The Indiana Publisher

Page 2 May 2019 The Indiana Publisher is published monthly by the Hoosier State Press Association. 212 W. 10th St., Suite B-340, Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 803-4772, Fax (317 624-4428 Staff Rochester Sentinel Rochester Sentinel owner and Publisher Sarah O. Wilson announced the sale of the paper to the Paxton Media Group. The sale was effective May 1. A price was not disclosed. She and her husband, Sentinel Editor W.S. Wilson, came to the Sentinel in 1982. Neither will remain with the company. "This is difficult and emotional because The Sentinel and its staff have been a big part of my life for as long as I can remember," she said. "But nothing lasts forever. It is time for us to step aside and let the next generation take over." Sarah Wilson's father, the late Jack K. Overmyer, began working at The Sentinel while in high school, bought the paper in 1976 and passed ownership to her upon his death in 2010. The Sentinel is Fulton County's oldest continually operated business. Formed on Sept. 18, 1858, it is the consolidation of mergers involving The Rochester Standard, The Union Spy, The Rochester City Times, The Rochester Republican, The Fulton County Sun, The Daily News and The News-Sentinel. In recent years, Sentinel reporting and photography have been honored by the Associ- ated Press Managing Editors Association, The Society of Professional Journalists and the Hoosier State Press Association. Three of its staffers have been inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame: Publishers Hugh Barnhart and Jack K. Overmyer and Akron columnist Ann Allen. The sale ends The Sentinel's status as one of six remaining independent family-owned daily newspapers in Indiana. There are now five. "Rochester has been good to The Sentinel family and we are most appreciative. We plan to continue to live here," Wilson said. Paxton Media is a family owned company headquartered in Paducah, Ky. It publishes daily and weekly newspapers in more than 50 communities in the Midwest and South, including nearby papers in Peru, Wabash, Marion and Huntington. "This business combination provides the financial security needed to assure The Sentinel will continue to serve its community long into the future," said David Paxton, president and chief executive officer of Paxton Media Group. Bill Hackney has been named publisher of The Sentinel, according to David Holgate, president of Paxton's Indiana Michigan Group. "I am happy to announce Bill Hackney as the publisher of The Rochester Sentinel," Holgate said. "Bill has been with our company since 2011 in the role of publisher of La Porte and Michigan City newspapers. Adding the additional responsibilities for The Rochester Sentinel is a natural progression for Bill. I am confident that our employees and the commu- nity will quickly learn what a quality person they have in Bill." Hackney said he's excited to lead the Sentinel. "I look forward to joining a team of talented professionals who are making a difference for Fulton County readers, advertisers and commu- nity," Hackney said. "The Rochester Sentinel has a long history of being an integral part of the com- munity and I look forward to seeing that continue." "This is bittersweet," Wilson said. "But we feel confident The Sentinel will be in good hands with the Paxton Group." Rochester Sentinel changes hands: Paxton Media Group acquires daily "This is bittersweet but we feel confident The Sentinel will be in good hands with the Paxton Group." We've moved. The HSPA office has relocated to the historic Stutz Building on the near north side of downtown Indianapolis. The new address is: 212 W. 10th Street, Suite B-340, Indianapolis, IN 46202. HSPA Board of Directors HSPA Officers President: Patrick Lanman, Vevay Media Group Vice President/Secretary: Beverly Joyce, CNHI HSPA Board Members Chris White, The Times Media Co. Bill Connelly, LaGrange Publishing Co. Larry Hensley, Schurz Communications, Inc. Curt Kovener, The Crothersville Times Bud Hunt, AIM Media Indiana Justin Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper) HSPA Foundation Board of Directors HSPA Foundation Officers President: B.J. Riley, Horizon Publications Vice President: Bill Hackney, The News Dispatch (Michigan City), The LaPorte County Herald-Argus and The Rochester Sentinel HSPA Foundation Board Members Nancy Grossman, Leader Publishing Gillian Kelk, Sullivan Daily Times Robyn McCloskey, CNHI Mark Miller, The News-Banner (Bluffton) Greg Perrotto, Kankakee Valley Publishing John Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper) HSPA Staff Steve Key, executive director, general counsel skey@hspa.com (317) 624-4427 Pamela Lego, MAP advertising director plego@hspa.com (812) 350 -7711 Shawn Goldsby, statewide advertising manager sgoldsby@hspa.com (317) 803-4772 Ruth Witmer, communications specialist news@hspa.com • (317) 624-4430 HSPA Board of Directors HSPA Officers President: Patrick Lanman, Vevay Media Group V ice President/Secretary: Beverly Joyce, CNHI HSPA Board Members Chris White, The Times Media Co. Bill Connelly, LaGrange Publishing Co. Larry Hensley, Schurz Communications, Inc. Curt Kovener, The Crothersville Times Bud Hunt, AIM Media Indiana Justin Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper) HSPA Foundation Board of Directors HSPA Foundation Officers President: B.J. Riley, Horizon Publications Vice President: Bill Hackney, TI1e News Dispatch (Michigan City), The LaPorte County Herald-Argus and The Rochester Sentinel HSPA Foundation Board Members Nancy Grossman, Leader Publishing Gillian Kelk, Sullivan Daily Times Robyn McCloskey, CNHI Mark Miller, The News-Banner (Bluffton) Greg Perrotto, Kankakee Valley Publishing John Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper) HSPA Staff Steve Key, executive director, general counsel skey@hspa.com (317) 624-4427 Pamela Lego, MAP advertising director plego@hspa.com (812) 350 -7711 Shawn Goldsby, statewide advertising manager sgoldsby@hspa.com (317) 803-4772 Ruth Witmer, communications specialist news@hspa.com • (317) 624-4430 news@hspa.com (317) 803-4772

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