The Indiana Publisher

Page 5 January 2019 Hunt named AIM Media Indiana VP, Republic publisher Staff report The Republic (Columbus) Bud Hunt has been named vice president and group pub- lisher for Columbus-based AIM Media Indiana, LLC, with responsibility for all of the company's media properties in Indiana, including The Republic. Hunt's appointment, effec- tive Jan. 1, was announced jointly by Jeremy L. Halbreich, chairman and chief executive officer, and by Rick Starks, president and chief operating officer, of AIM Media Indiana, LLC. In this new role, Hunt will be responsible for the daily news- papers in Columbus, Franklin, Greenfield and Seymour; weekly newspapers in Nashville, Brownstown, Pendleton, New Palestine and Fortville- McCordsville; DigitalAIM, the digital market- ing services operation; a magazine and special publica- tions division; and all affiliated websites and digital assets. Most recently, Hunt, 64, served as vice president and group publisher for AIM Media Midwest, LLC, an affiliated AIM Media company, with responsibility for media operations in southern Ohio, southeastern Ohio and western West Virginia. Hunt and his wife Lee will relocate to Columbus from Wilmington, Ohio, shortly after the New Year. "It is a great privilege for us to welcome Bud to Columbus and to join our team in Indiana," Halbreich said. "He is a highly experienced, accomplished and successful publishing executive who will bring a great deal of energy, enthusiasm and strong leadership to The Republic and to the entire Indiana community. Bud is deeply committed to the communities he serves through our various media properties. He is fair, open-minded and always a straight-shooter." Earlier in his career, Hunt's roles included: Regional publisher and regional sales director for Civitas Media, 2014-2016. Various roles including publisher, regional publisher and vice president for Rust Communications, 1992-2014. Editor and general manager for Park Newspapers, 1987- 1992. Prior to the entering the pub- lishing industry, Hunt worked in sales at Whirlpool and RCA Service. Hunt has always been active in local civic and community affairs with his past and present service ranging across chambers of commerce, United Way, Boy Scouts, Rotary, the health and transportation needs of his local communities, and his church. He has also served on the boards of state press associations in Missouri and Ohio. Hunt is a native of West Virginia and he is a graduate of Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville, Tennessee, a private Christian liberal arts college founded in 1901 with the mis- sion of providing education for leadership and service. Hunt's appointment follows the announcement last week by Chuck Wells, his predecessor in these roles, resigning to acquire a private business serving Columbus and southern Indiana. Hunt Horizon Publications has acquired The Shelby Daily Globe Inc., which includes The Shelby Daily Globe, the Willard Times-Junction, The New London Record, Firelands Farmer and the Shopper's Helper from Scott Gove and the Stambaugh family according to Randy Cope of Cribb, Greene & Cope who represented the families. Horizon Publications owns community newspapers across the U.S. including the Decatur Daily Democrat, the Columbia City Post & Mail and the Monroeville News. Members of the Gove family have been active in the owner- ship of these newspapers for nearly 60 years and the Stam- baugh family traces its interest back to 1900 when the Daily Globe was founded. "We appreciate Mr. Gove and the Stambaugh family allowing us to continue the stewardship of these publications," said B.J. Riley, group publisher for Horizon Publications in Ohio and Indiana. "We look forward to working with the employees and with the community to continue to publish quality products and serve the customers and readers of these communities." Scott Gove stated "We appreciate the emphasis Horizon places on community journalism and the important role newspa- pers play in the areas they serve. For many years it has been our privilege and responsibility to perform these functions in the Shelby, Willard and New London areas." Cribbs, Greene & Cope is a leading merger and acquisition firm with offices in Arkansas, Virginia, California, and Horizon Publications purchases Shelby Daily Globe, Inc. cameras purchased by officers or reserve officers, not the govern- ment unit. Rep. Peggy Mayfield, R-Martinsville, reached out to HSPA to review the situation she wants to address. She said there are law enforcement agencies that require the use of police body cameras, but don't intend to purchase the cameras and equipment necessary to download and preserve the video taken. The cost then falls upon the officer or reserve officer to pay for the camera. The situation raises a question as to ownership of the video taken during an officer's shift. Does control of the video rest with the officer or the law enforcement agency? Is it a public record? Key expressed HSPA's concern that if the video isn't controlled by the government unit, an officer could erase any video taken that might put the officer in a bad light or show violations of policy or criminal behavior. The integrity of all the video should be preserved for the time required currently by the state's Access to Public Records Act, HSPA believes. As of Jan. 7, Rep. Mayfield's bill had not yet been released. HSPA will again support legislation authored by Rep. Ed Clere, R-New Albany, to give high school and university journalists greater First Amend- ment protection against censor- ship by school officials. Rep. Clere's bill, H.B. 1213, will be very similar to bills filed during the last two sessions. Lobbyists representing high school superintendents, principals and school boards have opposed the legislation. University representatives have supported the idea. The Indiana High School Press Association and Indiana Colle- giate Press Association have supported Clere's efforts. If the past holds up, HSPA will become involved with anywhere from twenty to forty bills during the legislative session Preview Continued from Page 1

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