Bleak newspaper-industry outlook spurs buyout of Star parent
On Aug. 5, GateHouse—a New York-based chain backed by an investment firm—announced a deal to buy Gannett for $1.4 billion.
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Q&A with Larry Lannan, founder of LarryInFishers.com news site
Larry Lannan, 67, of Fishers started writing about his hometown’s happenings after retiring from the Internal Revenue Service in 2011. Eight years later, his news blog, LarryInFishers.com, and podcast deliver Fishers residents nearly daily news about their city. For Lannan, a former radio reporter, his news site is his way of giving back to his […]
After years of pruning, Emmis ready for reinvention
CEO Jeff Smulyan says he still loves radio, but the 72-year-old pines to own businesses that have real growth potential, rather than fighting over nickels and dimes in a stagnant industry.
Former rock DJs ‘Hammer and Nigel’ on ratings roll
While “The Hammer and Nigel Show” is flourishing now, WIBC-FM 93.1 took a big risk in 2016 putting the two former rock ’n’ roll disc jockeys at the helm of a news-talk program, the station’s bread and butter.
Debunking medical myths all in a day’s work for IU’s Dr. Aaron Carroll
Carroll uses Twitter, a New York Times column, blog post, podcast, videos and books to publish his findings on just about any health issue he thinks needs explaining or correcting.
Young viewers skip local TV news, consume info online
While TV news has seen audience declines across many age categories, the biggest losses are with younger viewers.
New Indy 500 TV partner NBC lifts marketing to new level
The network’s ad blitz and all-in production effort are part of a strategy to capitalize on the network’s recent lock on all IndyCar broadcasts.
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.
Fox Sports Indiana to be acquired by Sinclair as part of $10.6B acquisition
The deal involving 21 networks adds to a growing sports portfolio for Baltimore-based Sinclair Broadcasting Group, which earlier this year announced a partnership with the Chicago Cubs to form Marquee Sports Network.
Shanks retiring, closing public relations firm after 32 years
David and Marilyn Shank decided to fold the firm they founded out of their house in 1987 rather than sell it. The agency, which became known for crisis communications, had a laundry list of big-name clients.
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.
WISH, sister station to be sold to Indy native’s firm for $42.5M
DuJuan McCoy, who has agreed to buy the stations, also is the owner and CEO of Bayou City Broadcasting LLC, one of the leading black-owned broadcast TV station affiliate groups in the United States.
Watchdog to examine Medicare chief Seema Verma’s publicity spending
Verma, a protege of Vice President Mike Pence and the architect of Indiana’s Medicaid expansion, appears to have steered agency money to political allies in an effort to boost her reputation, prominent Democrats say.
Radio-station acquisitions give Cumulus big boost
With its pending acquisition of three Entercom Communications Corp. stations, Cumulus Media Inc. is set to become the biggest, most-listened-to radio company in the Indianapolis market.
Pacers ticket sales, ratings rise as playoffs near
Boosted by the fifth-highest winning record in the 30-team NBA, the team has seen home attendance rise 4.6 percent and TV ratings climb 6 percent, compared with this time last year.
Nuvo reinvents itself as not-for-profit, online publication
The founder of the local alternative weekly revealed Monday that the publication has radically shifted its business model in the wake of news that it has discontinued its print edition after 29 years
Q&A with ‘Blues House Party’ host Matt Socey
Matt Socey plays several on-air roles at WFYI-FM 90.1, but from 8-10 p.m. on Saturdays, he spins blues tunes.
Amazon’s Bezos: Enquirer threatened to publish revealing pics
Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos says he was the target of “extortion and blackmail” by the publisher of the National Enquirer, which he said threatened to publish revealing personal photos of him unless he stopped investigating how the tabloid obtained his private exchanges with his mistress.
IndyStar investigative reporter to depart for USA Today
Marisa Kwiatkowski was one of three Star journalists whose series on the sexual abuse of gymnasts led to a national outcry on the topic and a guilty verdict against Dr. Larry Nassar.
UPDATE: IndyStar parent firm rejects $1.4B offer, but fight might not be over
Gannett Co. said Monday that its board determined the unsolicited offer from a hedge-fund backed media group undervalued the company and wasn’t in the best interests of shareholders.