The Indiana Publisher

N ot everybody knew Everett "Sonny" Brown, but to the retired Evansville newspaper photo grapher that didn't mean they were strangers. Brown, 82, died March 23, 2015, at his Evansville home. He worked at the Evansville Courier from 1957-1994. He was born in Hopkins County, Kentucky, and was a Marine Corps veteran. "Sonny did not know a stranger. He was from that old school. He always had jokes, and it didn't matter who he was talking to," said Kevin Swank, retired Courier & Press visuals editor. Those who worked with Brown during his almost four- decade career as a photo- grapher recalled how he had a way with people, whether it was a police officer at a crime scene or a bank president holding court with mayoral candidates. "He was in the news business in a time when it wasn't unusual to see a lot of characters in the news business – and he was a character," said Bill Jackson, former editor of the Courier, Press and Sunday Courier & Press newspapers. He recalled how Brown could be heard practicing the banjo in his darkroom, having become interested in it after becoming friends with the cast and crew of the popular country music variety show "Hee Haw." Swank said Brown became good friends with Grandpa Jones, the Henderson, Ken- tucky, banjo player and enter- tainer who was a performer on the show, and that he would sometimes take fellow newspaper staffers for behind- the-scenes looks at the show. Jackson said that when he came to the Courier in 1963 to be city editor, Brown already was established firmly on staff. "He had shot every picture known to man, I guess, and I was a young city editor. I'd say 'Why don't you go and shoot a picture of this' and he would say that it had already been done," he said. One of those pictures, of a monkey cleaning the teeth of a hippopotamus at Mesker Park Zoo in December 1961, was published around the globe. Having been tipped off about it by a zookeeper, Brown spent months trying to capture it on film. After the picture appeared on the newspaper's front page, Life magazine printed it as a full-page feature photograph, according to a 1995 Courier article. It also appeared in the prestigious Paris Match magazine and the London Daily Mirror, as well as pub- lications in Sweden, Germany, Norway and Australia. For all Brown's skill at photography, Swank said it was his personality and reputation that got him the close access to events and news scenes that made so many of his pictures possible. "It was back in the day when there wasn't police tape at crime scenes and you could get closer if you knew the police officer on the corner holding the crowd back. He could talk to anybody, from police up to mayors," Swank said. Reporter/photographer – Small community newspaper looking for full-time, entry-level reporter/ photographer. This general- assignment position entails everything from news to sports to photography, with emphasis on shooting photos and meeting coverage. Salary is $15,000- $20,000. Send resumes, clips and photo samples to jobs@ thetimes24-7.com. Circulation Manager: Group of small community papers in Northern Indiana looking for experienced person to help take our circulation department to the next level. This is an ideal position for an experienced assistant who wants to move up. Send résumé to mtuley@hspa.com. Responses will be forwarded. Weekly editor – The Advance News, part of the Pilot News Group in Plymouth, is looking for a part-time editor for our Nappanee paper. Duties include covering local government meetings, special events and area news and taking photos. Send résumé to deskew@thepilotnews.com. Community journalist – The Journal Review, Crawfordsville, Indiana, is seeking an energetic and self-motivated general assignment reporter to cover news and features. Experience covering local government, police/fire, courts and education preferred. Candidate should have a good grasp of AP style and the ability to work under deadline pressure. Photography and social media skills are a plus. The Journal Review is a mid-sized newspaper in west central Indiana. It is published mornings Monday through Saturday. Send cover letter, résumé and three to five writing samples to Managing Editor Tina McGrady by email at tmcgrady@ jrpress.com or by mail to 119 N. Green St., Crawfordsville, IN 47933. Reporter – KPC