The Indiana Publisher

Reporter Seth Slabaugh of The Star Press (Muncie) is the first recipient of the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Environmental Award. He was honored for several environ- mental-related stories including the potential impact of dam con- struction on wildlife in and around the White River. The award was presented at the HSPA Foundation's Better Newspaper Contest Awards Luncheon Sept. 15 by David Hillman, the program director for the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust. Of the award-winning entry, one judge said: "These stories reflect an admirable commit- ment to environmental coverage by the newspaper and terrific execution by reporter Seth Slabaugh. "His stories on bioengi- neered salmon, problems at a battery-recycling facility, the history of a "cathedral-like" old-growth forest and a contro- versial, 10,000-hog CFO farm – among others - touch on high-interest topics with depth and clarity often missing from the daily news report." Another judge said, "The Star-Press series demonstrates a serious commitment of the newspaper to well-researched, local environmental coverage. The series is diverse, clearly written and focused. The newspaper is commended to such continuing, in-depth reporting — particularly in an era where such time-consuming reportage is too often restricted by the budgetary restraints of community newspapers. Nina Mason Pulliam was a journalist, businesswoman, philanthropist and native Hoosier. In 1934, Nina and her husband Gene established Central Newspapers Inc., a national newspaper corporation. In addition to a number of newspapers across the country, they owned and operated the major state newspapers in Arizona and Indiana, The Arizona Republic and The Indianapolis Star. Upon her death in 1997, the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust was established to support the causes most important to Nina: helping people in need, especially women, children and families; protecting animals and nature; and enriching commu- nity life, primarily in her beloved home communities of metropolitan Phoenix and Indianapolis. According to Hillman, the Trust recently has sharpened its focus on the environment. In 2016, it provided grants to underwrite environmental reporting teams at The Arizona Republic and The Indianapolis Star to allow the newspapers to pursue in-depth environmental reporting. "Nina Pulliam understood the power of the media – its role in educating the public, holding policymakers accountable, and keeping critical community social issues top of mind, Hillman said. "In her honor, we have established the Nina Mason Pulliam Environmental Reporting Award. We have chosen the image of the blue heron for this award. The blue heron is a stately bird that symbolizes balance – we appreciate the particular application of this symbolism here, when considering balance in nature, balance in caring for the environment and balance in journalism." In addition to the glass award, Slabaugh also received a $1,000 cash award and a trip to the Society of Environmental Journalists annual conference in Flint, Michigan. Seth Slabaugh accepts the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Environmental Journalism Award from the Trust's program director David Hillman Sept. 15, 2018 at the Indianapolis Marriott North. Inaugural Nina Mason Pulliam environmental award goes to Slabaugh On Sept. 15, the HSPA Foundation honored the top newspaper editorial work from around the state. Thanks to everyone who attended the annual conference. And thank you to our sponsors: Steve Badger of Barnes & Thornburg Canon Yandall C. Cline First Amendment Freedom Fund "The Star-Press series demonstrates a serious commitment of the newspaper to well-researched, local environmental coverage." September 2018 Page 6 2018 Newsroom Seminar & Better Newspaper Contest Awards

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