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Jill Ditmire, a multifaceted broadcast and print journalist who spent most her three-decade-plus career in Indianapolis, has died at 56.
WFYI Public Media, where Ditmire has worked since 2013, announced her death Monday afternoon but did not disclose a cause of death.
Over her career, Ditmire filled many roles as a journalist, including TV and radio host, reporter and producer of her own programming.
“Jill was a respected journalist and a tireless advocate for the Indianapolis arts community,” said WFYI CEO and President Greg Petrowich in written remarks. “More than that, she was a friend and colleague and will be missed by all who knew her.”
She also owned her own business, Mass Ave Wine Shoppe and Cafe, from 2007-2013, where she built her credentials as a wine expert who judged wine competitions around the country. Her “Mermaid Tipsy Tales,” videos about wine and food, appeared on www.massavewine.com.
The 1986 Butler University graduate was the local news anchor on WFYI for “All Things Considered” and contributed to “Morning Edition,” “Sound Medicine,” “Art of the Matter,” “Curious Mix” and “Wednesday Live at 5:44.”
She produced her own series on Indiana Public Television for eight years, “The Good Life,” which showcased independent chefs, restaurants and local wineries.
Ditmire’s broadcasting career included anchoring and reporting news at TV stations in Indianapolis, Detroit and Lafayette, including WTTV-TV Channel 4, WRTV-TV Channel 6, WLFI-TV Channel 18, WJBK-TV Channel 2, WTHR-TV Channel 13 and WISH-TV Channel 8.
She also co-hosted “Indiana Outdoors,” an Indiana Public Television show produced with the state Department of Natural Resources and Ball State University, for four years.
The native of Logansport also hosted and produced segments for the Indy Visitors Channel Network, which airs on 10,000 hotel rooms in Indianapolis.
Ditmire frequently wrote freelance pieces, often about wine, food and the arts, for numerous publications, including Indianapolis Monthly, Nuvo, Dine, Tasters Guild, Atlanta magazine and the Indiana Wine Guide. She wrote “Vintage Point,” a wine review column, for The Indianapolis Star for four years.
She was a finalist in the 2000 Pillsbury Bake Off, and she co-created the Vintage Indiana Wine Festival in 2000.
Ditmire also taught “Newswriting 101” classes for Butler University.
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WOW!! Huge talent lost too soon!!
Sad to hear of this….
Heartbreaking. Jill was a tireless advocate for the arts community and an exceptional journalist. What a beautiful soul we have lost.
I had the pleasure of working with Jill for a few years and loved every minute of it. She was a delightful personality and a wonderful broadcaster. Her broadcast work in the Indianapolis arts community is unparalleled and she will be sorely missed. My condolences to her family and her WFYI colleagues.
Jill and I were a team in her first anchor job. A special reporter and the best smile on television.
Such a loss for our community.
Huge loss to the city
I had the pleasure of being interviewed by Jill. My heart goes out to her family and friends. R.I.P.
Wine supporter and go getter
Jill be at rest
Love margaret and angee Gaia wines
I met Jill on several occasions and she struck me as a woman with a lot on the ball, and that she was going places. I noticed recently on WFYI, that she looked tired and appeared to be aging before her time. I am so sorry to see this happen to someone so full of life.