Click above to register.

North and South team captains are recruiting fellow golfers for the second annual battle for the Freedom Cannon on Thursday, June 6, at Southern Dunes Golf Course in Indianapolis.

Newspapers received regis­tr­­ation brochures by mail, and registration also is available at www.HSPAfoundation.org/golf-outing.

Friends from the southern end of the state will join Capt. Jack Pate of the Evansville Courier & Press.

Northerners will line up behind co-Capt. B.J. Riley of the Tribune-Star (Terre Haute) and co-Capt. Michael Christman of Fort Wayne Newspapers.

A blind draw will determine which North and South foursomes face each other in match play scored after all teams finish the scramble.

The side with the most victories wins the Cannon. (The Mason-Dixie line will remain flexible until registration closes.)

The annual golf fundraiser supports programming of HSPA Foundation.

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The workshop June 20 in Indianapolis will emphasize the theme “Watchdog Reporting for Every Newsroom.”

Reporting workshop

What: Watchdog Reporting for Every Newsroom

When: 10 a.m.-3:15 p.m. EDT Thursday, June 20, 2013

Where: Indianapolis Star Pulliam Produc­tion Center, 8278 N. Georgetown Road, Indianapolis

Cost: $30 by May 31; $40 after that date; includes meals and a 2013 AP Stylebook

Registration: HSPAfoundation.org/roadshow

Indiana Associated Press Man­ag­ing Editors and HSPA Foundation sponsor the annual seminar for beginning journalists and those who want to brush up on must-have skills.

This year’s event will again take place at The Indianapolis Star’s Pulliam Production Center, 8278 N. Georgetown Road, Indianapolis.

The 2013 Road Show will include sessions featuring:

• Ways reporters can stay on the watchdog beat no matter what their regular assignments.

• Information on obtaining access to public records and what to do if officials turn down records requests.

• How to effectively organize databases for data-driven stories.

• Ideas on cultivating and keeping reliable sources.

The cost is $30 per person by the early-bird deadline of May 31. After that, registration is $40 per person. Light breakfast, lunch and a 2013 AP Stylebook are included.

Journalists can register by filling out the form at www.HSPAfoundation.org/roadshow.

Other information and the brochure that newsrooms received by mail also are available on that website.

The annual workshop provides excellent training at a low cost for HSPA members. Road Show speakers have a variety of experiences to share with attendees.

Annie Goeller, assistant managing editor at the Daily Journal (Franklin), will present a session on staying vigilant for potential watchdog stories even while busy covering a regular beat.

Steve Key, HSPA’s executive director and general counsel, will present a session on the Open Door Law and Access to Public Records Act.

Laura Lane, the criminal justice reporter at The Herald-Times (Bloomington), will talk to journalists about how to find the right sources – and get them to talk.

Mark Nichols, the computer-assisted reporting coordinator for The Indianapolis Star, will teach attendees how to build a simple database in an hour to maximize data-driven reporting efforts.

George Garties, The Associated Press’ bureau chief for Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, will briefly share changes in the 2013 AP Stylebook.

For more information on the Road Show for Reporters, visit www.HSPAfoundation.org/roadshow or call (317) 803-4772.

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Ah, the magnolias show their splendor. The daffodils smile and nod their heads in the showers. (And dandelions compete with chickweed to take over the yard.)

Signs of spring?

No. Actually these natural alarm clocks simply remind you to pull out your clubs for the annual HSPA Foundation golf outing – the 50th no less!

Teams from the North and the South will battle for the Freedom Cannon Thursday, June 6 at Southern Dunes Golf Course in Indianapolis.

Mark your calendar now and start practicing. Don’t miss the golden anniversary of the tournament that helps fund Foundation programming.

After the South crushed the North in 2012, Yankee team captain Randy List pulled up stakes and bolted to Iowa. (He said it had to do with his duties as regional vice president of Rust Communications. Sure ...)

Fear not, remaining Yanks! The North sent replacements, doubling the leadership for the 2013 Challenge.

Michael Christman, president and chief executive officer of Fort Wayne Newspapers and publisher of The News-Sentinel, and B.J. Riley, publisher of the Tribune-Star (Terre Haute), will serve as co-captains for the North.

Jack Pate, publisher of the Evansville Courier & Press, will lead the South again and try to defend the title and the Cannon.