Media Group Inc., an award-winning, family- owned print and online publishing company in northeast Indiana, is seeking a reporter for its Kendallville office. The reporter will cover county government, cops and courts, and local schools for The News Sun, a daily newspaper serving Noble and LaGrange counties, in addition to covering breaking news and writing feature stories. This is a full-time position with benefits, and occasional weekend work is required. Journalism experience is preferred, as are social-media skills and familiarity with InDesign. Send cover letter, résumé and three writing samples to New Sun Managing Editor Barry Rochford at brochford@ kpcmedia.com. Freelance writers – The Carroll County Comet has openings for freelance writers to supplement news content in our weekly publication. A working knowledge of AP Style, an enhanced vocabulary and self- starter qualities are musts for this job. Duties include covering meetings and special events (some weekend events), taking photographs when appropriate, interviewing a variety of public officials, meeting deadlines and writing objective copy. Send resume and three examples of newswriting to dlowe99919@ gmail.com. Send member notices to mtuley@hspa.com. Postings will be listed as space permits in print and in full at www.hspa.com. Page 2 April 9, 2015 Photog remembered for famed photo, friendliness EVANSVILLE COURIER & PRESS ARCHIVES VIA HSPAINFO.NET Everett "Sonny" Brown HSPA staff Steve Key, executive director and general counsel skey@hspa.com • (317) 624-4427 Karen T. Braeckel, HSPA Foundation director kbraeckel@hspa.com • (317) 624-4426 Pamela Lego, MAP advertising director plego@hspa.com • (812) 350-7711 Milissa Tuley, communications specialist mtuley@hspa.com • (317) 624-4430 Yvonne Yeadon, office manager yyeadon@hspa.com • (317) 624-4433 Shawn Goldsby, advertising coordinator sgoldsby@hspa.com • (317) 803-4772 The Indiana Publisher is published monthly by Hoosier State Press Association, 41 E. Washington St., Suite 301, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, (317) 803-4772. ISSN 0019-6711 USPS 058-730. Periodicals-class postage paid at Indianapolis, Ind., and at additional mailing office. Postmaster: Send address changes to The Indiana Publisher, 41 E. Washington St., Suite 301, Indianapolis, IN, 46204, (317) 803-4772, Fax (317) 624-4428 Website: www.hspa.com Subscriptions $25 per year. Ad rates furnished upon request. HSPA calendar May 7-8 HSPA & HSPA Foundation Joint Board Retreat, French Lick June 5 Advertising Contest deadline June 18 Road Show for Reporters, Indianapolis July 24 Better Newspaper Contest deadline Sept. 17-18 Annual Conference, The Alexander Hotel, Indianapolis + Golf Outing, Indy metro area Dec. 5 Newsroom Seminar, Indianapolis Marriott North HSPA Foundation Board of Directors HSPA Foundation Officers HSPA Foundation Board of Directors HSPA Board of Directors HSPA Officers President: Jon O'Bannon, The Corydon Democrat Vice President: Terry Ward, KPC Media Group Treasurer: Brandon Erlacher, The Elkhart Truth HSPA Board Members Robyn McCloskey, Pharos-Tribune (Logansport), Kokomo Tribune Chuck Wells, Home News Enterprises Chris White, The Times Media Co. Kim Wilson, South Bend Tribune Dailies Nondailies John Haley, Pulaski County Journal (Winamac) Don Hurd, Benton Review (Fowler) Greg Morris, IBJ Corp. President: Jack Pate, Evansville Courier & Press Vice President: Nancy Grossman, Leader Publishing Secretary: Michael J. Christman, Fort Wayne Newspapers Treasurer: Jeff Rogers, Home News Enterprises Henry Bird, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. Curt Jacobs, The Madison Courier Barbara King, North Vernon Plain Dealer & Sun Patrick Lanman, Vevay Media Group Mayer Maloney, Hoosier Times Inc. Mark Miller, The News Banner (Bluffton) William "B.J." Riley, Community Newspaper Holdings Inc. John Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper) MEMBER NOTICES Employees sought Longtime Evansville Courier photographer Everett "Sonny" Brown captured this photo featuring Mesker Park Zoo animals Hippy the hippopotamus and Bashful the monkey. The photo appeared in The Courier on Dec. 15, 1961. The picture has been used by other publications around the world, including Life magazine. Brown died March 23. By Mark Wilson Evansville Courier & Press

• Cover