“Wisconsin Public Radio is the ultimate laboratory for early career journalists.”
Parth Shah, former "Hidden Brain" Producer at NPR
The Lee Ester News Fellowship
The Lee Ester News Fellowship was created in 2008 by Leota Ester (pictured above with Parth Shah) to honor her late husband, Lee. Fellows receive a salary, hands-on training, and daily reporting experience in the award-winning Wisconsin Public Radio newsroom. The nine-month fellowship is open to early-career journalists.
Lee Ester News Fellows start reporting on Wisconsin during their first week on the job. Their coverage during the fellowship is heard statewide on WPR’s network of 37 stations, providing thoughtful, trusted coverage of Wisconsin issues for 450,000 weekly listeners.
Lee Ester Fellowship alums have applied the skills they developed at WPR to successful careers in journalism and communication in Wisconsin and around the country. Past fellows currently work at NPR, WGBH in Boston, Iowa Public Radio, and WPR among other places.
Make a Gift to Support the Lee Ester News Fellowship
In the fall of 2017, Leota Ester and WPR announced an initiative to grow and sustain the Lee Ester News Fellowship Endowment Fund. Please make a gift to the fund today and help ensure the future of unbiased, research-based and civil journalism in Wisconsin.
Click below to donate to the Lee Ester News Fellowship Endowment Fund online
Donate Now
Or send your donation via mail, with checks payable to:
Wisconsin Public Radio Association, Inc.
PO Box 88025
Milwaukee, WI 53288-8923
Federal Tax ID # 23 – 7363536
If you’re interested in dividing your gift into multiple payments or if you have other donor questions, please contact:
For more information about our fellowship program or to talk with a philanthropic advisor, please call (800) 383-9772.
Current Lee Ester News Fellow: Gaby Vinick
Gaby graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2022. Previously Gaby held an internship with PBS Wisconsin's "Here and Now," served as digital news associate for News Not Noise, served as the managing editor of The Daily Cardinal and interned with Madison Magazine. Gaby also took part in the POLITICO Journalism Institute, a two-week training in political and policy reporting for student journalists.
Past Lee Ester News Fellows
2021 - Diane Bezucha
StoryCorps
2019 - Miranda Suarez
Reporter at KERA
2018 - Phoebe Petrovic
Criminal Justice Project Manager & Investigative Reporter at WisconsinWatch
2017 - Marylee Williams
Editor/Producer at WESA
2016 - Avory Brookins
Content Strategist at MBTA
2015 - Parth Shah
Course Instructor at the University of Wyoming
Former NPR Producer for "
Hidden Brain"
2014 - Laurel White
Research Writer at University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Education
Former State Capitol Reporter at WPR
2013 - Breann Schossow
Producer at WPR and Minnesota Public Radio
Deceased
2012 - Lindsey Moon
Senior Digital Media Producer at Iowa Public Radio
2011 - Teresa Shipley Feldhausen
Health/Web Writer at Palladian Partners
2009 - Kirk Carapezza
Managing Editor at WGBH Boston
2008 - Christina Clarkson
Lead Communications Strategist at
University of Minnesota