Attorney Dustin Brown of Godfrey & Kahn spoke on behalf of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association during a Senate committee hearing on Jan. 30 regarding a bill that would put limits on access to video footage captured by police body cameras.

Tuesday’s hearing on Assembly Bill 351 was held before the Senate Committee on Judiciary and Public Safety. The bill was approved by the Assembly on Nov. 9, 2017.

Assembly Bill 351 is intended to protect the rights of victims, witnesses and citizens who encounter the police, sponsors said. The WNA and other open government advocates, however, have expressed concerns the bill would prevent the release of most police body camera videos and eliminate a new avenue for public oversight of police activity.

The WNA Foundation is accepting nominations for the Future Headliners program, which will honor up to five up-and-coming young leaders in the newspaper industry. Nominations are open to college students or professionals age 30 and under (as of April 13, 2018) who are currently working in the newspaper industry or studying for a future career in the industry. The deadline to submit nominations is Friday, Feb. 23.

Deadline is Friday, Feb. 2

The WNA is selling tickets for the University of Wisconsin's annual spring Varsity Band Concert on April 21 at the Kohl Center. This long-standing tradition provides an opportunity for members to socialize with colleagues, friends and family, while enjoying a truly unique show. Tickets are $23 each, and can be reserved through the WNA's website. Deadline to reserve tickets is Friday, Feb. 2.

The Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council, a nonprofit group that works to protect access to public meetings and records, is accepting nominations until Feb. 15 for its annual Openness in Government Awards, or Opees. The awards will be announced just prior to national Sunshine Week, March 11-18, and presented at the annual Watchdog Awards Dinner in Madison on Thursday, April 19.

The WNA Foundation is exploring the possibility of partnering with a web development company to offer discounted website design and hosting services for WNA members.

Before we can pursue this idea, we need to hear from you! If you are interested in the possibility of working with the WNA Foundation to develop a new website for your publication, please contact WNA Communications Director James Debilzen with your name, publication, current website address (if applicable), email address and phone number by Wednesday, Feb. 7.

Interest in this proposal will be presented to the WNA Foundation Board of Directors for further consideration.

COLUMBIA JOURNALISM REVIEW | In mid-January, the U.S. Department of Commerce slapped a tariff on Canadian newsprint, which is used by around 75 percent of US publishers and is particularly prevalent in the Northeast. Even though the duty may yet be reversed, American newspapers have to pay it in the meantime. Many publishers fear it’ll add upward of 10 percent to their print costs, and could even result in job losses.

NATIONAL NEWSPAPER ASSOCIATION | The United States Postal Service has announced that it will begin to accept newspapers in flats trays (tubs) without lids or strapping. The new mail acceptance procedure allows publishers to nest tubs of newspaper mail within each other and save space for hauling and carrying.

Newsrooms welcome Facebook's new local news emphasis, but remain wary

POYNTER | On Monday, Facebook announced a new focus on local news in the News Feed. Three people who work in or with local news described their reaction to that news with the same word: whiplash.

Do you need help fulfilling tearsheet requests? WNA-Tear offers a streamlined solution to your existing time-consuming tearsheet process.

WNA-Tear lets newspapers provide electronic tearsheets to advertising customers the morning of publication. Agencies and advertisers get fast and easy confirmation of publication at a cost savings to you. What’s more: a discounted monthly rate is offered for newspapers that have e-edition services with Tecnavia. 

Contact WNA Media Services Director Denise Guttery by email or at 608-283-7630 for more information and to get started!

A writing journey we’ll take together

Wisconsin-native Bart Pfankuch, an experienced editor, journalist and writing coach who lives in South Dakota, has launched a new monthly column on storytelling and writing. Pfankuch's column succeeds Jim Stasiowski's "Writing Matters" column. Stasiowski retired in April 2016.

Pfankuch is an investigative reporter for South Dakota News Watch and was the editor of the Rapid City Journal. He's previously reported for newspapers in Madison, Eau Claire and Florida.

Citizens have a right to electronic records

In this month's Your Right to Know Column, Wisconsin Freedom of Information Council member John Foust argues that public records requesters are entitled to receive records in their native electronic form. Your Right to Know is available for republication at no cost.

The Capitol Report provides a weekly analysis of issues being debated in Wisconsin state government. The column is underwritten by the WNA and produced exclusively for its members by WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics. The byline should read “By WisPolitics.com”. Proper attribution to WisPolitics.com is appreciated.

EDITORS: Please include the following tagline at the end of the column – “The Capitol Report is written by editorial staff at WisPolitics.com, a nonpartisan, Madison-based news service that specializes in coverage of government and politics, and is distributed for publication by members of the Wisconsin Newspaper Association.”

Column for the Week of Feb. 5
Review: More than half of Elections, Ethics commissioners made political donations after joining boards

There is no charge for members of the WNA to place help wanted ads on the WNA's website. Use the submission form on the website to post your ad or submit your ad by email to james.debilzen@wnanews.com. Ads will appear online for 30 days and are included in the Weekly Briefing.

Current openings:

• Editor – Hillsboro Sentry Enterprise
• Jackson County Chronicle Editor – River Valley Newspaper Group
• Graphic Artist – Tomahawk Leader

Are you seeking work in the Wisconsin newspaper industry? Post your resume on the WNA website for free! Add your resume online or email your name, the type of position you’re seeking (i.e., editorial, advertising, business, etc.), and your resume in PDF or Microsoft Word format to james.debilzen@wnanews.com.

Letterpress engravings, wood type, California job case tray – Golden Members Dave and Gretchen Skoloda have downsized so there’s no wall space for their collection of letterpress engravings, wood type and a California job case tray. We have about two dozen examples of wood type and a dozen or so engravings. Make an offer to gskol@centurytel.net or 608 781 7502.

• 2013 Cheshire 7000 with 2″ Videojet addressing head, computer and software. Asking $15,000
• 2006 Cheshire 7000 with 2″ Videojet addressing head, computer and software. Asking $7,500
• 2013 Bunn 1691 tying machine. $2000
• Bunn 1691 tying machine. $1000
• 2000 Screen Katana 5055 FTP imagesetter, Xitron Navigator RIP. $2500
• 2001 Screen Katana 5055 FTP imagesetter, Xitron Navigator RIP, no dongle. $2000
• Southern Lithoplate subtractive aluminum plates 36x24x.008 $1.75 ea. 1800 available
• Southern LIthoplate plate developer 5 gal. cubes $40 ea. 10 available
• Southern LIthoplate plate finisher 5 gal. cubes $40 ea. 14 available
• Nu-Arc Flip-Top 6000 watt plate exposure machines $500 2 available.
• Nu-Arc Flip-Top 3000 watt plate exposure machine $500.
• Graham plate processor $500

Copy waxer – We are searching for a Daige-type copy waxer in working order. We occasionally use the waxer for mocking up a special section. Contact garyr@vcnewsreview.com or call Gary Ridderbusch at Vilas County News-Review at 715-479-4421.