EDITORAL : What Has Happened To Delivering Timely News
What Has Happened To Delivering Timely News
FEBRUARY 12, 2024
With the recent revelation that the remaining staff of the Evansville Courier and Press has voted unanimously to unionize, it is a good time to examine just what has happened to make the once widely honored and trusted industry of journalism reporting fall on a two-decade slide. What was most surprising about the recent announcement was that the Evansville Courier And Press had less than 20 people left at what was once a respected and powerful force in the Tri-State for delivering all the local news promptly and accurately. The easy answer of the internet did it, may be a major contributor to this decline but it is not the only reason for the decline.
Many other contributors are starting with a corporate consolidation of hometown newspapers under the umbrella of Gannett (GCI), a public company with a financial hangover from taking on crippling debt to expand their business. The stock of Gannett has lost 83% of its value in the last five years, making capital formation very difficult. With a market capitalization of only $336 million for the entire company, raising money in the billions is quite a hurdle. This collapse in value has caused Gannett’s excessive cost-cutting measures across the board to be necessary and this is why newsrooms across America from Evansville to every hometown paper owned by Gannett are struggling to generate enough content to be relevant. At one time the Evansville Courier and Press had over 100 plus employees at its Evansville headquarters. Today, there are around 15 full-time employees or less.
The second real issue is that the excessive but needed cost-cutting has been exacerbated by moving the print operation away from the distribution region. When the printing press was shut down and print moved several hours away, timely news reporting was disrupted to the point that the Saturday paper could not report all the local sports from Friday night games. Now the printing is moving even further away, causing a longer delay for a physical paper hurting the relevance of the local news. When a customer can use a search engine to find the news they are interested in, what good is a paper to a digitally capable potential customer? One thing is for sure and that is for a paper to be relevant the printing must be close enough to the distribution area to provide value news on time.
In response to the decline in value delivered news by Gannett-owned papers like the Evansville Courier and Press, there is a movement across the nation for small locally-owned community papers are making a serious effort in looking to create a publishing brand while making a profit with a mission to report local news on time in both print and digital form.
The City-County Observer is poised to assume a leadership role and has initiated some discussions about how to proceed. The recent vote of the staff of the Evansville Courier And Press to unionize tells us that they are not happy with the situation in the paper. A job is about much more than just a paycheck. A fulfilling job does need to pay enough for a comfortable life, but job security is also required.
It has long been on the minds of the founding group of the City-County Observer to consider taking our publication to the next publishing level. Now may be an opportunity to move forward.
Footnote Disclaimer: All data regarding the market capitalization and performance of Gannett was sourced from public information including the website of Gannett.
REO SPEEDWAGON AND SPECIAL GUEST LEVON HEAT UP THE PLAZA STAGE THIS SUMMER
TICKETS GO ON SALE FRIDAY, MARCH 15, AT 10 AM
Evansville, IN – March 11, 2024 — Classic Rock hitmaker REO Speedwagon will perform at Old National Events Plaza on June 25, 2024 with special guest Levon. Hailing from the Midwest, REO Speedwagon formed in 1967 in Champaign, IL. During the 1970’s and 1980’s the band cultivated a following that has spanned generations and achieved significant commercial success.
Fronted by iconic vocalist Kevin Cronin since 1972, the group’s unrelenting drive, non-stop touring and recording jump-started the burgeoning rock movement in the Midwest. Platinum albums and radio staples soon followed, setting the stage for the release of the band’s explosive Hi Infidelity album in 1980, which contained four hit singles including ‘Keep On Loving You’ and ‘Take It On the Run.’ The landmark album spent 15 weeks at No. 1 and has since earned the RIAA’s coveted 10X Diamond Award for surpassing sales of 10 million units in the U.S.
Today, REO Speedwagon has sold more than 40 million albums around the globe. Cronin and bandmates Bruce Hall (bass), Neal Doughty (keyboards), Dave Amato (guitar), and Bryan Hitt (drums) are still electrifying audiences worldwide in concert with fan-favorites such as ‘In Your Letter,’ ‘Can’t Fight This Feeling,’ ‘Time For Me To Fly,’ ‘Roll With The Changes,’ and many more.
REO Speedwagon is touring again with Country trio Levon from Nashville, TN. Their debut album Levon was released in 2017 with the lead single, ‘Ms. Marianne.’ Levon debuted on the Grand Ole Opry in June of 2018.
For more information about REO Speedwagon, fans can visit www.reospeedwagon.com.
Ticket Information:
What: REO Speedwagon with Special Guest Levon
When: Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at 7:00 PM
Where: Old National Events Plaza | 715 Locust Street | Evansville, IN 47708
Tickets: Tickets start at $35.50 plus applicable fees and tax.
