The Indiana Publisher

Indiana The Volume 76, Issue 25 • December 8, 2011 Publisher Published alternate Thursdays And the Blue Ribbons go to ... The Times-Post (Pendleton) and Evansville Courier & Press Journalists from HSPA- member newspapers gathered for the News- room Seminar and Better News paper Contest awards luncheon Dec. 3 in Indianapolis. Educational sessions and rewarding journalis- tic excellence are the order of the day during the annual event. Speakers during this year's event included Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Thomas French and winners of the Ray Moscowitz Award for watchdog journalism. More photos, a list of winners and images of winners from the photo and design categories are posted at www. hspafoundation.org. Brian Smith of The Corydon Democrat, center, talks with attend- ees at the Newsroom Seminar dur- ing a break in sessions. Among the Democrat's awards was first place in the Best Newspaper Design cate- gory in Division 2. Contest quick hits Top winners in the 2011 HSPA Founda- tion Better Newspaper Contest include: Blue Ribbon daily: Evansville Courier & Press Blue Ribbon non- daily: The Times-Post (Pendleton) Story of the year: Clarence and the jour- nalist by Virginia Black, South Bend Tribune Photo of the year: Following her heart, a multiple picture group by Dave Weatherwax, The Herald (Jasper) Charlie Biggs Com- mitment to Com- munity Award: Bob Kriebel, Journal & Courier (Lafayette) Ray Moscowitz Award for watchdog journalism: Kristy Deer, Daily Reporter (Greenfield), and John Rus sell, The India- napolis Star Photo by Tom Russo The Times-Post (Pendleton) won the nondaily Blue Ribbon Award. From left are staff members Scott Slade, Amanda Matlock and Kyle Lewis. Michael Davis, executive editor of the Journal & Courier (Laf ayette) accepted the Charlie Biggs Commitment to Com munity Award for recipient Bob Kriebel, a longtime J&C writer. Donna Cronk of The Courier Times (New Castle) peruses a display of winning newspapers during the News room Seminar. The Evansville Courier & Press won the daily Blue Rib bon Award. Staff members on hand to celebrate the award include, from left, Eric Bradner, Mizell Stewart III, Thomas B. Langhorne, Susan Orr, Kyle Grantham, Sean McDevitt and Denny Simmons. General excellence: Division 1 – The Times-Post (Pendleton) Division 2 – Brown County Democrat (Nashville) Division 3 – Daily Re- porter (Greenfield) Division 4 – Daily Journal (Franklin) Division 5 – The Star-Press (Muncie) Division 6 – The Indianapolis Star Newspapers have been extra nice this year, Santa C hristmas is still a few weeks away, but you know how we are with deadlines in the newspaper industry. So I'd like to send this year's wish list to Santa a tad early. Santa, I'd like to think that us newspaper types have mostly been good this year. Heck, we've been so busy trying to find classified rev- enue, retail revenue, pre-print revenue and subscribers that we haven't really had much time to be bad. That has to count for something, right? OK, maybe not. But if you think we've done OK, I sure would appreciate it if you could find some room in that big ol' sleigh of yours for a few things. First, revenue. It doesn't matter if it comes under new, old or in-between categories, Santa. It's just that we could all use some. Oh, it's not as bad as it My Two Cents By Tim Timmons seems for most of us. The thing is, it doesn't real- ly matter if you're in newspa- pers or retail or restaurants, business is harder, a lot hard- er than it used to be. Right after revenue, it'd be great to get some jobs back. An awful lot of good folks have lost theirs, and some growth in our business would be just about the best present anyone could get. Next thing on the list, Santa … how about a Pulitzer for an Indiana newspaper? It's been awhile since one graced the Hoosier state. (By the way, Santa, did you know Indiana's first newspaper, the Indiana Gazette, was pub- lished in Vincennes in 1804? Just trying to keep you up to date on our state's history.) Anyway, like I was saying, it's been awhile. The Indian apolis Star won a Pulitzer in the 1970s, the Fort Wayne NewsSentinel won in the 1980s, and The Star won again in the '90s. Seems like it's time again ... I'm just saying. (Oh, another history thing Santa. The Indianapolis Times won one in 1928.) Look Santa, I know you're busy and I'm just rambling, but I've got one more thing to ask. I don't know if you can fit it in that bag or even how to find it, but could you maybe bring along some believin'? I'm sure there's a better word, Santa, but what we really need is to believe in what we do again. A lot of folks do, but some could sure use a booster shot. But with all this talk about the Internet and iPads and Droids and such … well, it kind of makes you wonder, See Santa, Page 2

• Cover