WE SALUTE our service members The WNA office will be closed Monday, May 30 for Memorial Day THETHE May 26, 2016 BulletinBulletinNews and information for the Wisconsin newspaper industry Five appointed to boards WNA Board opposes Johnson becomes president of the overtime WNA Foundation ruling BY JAMES DEBILZEN Communications Director BY JAMES DEBILZEN Communications Director The Wisconsin Newspaper Association Board of Directors A new set of federal rules appointed three new members Rusty John Halverson Tim Lyke Greg Mellis Scott Peterson that were announced last to the WNA Foundation Board Cunningham week regarding overtime pay and two new members to the has sparked concern among WNA Services Board during its funds and other resources for Board of Directors. and other activities not related publishers in Wisconsin’s quarterly meeting on May 19 at the benefit of Wisconsin’s news- Meanwhile, publisher to WNA membership. newspaper industry. the Madison Club. paper industry. Greg Mellis of the Shawano Members are appointed by The Wisconsin Newspa- Joining the WNA Foundation Foundation board member Leader and Scott Peterson, the WNA Board of Directors per Association Board of are Rusty Cunningham, editor Andrew Johnson, publisher editor-in-chief of the Journal to serve one-year terms and Directors during its May 19 of the La Crosse Tribune; Tim of the Wisconsin Free Press Community Publishing Group, include the immediate past meeting in Madison voted Lyke, publisher of the Ripon Group based in Mayville, was were appointed to serve on the president of the WNA, Carol unanimously to go on record Commonwealth Press; and John appointed as the foundation’s WNA Services Board. O’Leary; first vice president, opposing the overtime Halverson, who recently retired new president. Johnson suc- WNA Services, Inc. is a wholly John Ingebritsen; a WNA daily changes, which doubles the as general manager of the Lake ceeds Kris O’Leary, publisher owned for-profit subsidiary of publisher (Mellis) and a WNA level of pay a professional Geneva Regional News. of The Record Review in Edgar, the WNA. The five-member weekly publisher (Peterson), worker must receive before The WNA Foundation is a who was elected in April to fill a WNA Services Board oversees neither of whom serve on the not-for-profit organization that vacancy for the northeast region the operation of News Tracker WNA board; and the WNA exec- See OVERTIME, Page 3 solicits, manages and disburses director position on the WNA (the WNA’s clipping service) utive director, Beth Bennett. Training watchdogs Committee to review public notice law Scope includes ‘Make no mistake; qualifications for there are some ‘official newspapers’ legislators who want to get rid of Veterans BY JAMES DEBILZEN Communications Director legal notices as they stand today.’ photos on Members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association Board of MARK GRAUL display this Directors were given an update WNA Lobbyist during the board’s May 19 meet- weekend ing in Madison on the creation of n a “legislative study committee” that will review the state’s statutes are created by the Joint Legisla- An exhibit featuring a on the publication of legal notic- tive Council with the purpose photo for each of the 1,161 es in newspapers. of studying “major issues and Wisconsinites listed on the According to the description problems identified by the Legis- Vietnam Veterans Memorial for the “Study Committee on lature,” according to the council’s in Washington D.C. will be Publication of Government website. Study committees are displayed May 27-30 during Documents and Legal Notic- appointed by the council and in- Brat Fest in Madison. es,” the committee’s goal is to clude members of the Legislature For the past two years, the update state law regarding public and citizens who are interested WNA and its members have notices “to reflect technological or knowledgeable about the top- joined the effort to find all advances and remove obsolete ic. The committee’s findings can of the photos of Wisconsin provisions,” including a review prompt the introduction of new Vietnam veterans who are of “qualifications for official legislation. listed on the memorial. newspapers” and the possibility The legal notice study commit- WNA members have been of allowing “for information to tee is one of seven being formed credited with finding more Julia Hunter photo be made available only electron- in 2016. It is chaired by Rep. John than 450 of the photos and The Mid-America Press Institute’s Watchdog Journalism sem- ically or through nontraditional Spiros, R-Marshfield, with Sen. were integral in the project’s inar, co-sponsored by the Wisconsin Newspaper Association, media outlets.” Mark Miller, D-Monona, serving completion just before Me- was held Tuesday at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. The “Make no mistake; there are as vice-chairman. morial Day 2015. seminar featured sessions on using the web and social media some legislators who want to get Seven representatives of the For more information to assist in investigative pieces, digging deeper into