The Indiana Publisher

In May, entries for HSPA's annual Advertis- ing Contest and Better Newspaper Contest will be sent in by newspapers from across the state. The entries represent excellent work done for readers and advertisers and offer an opportunity to recognize newspaper individuals and organizations serving their communities. One factor that is key to award-winning work with an impact is how well it connects with the reader or advertiser and how well it serves that relationship. "To remain relevant to our readers, we have become intensely local. It has taken years to develop relationships with so many organizations, businesses and individuals," said Managing Editor Debbie Blank of The Herald- Tribune in Batesville which was honored as the 2018 Non-Daily Blue Ribbon Newspaper. The Herald-Tribune includes many voices from the community, Blank said. "You get a sense of what people here are like and what they love to do." South Bend Tribune Executive Editor Alan Achkar said his paper emphasizes enterprise, investigative, unique and deeper stories that are presented well. The Tribune was named the 2018 Daily Blue Ribbon Newspaper. That kind of recogni- tion is validation that people are taking steps in the right direction, Achkar said. "It's essentially saying you're doing a good job toward serving the mission. And the mission is strong, impactful journalism for our readers. Because, ultimately, that's what it's all about," Achkar said. Getting results from building relationships is also vital on the advertising side. "One thing that consistently works for me is to enjoy my time with my clients," said Andy Kirchner at the Herald-Times in Bloomington. Kirchner was named Indiana's Top Advertising Sales Professional last year. "One client told me recently, 'Do you think As the 2019 session drew to a close April 24, HSPA's legislative interns wrapped up four months of hands-on experience in the Statehouse. Law students Marcel Duplantier and Cassie Heeke were selected last October to work with Steve Key on a host of issues in the legislature. "It feels special to witness open debate about constitutional freedoms and counterbalancing interests, especially when those debates end up in the news the next day," said Heeke, a student at Indiana University's Robert H. Publisher The Indiana Volume 84, Issue 4 • April 2019 Published on second Thursday monthly HSPA interns leave Statehouse with hands-on experiences Legislative Update As of April 23, anti-public notice advertising language had not surfaced during any conference committee meeting observed by the Hoosier State Press Association. As expected, Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, announced during a conference committee hearing for his S.B. 535, that the $250 cap on public notice advertising for state and local government units would be removed from the bill. The cap was inserted into Sen. Boots' bill about limits on extraterritorial powers of cities and towns, during its hearing before the House Select Committee on Government Reduction, chaired by Rep. Doug Gutwein, R-Francesville. The cap was offered as an amendment by Rep. David Wolkins, R-Warsaw. The bill's sponsor, Rep. Steve Davisson, R-Salem, did not oppose the Session ends, anti public notice ad language silenced See Update, page 7 Connecting with advertisers, readers is key to success HSPA's Steve Key talks with interns Cassie Heeke and Marcel Duplantier in the House gallery at the Indiana Statehouse Wednesday, April 24. Rep. Terri Austin, D-Anderson, and Sen. Phil Boots, R-Crawfordsville, discuss S.B. 535 during a conference committee hearing Thursday, April 18. Photo by Ruth Witmer See Interns, page 2 As contest deadlines approach, 2018 winners share thoughts on producing work with impact HSPA See Contests, page 5

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