More information will follow in a brochure soon, and expect to hear from these team captains as they begin recruiting. (Warning: They rarely accept “I don’t play golf” as a valid excuse.)

The event offers a little outdoor exercise, a way to network using bottles and clubs, both prime rib and fried chicken on the same plate, a enjoyable avenue to donate to the Foundation – and, in some cases, a few excellent opportunities to practice anger management.

Got good ads?

Rules for the 2013 Indiana Newspaper Advertising Executives Association and HSPA Foundation Advertising Contest arrived on ad directors’ desks earlier this week.

In 2012 the number of participating newspapers increased by 57 percent from the previous year. The number of entries rose by 29 percent.

We ask all publishers to encourage their ad directors to submit their best advertising examples so we can continue this trend and recognize your creative talent at the Awards Gala Sept. 27.

Your staff has until June 7 to submit ads.

Need motivation?

State ad directors who know her highly recommend this year’s Advertising Conference speaker.

Kelly Wirges, a 20-year newspaper professional who launched ProMax Training and Consulting Inc., has trained thousands of advertising executives across the country. She specializes in maximizing productivity, profits and people.

As a former educator, I appreciate Wirges’ quote on her website: “The greatest return a business can realize is made when they invest in the people who generate revenue for the business.”

(Translated: Train your sales staff to get better results. The HSPA Foundation subsidizes this event to keep registration fees low. How does this oft-heard line make sense? “We don’t have time to train our people.” Huh?)

The INAEA board got creative when picking the venue for this year’s conference and awards gala.

Instead of meeting in a convention center or hotel, participants will gather at Indiana Downs.

Yes, I did say Indiana Downs – the place where horses run and people bet.

I hear ya. Call me Thomas too.

But after visiting the meeting space, I became a believer. We will save money, have ample space in nice quarters and park free. We adjusted the schedule a bit so those who want to pick a horse or play the slots afterward may do so. Networking time never hurts either.

Summer Reading Program

In a few weeks, we will send information on exciting new materials we will offer teachers and parents – every week – for the next 12 months.

Beginning June 1, users can find lesson plans each week on the HSPA Foundation’s Newspaper in Education webpage. The Indiana NIE Foundation and the Indiana State Reading Association will fund the project to offer new ideas for using the newspaper in the classroom or home throughout the year.

We hope you will run periodic reminders in your paper that the material is available and provide a link on your website to the page.

More information will follow by email in May.

Enjoy the spring!

Karen Braeckel is director of the HSPA Foundation. Her column runs in the second issue of each month.

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Click here to download information.

The HSPA Foundation and the Indiana Newspaper Advertising Executives Association will sponsor the annual contest to recognize the best advertising departments in the state in 24 categories and three overall awards of excellence. The entry deadline is June 7.

A save-the-date card included in the mailing asks ad directors and staff to mark their calendars for Friday, Sept. 27 for “Run for the Revenue – An advertising conference you can bet on.”

The training sessions will feature consultant Kelly Wirges at Indiana Downs and Grand Casino in Shelbyville.

Contestants may begin entering digital files and printing labels for mail-in entries now. The rules brochure that newspapers received includes explanations for entering the through the contest website, www.betterbnc.com.

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Click here to register online.

Friends from the southern end of the state will join Capt. Jack Pate of the Evansville Courier & Press.

Northerners will line up behind co-Capt. B.J. Riley of the Tribune Star (Terre Haute) and co-Capt. Michael Christman of Fort Wayne Newspapers.

A blind draw will determine which North and South foursomes face each other in match play scored after all teams finish the scramble. The side with the most victories wins the Cannon. (The Mason-Dixie line will remain flexible until registration closes.)

The annual golf fundraiser supports programming of HSPA Foundation.

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Meet this year’s Tenacious Ten – our 2013 class of Eugene S. Pulliam interns named after the late publisher of The Indianapolis Star and The Indianapolis News.

The selection committee (announced in the last Publisher) pored over applications for five hours and then debated for 40 minutes. In the end they chose another outstanding group of students.

As Bob Hansen, editor of the Connersville News-Examiner, said in an email afterward, “There are some very talented young people out there; very encouraging.”

I enjoy this time of year. We make 10 bright journalism students happy while offering them incredible experiences.

We cause dancing in newsrooms when we say, “We have an intern for you.” (One asked, “This is not a joke, right?”)

But with the cool comes the tough. A few students ask where they fell short as one called it, or what they could do to improve.

