Where's the Local News? - Chapter 3

Menomonie area residents interested in increasing access to local news will have another chance to hear about a local publication when Tom Giffey, managing editor of Volume One, speaks at 4:30 p.m. on Thursday, April 27, at the Menomonie Public Library meeting room, 600 Wolske Bay Road. A committee will also present plans to create a Dunn County News Hub.

 Anyone wishing to attend is asked to register for in-person attendance at

https://forms.gle/2kePf7sS27iU5Ku66
People may also register to attend online at
https://streamyard.com/watch/t2DzF7GdUCXt

The previous session on March 22 featured six local news organizations, most of them one-person operations.

“It’s just me, I do it myself,” said Kathy Weber, operator of Menomonie Minute, an online news site. “I put stuff out every day.” She publishes event announcements, sports involving local students, among other things. Her goal has been to produce a quality product, with the aim of eventually turning it into a business.

Second was Becca Schoenburn, outreach and education coordinator at Menomonie Market, who described the podcast that she does with Dustyn Dubuque, former MainStreet Menomonie director. The 30–40-minute program, done through EC Hometown Media, is available on a number of social media apps, and she estimates they have 100-700 listeners. The program is recorded one month in advance.

Next was Steve Hanson, owner of Ws.Community. Hanson records Menomonie school board meetings and other community events and houses them online. He depends on memberships and donations.

Fourth was Carleton DeWitt, owner of DeWitt Media and publisher of the Glenwood City Tribune and the Colfax Messenger, who has been in the newspaper business since he started working in his father’s business sweeping the floor as a nine-year-old. Comments from the group centered on the Messenger’s regular and reliable coverage of the Dunn County Board and committee sessions.

Next was Kate Edenborg, UWStout professor in the English, Philosophy and Communications Department. “I have three to four students working as interns, “ Edenborg said, and she is exploring the idea of creating a citizen journalist training course. “People want to contribute but don’t know how to do it.” She is developing a training approach, but “I haven’t been able to move it forward on my own.” She is also working on a research survey of citizens on what they want to know and how they get their news.

Finally, Kelly McCullough, Dunn County Board chair and novelist, talked about how Dunn County is trying to get county news out.