Warren Buffett getting out of newspaper business
Buffett is a lifelong fan of newspapers but he has said for several years that he expects most of them to continue on their declining trajectory, save for a handful of national papers.
Publishing
Articles
Book details university’s rebound after 1977 plane crash tragedy
The entire men’s basketball team and coaching staff died on Dec. 13, 1977, after the plane carrying them crashed on takeoff. It was a seminal moment for the city and the University of Evansville.
Updated digital version of ‘Encyclopedia of Indianapolis’ in the works
Designated as a legacy project of the Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission, the new “Encyclopedia of Indianapolis” is being developed by the Polis Center at IUPUI in collaboration with several major cultural and heritage institutions.
2019 YEAR IN REVIEW: Indy Star, WISH get new owners, while Nuvo ends print publication
In August, GateHouse Media, a chain backed by an investment firm, announced it was buying Virginia-based USA Today and Gannett Co., which owned The Indianapolis Star, for $12.06 a share in cash and stock, or $1.4 billion. The deal closed in November.
Catalog retailers see reason for optimism after declines
A catalog-industry rebound appears in the works, fueled in part by what might seem an unlikely group: younger shoppers who find it’s sometimes easier, more satisfying and even nostalgic, flipping pages rather than clicking links.
30-plus years of ‘Garfield’ comic strips to sell at auction
The strips span from the launch of “Garfield” in 1978 to 2011, when Indiana-based cartoonist Jim Davis began drawing the strip digitally.
Libraries can’t keep up with e-book demand as they clash with publishers
New York-based Macmillan Publishers on Nov. 1 began limiting libraries to one license of each new e-book title for the first two months after publication. That’s created even longer waiting lists of e-books at public libraries.
Howey Politics Indiana newsletter postponed after founder injured in fall
Brian Howey, the longtime publisher of newsletters and a web site dedicated to politics in Indiana, is being treated in St. Vincent Hospital’s intensive care unit after surgery for a head injury.
GateHouse, Gannett join, become largest U.S. newspaper chain
Executives of the combined company, which will keep the Gannett name, acknowledged there will be layoffs—the company has committed to cutting $300 million in annual costs.
Gannett-GateHouse merger will help investors, harm journalists, union report says
The country’s leading newspaper union issued a scathing analysis of the proposed Gannett-GateHouse merger Friday, saying the deal would drive down wages and employment for journalists at hundreds of newspapers. The merger will affect a dozen newspapers in Indiana.
Butler professor isn’t just playing with new esports book
When professor Ryan Rogers began teaching Butler University’s first class entirely on esports in the spring of 2018, he looked high and low for books and course materials on the subject. When he didn’t find much, he decided to create his own book.
GateHouse buying Indianapolis Star parent Gannett for $1.4B
Two of the country’s largest newspaper companies have agreed to combine in the latest media deal driven by the industry’s struggles with a decline in printed newspaper sales.
Journalism job cuts haven’t been this bad since recession
The level of attrition is the highest since 2009, when the industry saw 7,914 job cuts in the first five months of that year in the wake of the financial crisis.
IBJ wins 10 national awards for business coverage
IBJ took top honors from the Alliance of Area Business publications for best coverage of local breaking news, best local coverage of national news, and best specialty e-newsletter.
Gannett shareholders reject hedge fund’s board candidates
The vote, completed at Gannett’s annual meeting, amounted to a rejection—possibly the final one—of Alden’s attempt to acquire Gannett through a hostile takeover launched in January by its Media News Group unit.
Hendricks County Flyer newspaper publishes last issue
In a story at the top of the final issue, the paper said it closed “the shopper due to challenging market conditions.” The paper was delivered free by carriers to 15,000 readers on Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Indianapolis Monthly to vacate longtime offices, make way for STAR Bank on Circle
The bank will use the three-story building that fronts Monument Circle for lending offices and a branch location. The magazine’s staff plans to move into the adjacent headquarters for Emmis Communications.
Society of Professional Journalists leader resigns after one year in post
The Indianapolis-based Society of Professional Journalists is looking for a new executive director after the departure of Alison Bethel McKenzie.
IBJ wins 11 awards—including six first places—in Indiana journalism contest
Reporter John Russell won four awards, while the newspaper’s art team swept the Page 1 design category, at the Best in Indiana competition hosted by the Indiana Professional Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists.
Award-winning artist Gary Varvel to create cartoons for IBJ
Varvel will contribute a cartoon twice a month to IBJ’s op-ed pages. He joins Shane Johnson, who has been an IBJ editorial cartoonist for seven years and will continue as a regular cartoonist for the publication.