A new magazine for Wisconsinites
My wife got the premiere issue of Our Wisconsin in the mail the other day. The cover describes it as “the dawn of an entirely new magazine…written by neighbors who share your love of Wisconsin.”
I was intrigued, particularly at a time when we just saw the last printed version of Newsweek after 80 years of publication.
Cheryl apparently got the free copy because she has subscribed to Birds & Bloom, another publication tied to the Reiman family and its Greendale magazine chain. I’ve enjoyed reading that magazine, as well as another Reiman publication, Reminisce, which my dad has acquired from time to time.
Mike Beno is editor of Our Wisconsin and once edited Birds & Blooms and Reminisce with Roy Reiman, founder of Reiman Publications. Beno is coming out of retirement at his Presque Isle home in far northern Wisconsin to work with Reiman, who likewise has returned from retirement to serve as publisher of this newest endeavor.
Beno says readers will find “real stories from real people—100 percent positive, geared to give you hours of entertaining armchair reading.” It will include beautiful glossy color photos, lighthearted comments, hilarious happenings and down-home recipes.
I found the lead story in the premiere issue particularly interesting. It’s about the Indian mounds on a Richland County hill owned and manicured by Frank Shadewald just north of Muscoda. In May a few years ago, my wife and I enjoyed a tour of those mounds during a free bus trip during Muscoda’s annual morel mushroom festival.
Another feature story was on the snowshoe baseball league in Lake Tomahawk—competition I’ve taken in with my parents.
Beno and Reiman are trying to line up “field editors” in each of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. These volunteers will serve as the magazine’s “eyes and ears” in the search for interesting people and events. The magazine reported it had already lined up field editors for Rock and Walworth counties but didn’t name them.
On Wednesday I left a phone message and sent an email to Beno. I wanted to know how the magazine will select subjects, writers and photographers (I see that some of this information is detailed under "Contributor Guidelines" on the magazine's website). I also wondered if I could share with my blog readers contact information for the magazine’s field editors in Rock and Walworth counties. I have yet to hear back.
If you’re interested in subscribing, the cost is $12.98 for one year or $19.98 for two years. Call 877-902-9760 or click on the web link above.
Greg Peck can be reached at (608) 755-8278 or gpeck@gazettextra.com. Or follow him on Twitter or Facebook
Jan 13, 2013 at 5:41 p.m.
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Subscription services for this magazine are based in Iowa. Interesting.
Jan 12, 2013 at 9:31 p.m.
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If Wisconsin Trails has stopped publishing what is the future of somewhat independent publishing in Wisconsin? Are we supporting the privatization of an "industry" or the pirating of another public print resource? How does this alter the future of independent political input and open dialogue? Maybe it is O.K. to sell out our birthright to others from outside our state. Do you own your own future?
Jan 12, 2013 at 7:04 p.m.
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Today I received the premiere issue of Our Wisconsin. What a beautiful magazine. So glad I ordered it. Thanks again for your article Greg Peck!
Jan 11, 2013 at 8:24 p.m.
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Thanks, Greg Peck, for this article. I called today and ordered a 2 year subscription for $14.98. Earlybird discount I guess. Since I missed the premiere issue, they gave me a number to call to get it for $3. They're mailing it today.
Jan 11, 2013 at 3:47 p.m.
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I talked to Mr. Beno this morning, and he expressed regrets regarding the demise of the printed Wisconsin Trails magazine and says the launch of this magazine was not tied to that unfortunate event.
Greg Peck
Jan 11, 2013 at 2:33 p.m.
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Greg, having volunteer editors will keep their payroll expenses down, and if your blog encourages some of the Gazette's online readers to contribute articles and photographs, that will help keep their production costs low. It would really help if they went digital and offered electronic-only subscriptions to save on printing costs.
Jan 11, 2013 at 6:40 a.m.
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I didn't know Wisconsin Trails had stopped publishing; that's disappointing, but likely the launch of this magazine at this time is no coincidence then.
My guess is that without paid staff writers, instead relying on Wisconsinites to submit stories, this magazine will keep its costs low.
And if it doesn't give too much of its content away free online like too many newspapers have done through the years, to their financial detriment, it might encourage more paid customers. We shall see.
Greg Peck
Jan 11, 2013 at 6:37 a.m.
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"The Sovereign State of Winnecconne?"
Hmmm . . . I’ve always thought of it as “The Republic of Packersfanistan”.
Jan 11, 2013 at 5:47 a.m.
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ChsMkr...sorry to hear Wisconsin Trails stopped publishing. I enjoyed that magazine. This new one sounds interesting. May give it a try. But it does sound risky to start publishing a magazine in this day and age.
Jan 11, 2013 at 12:53 a.m.
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I didn't see anything on their web site about an online version or obtaining data files for e-Readers. I think it's kind of late in the day to be launching a new "pulp-n-staples" magazine.
Jan 10, 2013 at 9:50 p.m.
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Isn't it interesting that this new magazine comes out the very same month that Wisconsin Trails ceases publication? Let's hope their ad revenue is better so they can stick around a while if it's as good as claimed.
Jan 10, 2013 at 7:23 p.m.
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I also received one and immediately subscribed for two years. My wife and I are planning a trip around Wisconsin this year, I jotted down many of the interesting places they referenced. I have lived here 86 years and still have a lot to experience. Better do it quick
Jan 10, 2013 at 6:20 p.m.
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My wife received one as well and I found it to be very entertaining. I especially liked the story about "The Sovereign State of Winnecconne?" Very funny! We look forward to future issues!
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