Tickets are available at Ticketmaster.com or the Old National Events Plaza Box Office. For more information about the Aiken Theatre, visit www.oldnationaleventsplaza.com
Purple Aces accept invite to 2024 College Basketball Invitational
UE set to make first postseason appearance since 2015
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – The Purple Aces are headed to the postseason! On Monday, the University of Evansville men’s basketball team officially accepted an invitation to the 2024 College Basketball Invitational to mark its first postseason appearance since 2015.
“This year’s group has been committed to working extremely hard to be a better version of themselves on a daily basis,” UE head coach David Ragland said. “Through the continuous hard work, we have been able to generate a very competitive product on the court resulting in more wins than our program has had in a long time.”
“Our staff and player goals since we set foot on campus have been to revive a storied program. There are certain progressive steps to take in order to reach those goals. Receiving an invitation to play in a post-season tournament is a great honor and one that this group truly deserves.”
Running from March 23-27, the CBI will take place at the Ocean Center in Daytona Beach, Fla. Brackets and opponent information will be released on Selection Sunday. Opening round games will take place on the 23rd and 24th.
Ticket information will be available following the release of the bracket on Selection Sunday. If you are interested in attending, please reach out to Logan Belz at 812-488-2623 to be added to a distribution list for the most up-to-date information as soon as it becomes available.
Evansville earned 16 victories in 2023-24, more than tripling its win total from a season ago. UE picked up six Missouri Valley Conference victories, doubling its conference win total from the previous two seasons combined. In its trip to Arch Madness, the Aces defeated Illinois State in the opening round, picking up its first win in St. Louis since 2017.
The CBI is a single-elimination, fully-bracketed men’s basketball postseason tournament featuring 16 teams from across the country competing for a championship in Florida. The field consists of teams not selected for the NCAA Tournament.
USI events and updates for the week of 3/11/202
1 p.m. Monday, March 11
USI to honor Disability Awareness Month with SPELLERS movie screening
USI Disability Resources, in collaboration with Optimal Access, Inc., will also host a film screening of SPELLERS at 1 p.m. Monday, March 11 in Carter Hall. The screening is free, but donations are being accepted to Optimal Access, Inc.
10 a.m. Tuesday, March 12
USI Political Science, Public Administration and Philosophy Departments to host annual Law Day 2024
The USI College of Liberal Arts is excited to host the annual Law Day at 10 a.m. Tuesday, March 12 in Carter Hall, made possible by Appeals on Wheels. The Appeals on Wheels program takes Indiana Court of Appeals across the Hoosier state to hear cases in communities outside Indianapolis.
6 p.m. Tuesday, March 12
USI faculty to present on eclipses ahead of Solarpalooza
Begins Wednesday, March 13
USI Art and Design Department presents annual Spring 2024 Senior Seminar Exhibition
The USI Art and Design Department is excited to present the Spring 2024 Senior Seminar Exhibition from Wednesday, March 13 through Wednesday, April 24 in the Kenneth P. McCutchan Art Center/Palmina F. and Stephen S. Pace (MAC/Pace) Galleries.
Dr. Kent Scheller, Professor of Physics, will present Eclipses and Humans: Science, Shock and Awe at the Fort Branch Public Library at 6 p.m. Tuesday, March 12 ahead of USI’s Solarpalooza event, happening Sunday and Monday, April 7-8, on campus.
9 a.m. Thursday, March 14
USI World Languages and Cultures Department to host annual Academic High School Language Bowl
The USI World Languages and Cultures Department is hosting the 2024 Academic High School Language Bowl at 9 a.m. Thursday, March 14 in Carter Hall in University Center West. Thirty teams representing French, German, Japanese and Spanish languages will compete from 14 regional high schools, with 150 students and teachers estimated to be in attendance.
Friday, March 15
USI 26th annual Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Symposium happening March 15
Barb Bancroft, RN, MSN, NP will be the presenter at USI’s 26th annual Advanced Practice Registered Nursing Symposium on Friday, March 15.
March 20
USI School of Graduate Studies to hold Graduate Student Colloquium
The USI School of Graduate Studies is proud to announce the 7th annual Graduate Student Colloquium, happening Wednesday, March 20. The event is open to the public at no charge. Anyone with an interest in academia, research or higher education is encouraged to attend and participate.
THUNDERBOLTS TO PLAY DOUBLEHEADER IN MACON THIS WEEKEND
Evansville, In.: Coming off a big win on home ice against Pensacola, the Thunderbolts look to carry the momentum into this coming weekend’s road trip to Macon, where they will play against the Mayhem this Friday and Saturday night.
