The Indiana Publisher

One award each is given for Photo and Story of the Year. These are judged as the most outstanding pieces of work – regardless of a newspaper's circulation. The special awards are fol- lowed by newspaper winners from the four circulation divi- sions in Indiana. These awards are listed on downloadable PDFs with links to all the winning entries including stories, photos, pages, web pages and more. The pandemic caused a pause in normal award protocols for the last two years but not in the quality of work being honored. "Newsrooms across the state rose to the occasion producing stories not only about the pan- demic but a host of other issues impacting Hoosiers," Key said. "Your work under these circumstances makes me proud to be a part of the Hoosier State Press Association." Page 2 July 2021 HSPA Board of Directors Brant Houston Investigative Reporters and Editors Jim Polk, a longtime IRE leader and member, died on July 15th in his home in Atlanta. Polk, 83, had a distinguished career as an investigative journalist in both print and broadcast, winning a Pulitzer Prize in 1974 for his coverage of Watergate. He began his career at newspapers in his home state of Indiana writing about sports as an eight- year-old at his hometown paper, the Oaktown Press. He covered politics for the Bloomington-based Herald- Telephone and went on to do award-winning work for the Associated Press, The Washington Star, NBC News and CNN. Polk gradu- ated from Indiana University, and in 1994 he was inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame. Polk served as an IRE board president in the orga- nization's formative years and was a frequent speaker at IRE conferences. He was passionate about the profession and about IRE and remained an active IRE member, serving as a con- test judge and often weigh- ing in on governance issues. In 2018, Jim Polk received an IRE Founders Award for his service. In a 2015 issue of The IRE Journal, Polk wrote a "collected wisdom" column on the practice of investiga- tive journalism, stating: "... that is the core of what we do in journalism. It was true then, and it's true now. It hasn't changed. It's the same formula: 1. Ask ques- tions. 2. Find answers. 3. Tell the public. Yes, our delivery systems for telling the news have evolved. But our methods in pursuit of truth are simple and eter- nal." There will be a private burial in Polk's hometown of Oaktown, Indiana. Condolences may be left at the funeral home website at https://www.fredrickan- dson.com/obituary/James- Polk In lieu of flowers, the family asks that memo- rial contributions be made to Indiana University, at https://www.myiu.org/. Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame honoree James Polk dies at 83 Polk HSPA Foundation Board Members Alan Achkar, South Bend Tribune Bill Hackney, e La Porte County Herald-Dispatch (Michigan City) and e Rochester Sentinel Don Hurd, Hoosier Media Group Gillian Kelk, Sullivan Daily Times Brenda McLane, Hometown Media Group Mark Miller, e News-Banner (Bluon) Kathy Tretter, Ferdinand News and Spencer County Leader (Rockport) HSPA Board Members Bill Connelly, LaGrange Publishing Co. Bud Hunt, AIM Media Indiana Beverly Joyce, CNHI Curt Kovener, e Crothersville Times Robert Shegog, Indianapolis Recorder Scott Stanford, Fort Wayne Newspapers Chris White, e Times Media Co. HSPA Board of Directors HSPA Officers President: Larry Hensley, e Hoosier Times HSPA Foundation Board of Directors HSPA Foundation Officers President: Robyn McCloskey, CNHI HSPA Staff Steve Key, executive director, general counsel skey@hspa.com (317) 624-4427 Pamela Lego, advertising director plego@hspa.com (812) 350-7711 Shawn Goldsby, statewide advertising manager sgoldsby@hspa.com (317) 803-4 772 Ruth Witmer, communications specialist news@hspa.com (317) 624-4430 Longtime IRE leader received Pulitzer, Emmy awards Any staff updates at your paper? Launching an innovative project? Let us know. Email your news to news@hspa.com. BNC Awards Continued from Page 1 "Newsrooms across the state rose to the occasion ... Your work under these circumstances makes me proud to be a part of the Hoosier State Press Association." — Steve Key HSPA executive director, general counsel

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