from WNAS and technological partner Tecnavia Press was chosen from four potential partners to begin creation and management of the Hoosier State Press Association (Indiana) clipping service. The work on behalf of Indiana is set to begin in 2013.
“The recent and continued growth of WNAS is very beneficial to WNA members,” says WNA Services Board President Pieter Graaskamp. “Revenue raised will enhance the WNA’s existing member services, allow the association to expand those services and have a greater impact on Wisconsin’s newspaper industry.”
WNT, together with Universal Information Services, assists clients with monitoring, tracking, and analyzing of news and information. News is tracked from newspapers, TV and radio broadcasts, web and social media posts. WNT also offers anews release distribution and service.
Are you aware of a potential Wisconsin News Tracker client? Send your tips to [email protected].
Newspapers must turn in public notice certification forms
In early October, WNA publishers were sent a letter from the Wisconsin Department of Administration (DOA) outlining steps in the annual certification for public/legal notice rates.
As of last week, nearly 60 WNA-member newspapers had not responded to DOA’s request.
In order for newspapers to charge for publishing or to continue publishing public/legal notices, they must complete the DOA certification process. Having certification is a prerequisite for a newspaper seeking to become an official municipal newspaper.
New certification letters will be issued to newspapers no later than Dec. 15. In order to do so, newspapers are requested to return the application form and materials to DOA by Nov. 15, 2012.
Gail Endres, program manager in the DOA State Bureau of Procurement, coordinates the transition from 2012 into the upcoming 2013 rate structure. Endres said she is looking forward to working with WNA publishers and staff in making the certification (now conducted on an annual basis) a smooth and accurate process.
WNA members needing assistance with the process or have questions regarding their newspaper’s certification status are welcome to call or email Endres at (608) 264-7658.
Johnson honored with Lee President’s Award
Vernon County Broadcaster (Viroqua) Managing Editor Matt Johnson has earned the Lee President’s Award for his reporting on misconduct involving the Readstown police chief.
The award is the highest journalism honor from Lee Enterprises, the parent company of the Broadcaster (published Thursdays with a circulation of 4,103) and the La Crosse Tribune.
“You don’t ever consider that you’d get recognition like this,” Johnson said. “This is out of the ordinary and I’m very grateful and humbled … this is sensitive and a very difficult story to cover due to a number of different issues that fold into it legally.”
For the past 13 months, Johnson examined records and cultivated community sources to produce nearly 25 stories and columns that showed the village(population nearing 400) had operated its police department for years without proper government oversight.
Chief Shay Larson was found guilty by a jury in September of three felony counts of misconduct in public office. On Monday, Nov. 5, he pleaded no contest to two misdemeanor charges as part of a plea agreement with prosecutors. He is to be sentenced on Dec. 3.
Johnson started a public records investigation once Larson was placed on administrative leave in October of 2011. By spring, village officials stopped talking to Johnson. Since that time, all questions to officials and records requests have been made in writing.
“I ended up following the paper trail left behind in minutes of village meetings going back to 2008,” he said, adding that he found and reported on a “trail of bad behavior, retaliation and misdeeds that was clear to see.”
Johnson said the newspaper is receiving support from village of Readstown residents and his ability to develop sources in the village speaks to the work as a whole.
“The people had been hearing bits and pieces of this for years and for us as a newspaper — to fulfill our duty to protect the people’s right to know — we have been supported. The people look forward to seeing this come to fruition and bring closure."
Johnson’s advice to reporters who feel there’s little time for such investigations is to realize they don’t need to publish the results of their findings in just one story. Accurate and fair investigations can be presented over time as information emerges, he said.
Johnson conducted the investigation while covering government, sports, spot news; taking photographs; handling pagination; and managing a staff of editors and reporters.
Johnson credited those with whom he works:
“I was supportedby News Editor Angela Cina; Reporter Jennifer Wieman and Westby Times editor Dorothy Jasperson-Robson. Those three people in our office truly supported me, and it goes on up to River Valley Newspaper Group Publisher Rusty Cunningham; Broadcaster Publisher Chris Hardie and La Crosse Tribune City Editor Matt Christensen.”
Read more online >>
AMONG YOUR FRIENDS >>
Yang named general manager, executive editor Nhia Yang was been named general manager and executive editor of The Sheboygan Press and executive editor of the Manitowoc Herald Times Reporter, effective Oct. 15.
Yang, 33, had been serving both roles on an interim basis since mid-August, following the departure of Mike Knuth, who was named executive editor of the Green Bay Press-Gazette. All are owned by Gannett Co.