Week In Review:
The Thunderbolts were defeated 5-3 in Huntsville on Friday, despite an excellent performance from Scott Kirton, scoring 2 goals and assisting on a Myles Abbate goal in Kirton’s first game back from ECHL call-up. Saturday’s rematch in Huntsville resulted in a 3-0 loss to the Havoc. Back on home ice on Sunday, the Thunderbolts led 2-0 on goals by Matthew Hobbs and Brendan Harrogate before the Ice Flyers came back to tie. With only 16 seconds remaining in regulation, Vadim Vasjonkin scored the game-winning goal as the Thunderbolts emerged from their 4-game losing skid with a 3-2 victory. Brendahn Brawley started the weekend in goal on Friday, stopping 11 of 15 shots before being swapped for Ty Taylor, who stopped 24 of 25 shots in relief, followed by 30 saves on 33 shots on Saturday and 31 saves on 33 shots on Sunday.
The Week Ahead:
The Thunderbolts will be in Macon, Georgia to take on the Mayhem this Friday and Saturday night at Macon Centreplex Coliseum, Friday’s game beginning at 6:00pm CT and Saturday’s at 5:30pm CT. Fans can watch Friday and Saturday’s games on FloHockey with a paid subscription or can listen in for free on the Thunderbolts Mixlr Channel. Fans can also watch both games at the Official Thunderbolts away game watch party at Parkway Pizza on 3911 Broadway Avenue on Evansville’s West Side.
Coming Soon:
The Thunderbolts return home on Friday, March 22nd and Saturday, March 23rd to host the Peoria Rivermen. Friday the 22nd will be Princess & Pirates Night, featuring on-site inflatables once again from Legendary Inflatables, a hair tinsel station provided by B. Lanae Salon, and prizes from Deep Blue Indoor Play. Saturday the 23rd will be Hawaiian Night, featuring the final specialty game-worn jerseys of the season, which will be auctioned off after the game. Replica jerseys will also be on sale at the Thunderbolts merchandise stand.
EVENT TO ASSIST THE HOMELESS, NEAR HOMELESS
“ONE DAY, ONE STOP, ONE MISSION” EVENT TO ASSIST THE HOMELESS, NEAR HOMELESS, AND UNDER-RESOURCED IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO BE HELD THURSDAY, March 21st, 2024.
EVANSVILLE – The 16th annual Homeless Connect of Southwest Indiana will take place on Thursday, March 21st from 9 AM – 2 PM at the Old National Bank Events Plaza in downtown Evansville. The event, with the mission of assisting the homeless, near homeless, and under-resourced, will offer many services at this “one day, one stop, one mission” event.
Yearly, this event serves more than 600 individuals and families. This year, more than 60 local agencies will provide free, on-site services. These services are normally only available in offices or online, and at this event, they’re all accessible in one place on the same day.
The event is free and open to anyone needing the following services:
• Housing
• Legal Advice
• Birth Certificates
• Employment Services
• Parent Resources
• Veterans Services
• Health Screenings
• Education Services
• Childcare Referrals
• Financial Assistance
• Foreclosure Mitigation
• Public Assistance Applications
• Utility Bill Consultation
• Re-Entry Services
• Recovery Groups
• Internet Access
• Hair Cuts
Homeless Connect of Southwest Indiana is an activity of the Commission on Homelessness, a joint city-county initiative to end and prevent homelessness in Evansville and Vanderburgh County.
CenterPoint Energy, Ascension St. Vincent, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Deaconess, MDwise, Brentwood Springs, United Way of Southwestern Indiana, Familia Dental and CareSource are major sponsors of the event, providing financial support and in-kind services.
More information is available at www.evansvillehomeless.org or by calling 812-842-4586.
FOOTNOTE: Members of the media are invited to attend Homeless Connect. Interviews with service providers and guests will be available.
EVANSVILLE NURSE RECOGNIZED BY PRESTIGIOUS CORE VALUES AWARD
EVANSVILLE, Ind. – Darla Bell, director of clinical services for integrated home-based care company Compassus, received the organization’s highest individual honor for her embodiment of the core values of compassion, integrity, excellence, teamwork and innovation. Bell was awarded the company’s prestigious Carlos Burruel Compassus Core Values Award during its annual awards ceremony in Phoenix, Arizona, last week.
Bell is a registered nurse who has been with Compassus since 2019, joining first as clinical manager and quickly progressing to director of clinical services. During her time with Compassus she has grown her career while uplifting her fellow teammates, providing ethical leadership and oversight, lending a hand to her community in times of need and always looking for ways to improve care delivery. Her teammates describe her as an outstanding manager whose compassion knows no bounds. Not only does she help her team professionally, but she’s risen to emotionally support teammates in times of tragedy, demonstrating a profound level of compassion that goes beyond professional duties.