data, rid of legal notices as they stand WNA applied to serve as public about Brat Fest, visit www. open records and more. The sessions were led by Investigative today,” said WNA lobbyist Mark bratfest.com. Reporters & Editors Training Director Alex Richards and Ellen Graul. Gabler of the Journal Sentinel, pictured above. Legislative study committees See REVIEW, Page 4 2 THE BULLETIN | MAY 26, 2016 Member News FOIC: Court records Prominent execs join WCIJ to boost facing new threats business operations The president of the Wiscon- ‘What is troubling about sin Freedom of Information BY LAUREN FUHRMANN marily with Wang Laboratories, Council has alerted council today’s proceeding is the Wisconsin Center for Inc. and NCR Corporation. He members to recent action and extent to which the justices Investigative Journalism earned a bachelor’s degree in comments by state Supreme anthropology from UW-Madi- Court justices indicating the ... seemed to agree on the Two senior executives son and a master’s in business court’s willingness to consider need for changes to remove with distinguished careers in administration from Rivier removing some records from philanthropy, management College (now Rivier University) the state’s online court record certain information from the and journalism have joined the in Nashua, New Hampshire. database. Wisconsin Center for Investi- Johnson launched the In a memo to FOIC members, system.’ gative Journalism to strengthen Rowland Reading Founda- president Bill Lueders said its ability to generate revenue. tion, which developed and BILL LUEDERS the state’s high court on May Christopher J. Glueck, a published materials for young President, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council 16 voted 5-2 to dismiss a 2009 former senior director of de- readers, in 2003 for Pleasant “rules petition” that sought to velopment at the University of Rowland, a Madison entrepre- formalize a process allowing the n Wisconsin Founda- neur and philanthro- expungement of court records tices, despite their differences, WCCA … has ruined their lives,” tion, is a develop- pist. The foundation where criminal charges were which at times were scarcely Lueders said. “None of these ment consultant for sold its assets in 2015. dismissed or an acquittal was coherent, seemed to agree on claims were subjected to even the Center. Barbara She joined the Center reached. This included remov- the need for changes to remove the most rudimentary investiga- Johnson, most as a volunteer this year, ing records on the Wisconsin certain information from the tion to determine their credi- recently president of shortly after retiring. Circuit Court Access website, system (CCAP).” bility, and, as I have reported the Rowland Reading Before joining the better known as CCAP. Chief Justice Pat Roggensack in the past, at least some of Foundation in Madi- Foundation, Johnson The petition – filed by the and justices David Prosser, these claims have proven to be son, serves as senior spent her career in State Bar of Wisconsin - was Annette Ziegler, Michael Gable- demonstrably untruthful. strategic adviser for publishing, working as dismissed with the understand- man and Rebecca Bradley voted “The justices demonstrated a the Center. a reporter and editor ing that the petition would be in favor of dismissal, paving the wholesale willingness to believe “The biggest Christopher for magazines and refiled, giving the court a fresh way for a fresh petition. Justices these unproven claims, as when challenge facing Glueck newspapers before opportunity to review the issue Shirley Abrahamson and Ann Prosser said that repercussions investigative jour- moving into business again. Walsh Bradley voted against to people on WCCA occur ‘often nalism today is how roles. She served “The (Freedom of Informa- dismissal, though Bradley said in situations where they were to sustain it finan- under Steven Brill as tion) Council has long support- she opposed the motion be- not involved and were found cially,” said Andy president of Amer- ed public access to online court cause “it is our responsibility to not guilty,’” Lueders continued. Hall, co-founder and ican Lawyer Media, records and fought against solve this problem.” “That the records system would executive director of the legal publishing efforts to remove information,” “Several justices spoke about provide clear and irrefutable the nonpartisan and and cable TV division Lueders said. “… What is trou- the parade of citizens who confirmation of the not guilty nonprofit Center. (Court TV) of Time bling about today’s proceeding came before the court in 2010 verdict apparently was not “We are fortunate Warner in New York. is the extent to which the jus- to attest to the various ways that deemed relevant.” that Barbara and After the sale of ALM in Chris, who possess 1998, she worked with deep expertise and Barbara Seth Godin at Yoyo- contacts across the Johnson dyne, the Internet’s nation, are dedicat- first direct marketing UW-Milwaukee student wins ing themselves to invigorating company, and started an email the Center’s financial oper- publishing business.