I review their applications and give the best advice I can. Sometimes they need to vary their clips. Sometimes they lack experience. (And, yes, sometimes they begin their personal statements with “My name is … .“)

The 2013 applicants came from 15 Indiana colleges and universities. (Students must attend a college in the state or be an Indiana resident.)

The interns hail from four universities: five from IU-Bloomington, three from University of Southern Indiana (a record for the school), one from Goshen College and one from Indiana State.

In the fall, seven interns will begin their senior years, two will start as juniors, and one rising sophomore made the list.

For those interested in such things, males hold the majority in this class – six to four.

Why do I mention such a sexist thing? It’s a first! Females either outnumbered or equaled the guys in every other class since the program’s inception in 2001.

Four students come from the Indianapolis metro area, two live about an hour outside of Indy, two are from Illinois, and two reside near the state’s northern border.

Of the 10 students, eight major in journalism, one majors in communication, and one has a double major in English/writing and journalism. (Do English and journalism teachers still battle over starting a sentence with “and”?)

Along with journalism these interns study a variety of other subjects. Check out these minors: political science (3 students); business and kinesiology (a sports writer); criminal justice; Spanish (a photographer); creative writing (English); and criminology. One has triple minors in public affairs, sociology and Spanish.

Two currently study abroad – one in South Korea and one in Peru.

Before leaving for Seoul, where she studies Korean language and culture, Caitlin O’Hara served as photo editor at the Indiana Daily Student at IU. She keeps a weekly travel column in the form of a photo story.

Kate Stoltzfus studies conversational Spanish in Lima and writes weekly columns for The Elkhart Truth.

Nathan Brown, the sports writer in the group, interned at the Olympic Games in London, participated as a freelancer at Super Bowl XLVI Media Day, served an internship in media relations with the Indiana Ice and currently covers IU’s men’s basketball for the IDS.

Dustyn Fatheree served as a reporter, staff editor and assistant news editor of the Indiana Statesman at Indiana State.

Matthew Glowicki currently serves as managing editor of the IDS at IU. He had internships at a weekly Chicago suburban newspaper and a magazine in London.

Evansville Courier & Press currently hosts Shannon Hall as a metro intern. She serves as Life & Culture editor at the University of Southern Indiana’s Shield and was chief copy editor the previous year.

Jessie Hellman, current news editor at The Shield, also presides over the reinstated SPJ student chapter at USI.

Daniel Morgan, a former editor in chief of North Central (Indianapolis) High School’s newspaper, now freelances for The Herald-Times (Bloomington).

As a freshman, Matthew Stefanski became general assignments editor at the IDS while also covering everyone’s favorite beat – business and economics.

And finally (only because of his “V” name), James Vaughn covers breaking news, writes in-depth features, and compiles stories for sports and life and culture for USI’s Shield. He also helped with the reinstatement of the SPJ chapter as its vice president.

Add passion and tenacity to the talent Hansen noted when describing this fine group of young journalists.

Karen Braeckel is director of the HSPA Foundation. Her column runs in the second issue of each month.

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The selection com­mittee of editors read applications from students at 15 Indiana colleges and universities.

The 2013 Pulliam interns and their placements are:

Nathan Brown of Noblesville: The senior at Indiana University will work as a sports reporter for The Herald-Bulletin (Anderson).

Dustyn Fatheree of Shelbyville, Ill.: The Indiana State University senior will intern at the Tribune-Star (Terre Haute).

Matthew Glowicki of Brookfield, Ill.: The IU senior will work at the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel.

Shannon Hall of Crawfordsville: A senior at the University of Southern Indiana, she will work at the Banner-Graphic (Greencastle).

Jessie Hellmann of Kokomo: Also a senior at Southern Indiana, Hellmann will intern at the Kokomo Tribune.

Daniel Morgan of Indianapolis: The IU junior will work at The Daily Reporter (Greenfield).

Caitlin O’Hara of Zionsville: A senior at IU, she will work as a photography intern at the Daily Journal (Franklin).

Matthew Stefanski of Valparaiso: The IU sophomore will intern at The News-Dispatch (Michigan City).

Sarah Kathryn (Kate) Stoltzfus of Goshen: A senior at Goshen College, she will work at The News-Sun (Kendallville).

James Vaughn of Indianapolis: A junior at the University of Southern Indiana, he will intern at The Shelbyville News.

