Lee Ester News Fellowship

An Appleton donor is helping Wisconsin Public Radio initiate the Lee Ester News Fellowship, providing the opportunity to learn hands-on reporting, editing and broadcast journalism in a professional setting.

Leota Ester’s major gift, from which interest will be drawn to fund the program’s annual costs, honors her late husband, Lee Ester, who died in 2006 of Alzheimer’s disease. He was a dedicated journalist and an avid Wisconsin Public Radio listener and served on the board of the Wisconsin Public Radio Association from 1992-1998.

Lee Ester spent the majority of his adult life working in the newspaper business reporting, editing, and managing. Although he switched from newspaper work to public relations in his later years, Leota says, “Lee was always a newsman. He wanted to get to the bottom of the news and he was always fair and honest.”

“It’s important that young people learn how to collect accurate information and how to report a story completely,” Leota said. “I believe in the value of getting information out to people. It’s crucial for making the right decisions. I trust the WPR news staff to reflect those values and teach these qualities to the next generation of news reporters. My family and I hope this fellowship program will be valuable to the future.”

The seasoned newsroom of Wisconsin Public Radio is just the place to invest in a fellowship which is why the WPR Lee Ester News Fellowship is such a wonderful way to remember Lee. “It is so important to keep our society informed. Getting out accurate, clear, well-written information that is easily understood and it honors who Lee was.”

The successful recipient of the fellowship will be considered a general assignment reporter covering a variety of stories from areas around the state. WPR will recruit recent graduates – nationwide – who are serious about journalism as a career.

The WPR Lee Ester News Fellowship is held by the Fox Cities Community Foundation in the name of Wisconsin Public Radio.