A graduate of the University of Evansville in Evansville, Ind., Yang began her career at The Sheboygan Press more than a decade ago as a reporter and later worked as the newspaper’s assistant editor of digital media, where she oversaw day-to-day operations with a focus on online content. Read more >>
Sondreals reflect on seven decades of the Amery Free Press
For more 117 years, the Amery Free Press has been publishing on a weekly basis. For 71 of those 117 years, the Sondreal family has been writing that first draft of history.
The second generation of the Sondreal family in the newspaper business, Jerry and Steve, retired and sold the Free Press on July 31, 2012. At the Friends of the Library's Third Saturday program Oct. 20, Jerry Sondreal presented a program about the family's experiences in the newspaper business. His nearly two hour long presentation, aided for a short time by his brother Steve, brought to life highlights of Amery's history as well as providing a glimpse into how newspaper production has changed in the seven decades of his family's ownership. Read more >>
Harris named editor in Cuba City Dena Harris has been named editor of the Tri-County Press, Cuba City. Harris took over for Stephanie Pitzen, who resigned to take a full-time position with the Grant County Sheriff's Department.
Harris grew up in rural Wisconsin, graduating from UW-Plattevile in 2007 with a degree in communication technology with an emphasis in journalism and minors in English and imaging media.
She has worked at the Beaver Dam Daily Citizen, Vernon County Broadcaster (Viroqua) and the Republican Journal, Darlington.
Colorado publisher, Baranczyk, named NNA president
Merle Baranczyk, publisher of the Salida (CO) Mountain Mail, became president of the National Newspaper Association, during the association’s 126th annual convention and trade show Oct. 6.
Baranczyk succeeds Reed Anfinson, publisher of the Swift County Monitor-News in Benson, MN. Baranczyk had been vice president for the association.
Steve Andrist, president of Journal Publishing Inc., publisher of The Journal in Crosby, ND, and The Tioga (ND) Tribune, was elected to a second three-year term as Region 6 director (Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin).
Continuing on the board of directors is Mark W.C. Stodder, vice president of newspapers, Dolan Media Co. in Minneapolis, MN, as the representative for American Court and Commercial Newspapers. Stodder also serves WNA as co-chair of the Government Relations Committee.
Bliss honored with Casey Award Sidney "Skip" Bliss, chairman, CEO and president of Bliss Communications, received the Ralph D. Casey Award from the Inland Press Association.
The award is presented annually to a publisher, editor or senior newspaper staff member with a distinguished record of leadership and service to his or her newspaper and to the industry. The award recognizes those who set the agenda for the newspaper industry with their service to journalism and the community. Read more >>
Staffing changes announced in Green Bay Robert Zizzo joined the Green Bay Press-Gazette on Oct. 29. Zizzo is the key audiences editor for the Press-Gazette. In addition, local news editor Amber Paluch has been named the community engagement editor at the Press-Gazette.
Zizzo, 49, has worked in newsrooms for 28 years in a variety of roles in news and sports departments. He comes to the Press-Gazette from Fresno, Calif., where he has been the metro editor at the Fresno Bee for the past four years. He started at the Bee in 2001, serving as sports editor for his first seven years there.
Paluch joined the Press-Gazette in 2005 as deputy metro editor. A native of Green Bay, Paluch began her career at the Wausau Daily Herald before coming to the Press-Gazette. Read more >>
Jordan Tilkens is the Herald Times Reporter’s new digital desk producer. He is responsible for helping put stories on our website,www.htrnews.com. He is a 2012 graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay, earning a bachelor’s degree in communication.
At UWGB he served the Fourth Estate, UWGB’s newspaper and website as co-editor, website manager and entertainment editor winning awards/honors for best in show for a tabloid-sized newspaper and website design. Read more >>
Former Press-Gazette associate editor dies at 86
James Bartelt, who covered government and politics for the Green Bay Press-Gazette for more than three decades, died Friday at his home in Madison. He was 86.
Former colleagues remember Bartelt as a dedicated newspaper man who never lost his interest in Green Bay politics, even in retirement. Read more >>
INDUSTRY NEWS >>
Pulse purchasing survey promotions, results available to papers
Pulse Research conducts an ongoing national purchasing survey to provide current shopping research to its clients. The Pulse of America survey is being conducted in all 50 states and therefore will provide an accurate, representative sample of newspaper reader shopping plans.
WNA member newspapers are invited to participate in the Pulse of America reader purchasing survey and, in turn, benefit by free access to the group’s free quarterly research reports.
Participating is simple. Publish Pulse ads as often as you can, but at least once during the promotion period and put a link on your website. The Pulse of America survey is being conducted in all 50 states and therefore will provide an accurate, representative sample of newspaper reader shopping plans.
In appreciation for newspaper’s support, Pulse will send participating papers a complimentary copy of its quarterly Pulse of America reader shopping results that can be used in effective sales presentations.
