The Indiana Publisher

Page 2 April 2023 HSPA Board of Directors Board Members Richard Clark, AIM Media Gillian Kelk, Sullivan Daily Times Curt Kovener, e Crothersville Times Laurinda Swank, Indianapolis Business Journal Chris White, e Times Media Co. HSPA Board of Directors Officers President Robyn McCloskey, CNHI Vice President Robert Shegog, Indianapolis Recorder Treasurer Kathy Tretter, Ferdinand News and Spencer County Leader (Rockport) HSPA Foundation Board of Directors Officers President Bill Hackney, e La Porte County Herald-Dispatch (Michigan City) Vice President Tim Timmons, Sagamore News Media Treasurer Don Hurd, Hoosier Media Group HSPA Staff Amelia McClure, executive director, general counsel admclure@hspa.com (317) 803-4772 Pamela Lego, director of operations plego@hspa.com (812) 350-7711 Shawn Goldsby, business manager sgoldsby@hspa.com (317) 803-4772 Ruth Witmer, communications specialist news@hspa.com (812) 855-5898 e Indiana Publisher is published monthly by the Hoosier State Press Association, 429 E. Vermont St. #206 Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 has taken listeners along with him to cover issues around the world. He is author of several books, including Imperfect Union: How Jessie and John Fremont Mapped the West, Invented Celebrity, and Helped Cause the Civil War. When her husband died in 1968, Dorothy Leavell took over as owner and publisher of both the Chicago and Gary Crusader newspapers. She assumed editorial leadership of both papers that had been beacons to Chicago-area and northwest Indiana Black communities for three decades. She never shied from taking on controversial issues, her nominators say. She was elected president of the National Newspaper Publishers Association several times and has served as chairman since 2006. She has won numerous awards, including NNPA Publisher of the Year and the Mary McLeod Bethune Award. Mike Lopresti spent 11 years at his hometown newspaper, the Richmond Palladium-Item, before joining USA Today as a sportswriter, a post he held for 31 years. He covered all manner of sports, from Olympics to basketball, football and the usual fare of profes- sional and collegiate events. But his nominators stress his ability to research and study venues, players, coaches and other elements that gave his stories depth and context many other sports writers did not provide. Retired from USA Today, Lopresti writes a column for the Indianapolis Business Journal. Jim Shella reported daily for 34-years on Indianapolis WISH-TV, specializing in political coverage both national and local. He also hosted WFYI's Indiana Week in Review for 25 years, where he led panelists who analyzed politics during the half-hour show. Among the events Shella covered were 14 national political conventions, state and local elections, all sessions of the Indiana Legislature and – as needed – he headed to the scene to report on breaking news. He retired from WISH-TV in 2016, right after election season, but he continues to write a column for the Indianapolis Business Journal on politics and govern- ment. For more information, visit https://ijhf.org/ Jim Zachary CNHI Natalie Acra has been promoted from general manager to publisher of the Daily News in Greensburg. Acra began at the Daily News in 2004, working in the advertising and graphics department. Prior to being named general manager, she served as an assistant to the publisher. Robyn McCloskey, regional publisher of CNHI newspapers in Indiana, said that Acra is richly deserving of her promotion. "Natalie knows the community so well and has gained a lot of experience and exper- tise with the Daily News," McCloskey said. "She'll put that expertise to work for the newspaper, its readers and the community." Acra said the Daily News has been an essential part of Southeastern Indiana life for almost 130 years and added that she feels fortunate to be in a position to contribute to its continuing success. "I am honored to accept the position of publisher of a newspaper that has been in our community since 1894," she said. "We have a great team at the Daily News that will continue to provide our readers with the most up-to-date local news and sports coverage as well as helping area businesses meet all of their advertising needs." A Greensburg native, Acra resides in Decatur County with her husband Todd and children Kate, Brant and Lily. Natalie Acra named Daily News publisher Acra HOF Continued from Page 1 Leavell Shella Lopresti Looking for newspaper employee or job? Check out the HSPA job listings at hspa.com/jobs and every month in the Indiana Publisher.

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