Hoosier State Press Association - The Indiana Publisher
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/614013
December 10, 2015 Page 3 News in brief Send promotions, announcements, staff changes and other corporate news to mtuley@hspa.com. Use bicentennial series in your paper for free Van Baalen named publisher Reporter promoted; others added Newspaper closes after 117 years Veteran newspaper executive Pete Van Baalen, who has nearly two decades of experience through out Indiana, has been named the publisher of The Elkhart Truth. Van Baalen, who joined The Truth in November 2014, had served as the company's general man ager. "Not only is Pete expe rienced and engaged in the legacy side of the businesses, but he is also focused on the digital side as well – which is the future of our industry," said John F. Dille, presi dent of Truth Publishing Co. "And he's a lifelong Hoosier." Van Baalen, who lives in Elkhart and is active in several local organiza tions, also is a member of the Hoosier State Press Association Board of Directors. "I am honored to be a part of the Elkhart com munity, Federated Media and The Elkhart Truth. To be named publisher of this great organization is a tremendous thrill for me," Van Baalen said. Prior to joining The Elkhart Truth, Van Baalen had worked for 17 years at CNHI, a publishing company that operates about 130 news papers across the United States, including nine daily newspapers and four other publications in Indiana. He held numerous roles at CNHI, including vice president of sales and marketing, regional advertising director, and regional publisher. Van Baalen and his wife, Ruth, have a son, Eric, 18. He is a member of the advisory board of the Salvation Army of Elkhart County as well as Child and Parent Services. – The Elkhart Truth Eliza beth Beil man is the new senior reporter at the News and Tribune in Jefferson ville. Beil man, who primar ily covers Jeffer sonville, Sellersburg, transportation and River Ridge Commerce Center, was hired in January 2014. The Louisville native and Western Kentucky University graduate early this year took on a leadership role with the "Facing Homelessness" series, which stretched seven months. "Elizabeth established herself quickly as a news room leader," said Editor Shea Van Hoy. "She took charge of the largest edi torial project this paper has tackled in my 10 years as editor, and the end result was impres sive. She's really deserv ing of this position." In the newly created role, Beilman will help lead future projects and also serve as a mentor to new reporters, as well as other duties. She'll also continue to cover her cur rent beats. In other staff changes, the News and Tribune recently hired Aprile Rickert as a staff writer and Joel Stinnett as a page designer. Rickert primarily cov ers Clark County and Clarksville government, as well as other general assignment stories. Rickert, a New Albany native, graduated from Indiana University Southeast in December 2014. There, she served as editorinchief of The Horizon, the university's awardwinning news organization. Stinnett, a Louisville native, is finishing up coursework at IU Southeast, where he also served as editorinchief of The Horizon. – News and Tribune (Jeffersonville) The Herald News in Cayuga published its last edition Nov. 18. Dough Chambers, pub lisher and editor of the publication, announced the closing of the newspa per after 117 years. "We would like to thank everyone that has contrib uted to our efforts over the years, and on behalf of myself and our employ ees, we wish you a fond farewell," Chambers said. Chambers also pub lishes the Greenwood & Southside Challenger in Marion County. Elizabeth Beilman Pete Van Baalen I n January Indiana begins a yearlong celebration of its 200th birthday. Although the actual day falls on Dec. 11, 2016, the Indiana Bicentennial Commission plans to cel ebrate all year with various legacy projects it endorses. Our series "So you think you know Indiana?" received the commission's endorse ment, and Indiana newspa pers across the state may run the stories free of charge. We hope you choose to partici pate – and believe you will when you see the quality of the material. The series includes 15 approximately 720word sto ries with art. Newspapers may run as many as they choose in whatever order. We will offer several PDFs ready to drop on the page as well as text and art for those who want to design their own. Newspapers can down load materials beginning Friday, Jan. 15. Watch for more information on access. Advertising or NIE managers