Download Pulse of American Q3 "Upper Midwest" regional results here. The results are offered in exchange to newspapers that promote the survey. Promotion materials can be found here http://www.pulseresearch.com/poa/
Pulse Research was founded in 1985 by John Marling, a University of Wisconsin graduate, to provide publishing clients with research based advertising sales and marketing programs designed to get results. The company provides research and marketing services for daily and weekly newspapers, shopper publications and other special interest publications across the US and Canada.
For more information or to participate, send an e-mail to Andrew Dove at [email protected] or call him at (503) 626-5224.
INDUSTRY COLUMNISTS >>
Newspaper Technology: Kevin Slimp
Slimp By Kevin Slimp — They say that even a blind squirrel finds a nut once in a while.
My inbox was filled with notes from publishers across the states who were writing to congratulate me on correctly predicting what would happen with the whole Times Picayune mess in New Orleans. Read more >>
Design for Readers: Ed Henninger
By Ed Henninger — I first heard it years ago...and I’ve remembered ever since: “If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.”
Some say it originated with Benjamin Franklin. Others aren’t so sure. Regardless, the quote is memorable—and it’s a sure reminder to editors that they need to work on their planning. For every issue. Read more >>
Writing Matters: Jim Stasiowski
By Jim Stasiowski — At my desk in the newsroom, I could hear murmurs as the city editor and managing editor conversed, huddling 12, maybe 15 feet away.
Their words were mostly unintelligible, and I’m an inept eavesdropper anyway – I perpetually was voted The Reporter Least Likely To Know Newsroom Gossip – so I was concentrating on something else, probably trying to find a single document buried in the mountain of papers on my desk. Read more >>
Community Newsroom Success Strategies: Jim Pumarlo
By Jim Pumarlo — Your newsroom has just finished brainstorming on how to beef up its business reporting. The conversation happens to be at the same time your newspaper has a major announcement itself. What better opportunity to signal to your readers a new page in local business reporting. Read more >>
Ad-Libs: John Foust
By John Foust — “As crazy as it sounds, losing a sale can be good for business,” Gerald told me. “It offers a unique chance to build rapport over a long period of time. And when they conduct another advertising review, I’ll be in a better position than before.”
To put it simply, a sales presentation has three possible outcomes: (1) yes, (2) no, or (3) not yet. The good news – for Gerald and other optimistic sales people – is that “no” can be interpreted as “not yet,” instead of “never.” This means there is hope for a future sale, even when the last attempt wasn’t successful. Rapport is a huge element in turning today’s “not yet” into next month’s or next year’s “yes.” Read more >>
FREE MEMBER EXCHANGE >>
Free Member Exchange features "Help Wanted" and "For Sale" ads submitted by WNA member newspapers. The Free Member Exchange is updated frequently and available online on the Employment page in the Industry Resources section of the WNA Web site and through a weekly e-mail (click here to subscribe). Click here for information on submitting an ad.
ABOUT >>
The Bulletin is an electronic newsletter published by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.
Subscribe/unsubscribe to The Bulletin The Bulletin Archives Submit news and editorial Send feedback Add to your Safe Sender List Join the WNA group on LinkedIn Like WNA on Facebook Follow WNA on Twitter
LEGAL HOTLINE >> Keep this number handy: (800) 362-2664
The WNA Legal Hotline means help is just a phone call away! WNA-member editors, reporters and advertising staff may call toll-free to ask an attorney for immediate help when they are denied access to government meetings or records, have concerns about a story that could involve libel or privacy questions, or face similar challenges to Freedom of Information (FOI) principles. Ad staff may also use the Hotline when questions arise about the legality of an ad.
Need assistance that's not necessarily legal in nature? Be sure to call on WNA staff at (800) 261-4242!
Interested in receiving more from WNA?
Click below to sign up for:
• WNA's Government Update, distributed monthly opposite The Bulletin.
• Press Notes, a daily e-mail of industry news compiled by the Society of Professional Journalists and re-distributed by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association as a service to WNA members.
• Free Member Exchange, job listings and items for sale.
Click here to sign up for Government Update, Free Member Exchange and/or Press Notes newsletters.
Not getting The Bulletin by email? Send your request by email to [email protected].
Education through Online Media Campus
The Wisconsin Newspaper Association partners with the Iowa Newspaper Foundation (INF) and Southern Newspaper Publishers Association to provide comprehensive online training to newspaper professionals through Online Media Campus.
Online Media Campus will offer more than 20 high-quality, low-cost webinars in 2012 that eliminate the need for travel and time away from the office. The interactive webinars run approximately 60 minutes and registration is just $35 per session.
Visit http://www.onlinemediacampus.com/webinars/ for registration links and more details.