About us

The VOICE of Wisconsin Rapids was founded by husband and wife team Jeff and Kathy Williams, both former employees of a large chain newspaper company in central Wisconsin.
Jeff Williams / VOICE Staff

The ribbon cutting when we first opened the doors at the VOICE.

We wanted to fill a gap in the market that has come from the downturn in the newspaper industry. Our independent status lets us publish indepth local news stories and we have the ability to invest a lot of time into journalism.
We published our first edition June 4, 2009, and have steadily grown our circulation through exclusive local content. We like to consider the VOICE a throwback to community weekly newspapers but with a healthy dose of investigative and watchdog journalism.
Our community has welcomed the addition of the VOICE to Wisconsin Rapids with open arms. Many new subscribers call us a breath of fresh air, and it feels good to receive complementary phone calls.
We have struggled with typical start-up expenses amid the Great Recession. Financing has been nonexistent, but our subscribers have been the solid foundation on which the VOICE is build. We were forced to be content with a steady business growth instead of the dramatic splash that would have come from a well funded startup.
Our beginnings were help immensely by the staff at the Portage County Gazette, who we consider a brother at arms in the industry.
While we tackle very tough issues through our journalism, we enjoy the community outreach aspect of our position such as sponsoring kids fishing contests, snow sculpting events and walking in parades. And our mascot Ozzy — a 10-year-old shitzu — adorns the front page each week.

Editor Jeff | VOICE of Wisconsin Rapids