Chapin named Wisconsin Week editor, news manager

Michael W. Chapin, a Chicago-area newspaper editor for 24 years, has been named news manager for University Communications and editor of Wisconsin Week. He will manage a staff of news writers in the preparation and distribution of information about the university, and will report to Amy Toburen, the office’s associate director.

“Mike has a wealth of experience in leading award-winning news operations in the highly diverse marketplace of greater Chicago, and brings a fresh perspective on how we can communicate more effectively with everyone who has an interest in UW–Madison,” says University Communications Director Patrick Strickler.

Chapin has most recently been managing editor/nights at The Times of Northwest Indiana, and has held news management positions at several Illinois newspapers, including the Beacon News in Aurora, Daily Herald in Arlington Heights, Daily Journal in Wheaton and Barrington Press in Barrington. Before beginning his newspaper career in 1978, he served as director of public affairs for the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission, and was a press secretary to a member of Congress.

A graduate of the University of Notre Dame, Chapin holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He was named Suburban Journalist of the Year by the Suburban Newspapers of America in 1984, and received the editorial page first place award from the Illinois Press Association in 2000. His community activities have included serving for 10 years as a mentor for at-risk high-school students, and being a trained facilitator for Study Circles on Race.