“Darla embodies all the qualities Compassus aims to deliver in pursuit of our mission to advance well-being and honor quality of life,” said Compassus CEO David Grams, who first announced bestowment of the award to Darla during a meeting with the Evansville team. “I am continually humbled by the selflessness and dedication of our teammates, and seeing how Darla has made a lasting impact not only on her peers and community but on the patients and families we serve demonstrates just how well she epitomizes our core values in every aspect of her life.”
The Carlos Burruel Compassus Core Values Award is presented annually to a team member who exhibits personal and professional character imbued with compassion, integrity, excellence, teamwork and innovation in every interaction with patients, families and teammates. It is named in honor of an inspiring teammate who lost his battle with cancer in 2016.
Compassus provides home-based care services including home health, infusion therapy, palliative and hospice care. Nearly 6,000 team members serve more than 100,000 patients annually across 29 states. Compassus provides care in eight markets and surrounding areas in Indiana, including Anderson, Bedford, Evansville, Indianapolis, Kokomo, Lafayette, Muncie and Seymour.
USI Communication and Media Department to host annual Social Media Symposium March 20
The University of Southern Indiana College of Liberal Arts and the Communication and Media Department is excited to announce the annual Social Media Symposium, happening at 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 20 in Carter Hall, located in University Center West. The event is open to the public at no charge and will be available virtually through Zoom, as well as in person. Registration is required through Zoom for virtual viewing.
Dr. Karen Freberg, Professor in Strategic Communications at the University of Louisville, is the 2024 keynote speaker. Her presentation, titled, “Swiftly Trending Towards Social-First: Riding the Waves of Social Media Trends for 2024,” will explore the current trends, strategies, challenges, and best practices to create a social-first, culture-driven approach in strategic communications and social media.
Freberg teaches, researches, and consults in social media strategy, public relations, and crisis communication at the University of Louisville. She is also an award-winning author and has written several books including Social Media for Strategic Communications: Creative Strategies and Research-based Applications and Discovering Public Relations: An Introduction to Creative and Strategic Practices.
For more information, contact Mary Beth Reese, USI Instructor in Communication, at mereese@usi.edu.
###
Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls nearly 9,300 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in more than 130 areas of study. A public higher education institution, located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and School of Graduate Studies. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through Outreach and Engagement. USI is online at www.usi.edu.
USI to partner with Evansville African American Museum to present Black Art Workshop Weekend and Exhibition
The University of Southern Indiana Art and Design Department will partner with the Evansville African American Museum to present the Black Art Workshop and Exhibition in the McCutchan Art Center/Pace Galleries, located in the lower level of the Liberal Arts Center. The workshop event is set for Friday, June 28 through Sunday, June 30, and the exhibition will run Monday, June 24 to Friday, August 30.
The workshop consists of four guest artists’ presentations:
- Lunden King
- Ayinde Rochon
- Matthew Fields
- Kenneth Randle
“The workshop aims to offer exclusive space for the representation and mentoring of Black artists. To specify, one must be a regional or local Black artist to participate at the Evansville African American Museum as an artist or artist instructor,” said Tory Schendel-Vyvoda, Curator of the Evansville African American Museum. “Since no venue in Evansville is exclusively dedicated to representing Black artists, this initiative fulfills a community need while adhering to the mission of the Evansville African American Museum.”
The event is open to the public at no charge, but registration is required. Pre-registration is open Monday, March 11 through Monday, March 18. Community registration is open Tuesday, March 19 through Friday, June 14.
*Pre-registration is for BIPOC participants per the requirement of the Indiana Humanities Grant.
Register here:
- Friday, June 28: VIP Reception (Museum Members and USI VIPs Only)
- Saturday and Sunday, June 29-30: Black Art Workshop Weekend
For more information, visit the College of Liberal Arts’ webpage, or contact Dr. Greg Blair, Assistant Professor of Art and Design, at gblair1@usi.edu.
###
Founded in 1965, the University of Southern Indiana enrolls nearly 9,300 dual credit, undergraduate, graduate and doctoral students in more than 130 areas of study. A public higher education institution, located on a beautiful 1,400-acre campus in Evansville, Indiana, USI offers programs through the College of Liberal Arts, Romain College of Business, College of Nursing and Health Professions, Pott College of Science, Engineering, and Education and School of Graduate Studies. USI is a Carnegie Foundation Community Engaged University and offers continuing education and special programs to more than 15,000 participants annually through Outreach and Engagement. USI is online at www.usi.edu.