may sell sponsorships for the series as long as they run the logos of the original funders. The Indiana Newspaper in Education Foundation, the Indiana State Reading Association, and the Indiana Library Federation finan cially supported the project, while the HSPA Foundation provided the necessary in kind services to make it pos sible. Do not mistake this series as something for young read ers only. All ages will enjoy the stories, so market to vari ous audiences – schools, his tory buffs and those who just like interesting facts. Story topics include (alpha betically): African Americans; Civil War; immigration; famous Hoosiers; food heri tage; landmarks; museums; myths; American Indians; origins of names of towns, counties and other places; overlooked Hoosiers; presi dents and vice presidents; quirky facts; transportation and women. To ensure the quality of the series, the partners hired one of the bestknown authors of Indiana history and a talented graphic artist with decades of experience in the newspaper industry. Former Indianapolis Star feature writer/columnist Nelson Price wrote all 15 stories during the past 18 months to provide Hoosiers with interesting facts they may not know. Price, a fifthgeneration Hoosier, previously wrote for The Journal-Gazette (Fort Wayne) and the former Indianapolis News, where he was the education reporter. He authored "Legendary Hoosiers" (Guild Press of Indiana, 2001), a book for young readers that pres ents the lives of famous people from Indiana. He also wrote "Indiana Legends: Famous Hoosiers from Johnny Appleseed to David Letterman" (Hawthorne Publishing, 1997 hardcover; 2005 softcover), a book of pro files of 160 famous Hoosiers; and "Indianapolis Then and Now" (Thunder Bay Press, 2004). On radio Nelson hosts "Hoosier History Live", a weekly talk show on WICR FM (88.7) in Indianapolis – the only live radio show about a state's history in the nation. Two Indiana governors named him a Sagamore of the Wabash. Graphic designer Beth Winchell began her career in newspapers in 1980 as an ad compositor at the Chronicle- Tribune (Marion). Later she accepted a position as an advertising designer at the Naples (Florida) Daily News, where she designed special section covers and developed ad campaigns for real estate, retail and entertainment cli ents. Returning to her Hoosier roots, Beth joined The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News in 1992 and has run the gamut of design work from automo tive ads to a weekly NIE feature called, "Read the Zoo," and almost everything in between. For three years she coordinated The Star's print advertising creative showcase. In November 2015 – after 35 years in the newspaper industry – Beth retired from Star Media, where she coor dinated content and design for weekly and monthly advertising features as well as vendor and custom print publications. Members of the Indiana Newspaper in Education Advisory Board and NIE Foundation work diligently to provide quality material for our newspapers. Because they get little credit for their work, I want to acknowledge them here: Barbara Barbieri, The News-Banner (Bluffton); Karisa Campbell, Fort Wayne Newspapers; Greg Erbeck, Gannett Co.; Earlene Holland, Dubois, Indiana, (ex officio); Jack Humphrey, Evansville; Chris Judson, Concord High School, Elkhart, ISRA past presi dent; Carol Lutz, ISRA state coordinator; Lisa Plank, United Way of Central Indiana ReadUP program; Justin Rumbach, The Herald (Jasper); Susan Scholl, Carroll County Comet; Mike Snyder, Indianapolis (for merly with The Commercial Review in Portland); John Wolf, literacy specialist, Indiana Department of Education; and Robyn Young, Avon High School and presi dent of the Indiana Library Federation. Humphrey is president of the Indiana NIE Foundation, and Wolf chairs the Indiana NIE Advisory Board. I serve as treasurer of the NIE Foundation and a nonvoting member of the board and foundation. Personal Note Please know how much I appreciate your kind expres sions of sympathy. I am overwhelmed by your support through the many messages, cards, flowers, donations – and the hours you traveled to attend my husband's funeral. John and I were blessed to be part of the HSPA family. Karen T. Braeckel is director of the HSPA Foundation. Foundation Front Karen T. Braeckel Is your newspaper uploading ALL pages to HSPA via our ftp site? ☑ ☑ YES we are Um, not exactly ... Thank you! You can remove HSPA from your print subscription list. Please upload pages to help protect public notices. Call HSPA at (317) 803-4772 for details.