Meredith McGlone to head UW–Madison news and media relations

The University of Wisconsin–Madison has hired an experienced newspaper editor with deep ties to Wisconsin as its new director of news and media relations.

Meredith McGlone, a senior editor at The Virginian-Pilot of Norfolk, Virginia, will begin Dec. 1 as an assistant director of University Communications. She succeeds Dennis Chaptman, who retired in July.

“Meredith brings a wealth of talent, experience and energy to the university’s media relations efforts,” says John Lucas, executive director of University Communications. “She’ll help enhance and uphold the UW’s reputation across the state and world.”

McGlone will lead the university’s newsgathering and media relations process, with an emphasis on fostering relationships with state media outlets; helping faculty and staff tell how their research and teaching benefit society; and reaching out to reporters with ideas for UW–Madison stories relevant to their audiences.

“As the daughter and granddaughter of UW graduates, I’ve seen firsthand the opportunities a Wisconsin education creates. And I’m excited to be joining such a vibrant institution,” says McGlone, a native of Arlington Heights, Illinois.

In 16 years at The Pilot, McGlone worked as a reporter, city editor and military editor before assuming her current role. Among the works she supervised, she is especially proud of “A Chance in Hell,” a series by Corinne Reilly that illustrated the daily heroism of Navy medical staff at a NATO hospital in Afghanistan. It was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize in feature writing.

At Madison, McGlone will also take on responsibilities related to public safety communications and work with the university’s schools and colleges.

Separately, Sandy Knisely recently began in a new role as University Communications’ news content strategist. Knisely, who comes from the Wisconsin Alumni Association, will work with campus communicators to develop and promote great stories about UW–Madison.