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Lee Enterprises Inc. of Davenport, Iowa, owns the La Crosse Tribune and has a 50 percent ownership in Capital Newspapers Inc., which publishes the Wisconsin State Journal. The Tribune has a daily circulation of about 31,100 and Sunday circulation of about 40,700. The State Journal’s circulation is about 101,000 daily and 139,000 on Sunday.
“It’s with a real sense of mixed emotions,” Smalley, 50, said of his upcoming move. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to go to Madison. But at the same time, it’ll be difficult to leave La Crosse. My family and I really love La Crosse and the region. But this is just a wonderful opportunity.”
Smalley, who became the Tribune’s editor in April 2002, said one highlight of his tenure is “I think our newspaper has always been committed to watchdog journalism and being an advocate for the citizens.”
Another highlight is, he said, “As a newspaper, we’ve worked hard to connect with the audience in print and online.”
Smalley’s leadership has been recognized both in and outside of the newsroom.
“John has done a terrific job as editor of the La Crosse Tribune, both as an award-winning journalist and as a community leader,” Tribune publisher Rusty Cunningham said.
“A year ago, John and his team won a Lee President’s Award for coverage of the August 2007 floods one of many awards our journalists have won under John’s guidance,” Cunningham said.
“In the community, his work on the Healthy Living project is just one example of how he has pulled together various groups to accomplish things that one group alone could not,” Cunningham said. “He also has been active with the YMCA, Coulee Region Humane Society, La Crosse City Vision Foundation, Downtown Rotary and other groups.”
“John is a very thoughtful guy,” Wisconsin State Journal Publisher Bill Johnston said. “He’s a good communicator, has very good experience in this business, and he’s very steady and consistent.”
Smalley has spent a total of nearly 20 years at the Tribune, in three different stints. He started his newspaper career at the Tribune in 1977, working as a part-time news and sports reporter while he was a University of Wisconsin-La Crosse student.
Smalley, a native of Evansville, Wis., has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications from UW-L.