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National Newspaper Association President Merle Baranczyk, publisher of The Mountain Mail (Salida, Colo.), said the survey shows that without a doubt, people read their community newspapers.

“The numbers are self-evident. They indicate the degree readers rely on and the connection people have with their community newspaper,” Baranczyk said.

The survey found:

• 92 percent said their local newspaper was informative.

• 83 percent agreed that they and their families relied on newspapers for local news and information.

• 96 percent of readers paid for their newspaper.

• 75 percent read all or most of their newspaper.

• Every paper has 2.18 readers.

• 77.4 percent read the paper for local news and information.

• 84 percent of readers (and their families) look forward to reading newspapers.

• 69 percent believe newspapers provide valuable shopping and advertising information.

• 75 percent said local newspapers entertained them.

• 49 percent of those with Internet access said they “never” read local news online.

• 51 percent said they often read public notices.

• 78 percent said gov­ernments should be required to publish public notices in newspapers.

• 85 percent said they never visited their local chamber of commerce website.

• 71 percent believe the accuracy of their local paper is either “good” or “excellent.”

• 70 percent believe the coverage is either “good” or “excellent.”

• 59 percent believe the fairness of their local paper is either “good” or “excellent.”

• By a 3-1 margin, respondents prefer their newspaper compared to TV for local news.

• 60 percent said they own a simple cell phone.

• 24 percent said they own a smart phone.

• 16 percent don’t own a cell phone.

The survey summary is available at www.nnaweb.org.

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Some years, the Foundation has no requests for amicus help.

The two most recently approved briefs involve HSPA member papers the Huntington Herald-Press, the Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne) and The Indianapolis Star.

Both the Herald-Press and Journal Gazette asked the Foundation to file a brief in Anderson v. Huntington County Board of Commissioners.

The question that the Indiana Supreme Court would answer is what “reasonable particularity” means when interpreting the state’s Access to Public Records Act.

The Indiana Court of Appeals decision in Anderson conflicts with another appellate panel’s decision on the meaning of the phrase in the public access law.

The Hoosier State Press Association and HSPA Foundation prefers the interpretation given in Jent v. Fort Wayne Police Department.

Jim Dimos of Frost Brown Todd in Indianapolis will draft the friend of the court brief asking the Indiana Supreme Court to transfer jurisdiction of the Anderson case to the state high court.

The Star requested amicus support for an appeal of a trial court ruling ordering the newspaper to turn over information that would identify an anonymous poster to its website to a plaintiff in a libel lawsuit.

The Star isn’t the defendant in the case, but plaintiff Jeffery Miller sought the name of the poster who commented on Miller’s departure from Junior Achievement, whom Miller is suing.

The question for the court is whether The Star can appeal immediately the adverse ruling, rather than comply with the subpoena and wait until the close of the case to appeal.

Waiting would make the appeal moot because the damage in revealing the identifying information would already be done.

“This anonymous poster issue pales in comparison to orders compelling non-party reporters to testify about their non-percipient newsgathering and non-party newspapers to produce notes or drafts,” said Jan Carroll, Barnes & Thornburg attorney in Indianapolis, who represents The Star.

Steve Badger of Benesch Law in Indianapolis has written the HSPA Foundation’s brief asking the Indiana Supreme Court to rule on the question.

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The committee will match 10 journalism students with 10 Indiana newspapers who applied to host an intern in 2013. HSPA Foundation will announce the winners and the newspapers where they will work in the coming weeks.

The selection committee included:

• Jim Brown, executive associate dean emeritus, IU School of Journalism at Indianapolis, who evaluated portfolios off site

• Tim Ethridge, editor, Evansville Courier & Press

• Mike Fender, director of photography, The Indianapolis Star, who evaluated off site

• Bob Hansen, editor, Connersville News-Examiner

• Courtney Linehan, sports editor, The Times (Munster)

• Tina McGrady, editor, Journal Review (Crawfordsville)

• Lisa Nellessen-Lara, executive editor, The Star Press (Muncie)

• Nelson Price, Pulliam internship program writing coach

• Cory Schouten, managing editor, Indianapolis Business Journal

• Christina Seiler, managing editor, The Rochester Sentinel

• Scarlett Syse, group editor, Home News Enterprises

• Bob Zaltsberg, editor, The Herald-Times (Bloomington).

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