Indiana News Service: New Programming Fills Gaps in Rural Areas

Indiana radio stations and online media will have free access to high quality, public interest news with today's launch of an early morning, state-level newscast - Indiana News Now! - plus additional updates throughout the day. The new program from Public News Service, a national network of news producers, is part of a larger effort in Indiana (and beyond) to bolster independent reporting at a time of alarming declines in state and local media coverage.

The Indiana enterprise is spearheaded by two veteran journalists from the Hoosier State with decades of experience in radio, television and print journalism, Terri Dee and Joey Graham.

"Our goal is that Indiana News Now! will leave you better informed and connected to what happens in your community," said Terri Dee, the co-leader of the Indiana News Service, launched in 2011 by Public News Service.

This coverage is offered at no cost to Indiana radio stations and online media through the Indiana Local News Initiative. The Initiative, organized by the American Journalism Project, and announced last month, is dedicated to expanding the local news ecosystem to ensure everyone in Indiana has access to the news they need.

"I take my role as a storyteller quite seriously, especially when it involves my home state of Indiana," said INS co-leader Joey Graham. "I believe the most important component in successfully sharing any story is listening."

Indiana News Service is part of Public News Service (PNS), a national network of news producers working in more than three dozen states. PNS founder Lark Corbeil got her start in television at what became Thomson Reuters, and she's no novice at innovation.

"It's a tough time for both the public to get trustworthy information, and for the news industry as it reinvents itself," Corbeil said. "The growing pains can be quite painful. State-level reporting is one of the gaps we seek to fill, helping to make more quality content and often marginalized voices easily accessible to outlets, particularly those hard hit in rural areas."

Funding from Indianapolis-based Lumina Foundation allows Indiana News Service to expand its news coverage - already free of charge - and partner with other outlets to increase the availability of public-interest broadcast news, and to help partners' content reach more diverse audiences across Indiana and beyond.

Indiana News Service is unique, in that it exists primarily to serve other newsrooms, not compete for audience share. Current Indiana Local News Initiative partners include Capital B, launching a newsroom in Gary; The Statehouse File, powered by Franklin College students; The Indianapolis Recorder and The Indiana Citizen. The initiative also will create a new Central Indiana newsroom.

Indiana News Now! and other multi-format Indiana News Service stories are available for media outlets to download and air at newsservice.org. A brief message from Terri Dee and Joey Graham and a short video on how to access newscasts is here. The public may access online versions at indiananewsnow.org.

More on Indiana News Now! Hosts:

Terri Dee has worn many hats in her nearly 30-year career in radio, television, and print, most recently as local news anchor for "All Things Considered" on NPR member-station WFYI-FM in Indianapolis. Before that, Dee worked as a news reporter and anchor for Emmis Communications, and filled a wide variety of roles, both technical and editorial, including reporting, hosting and managing the newsroom for Urban One ("The Chat Room" and "Community Connection.")

Joey Graham has more than 35 years experience working in Indiana newsrooms. He started his first job at age 16 in Logansport, at his hometown radio station. He loved broadcasting so much he eventually joined the team full-time. Graham worked his way from being a young, local news reporter to News Director. For several years, Graham anchored Indy's Morning News at legendary news-talk radio station WIBC in Indianapolis, where he also hosted a weekend talk show.

By Kyla Russell for WISH-TV.
Broadcast version by Joe Ulery for Indiana News Service reporting for the WISH-TV-Free Press Indiana-Public News Service Collaboration

Indiana Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith said he supports efforts to redistrict Indiana's U.S. House seats, and he's seen what could be redrawn maps floating around, but has not seen any official maps.

He shared his thoughts on Friday in a one-on-one interview with I-Team 8.

"People want to scream about gerrymandering. Listen, every state does it. Democrats do it. Republicans do it. I think what Republicans have kind of fallen into the trap of doing for many years in the establishment way of thinking is if we just play nice, they'll play nice, if and when they're in power. We found out that that doesn't happen. So, listen, we've got the ball. We need to run the ball down the field, and we should do everything we can to make big wins for Republican principles, constitutional concepts and I believe ... the Republican Party embodies those principles better than the other party does. So, I'm fully in support of President Trump and his offensive-minded strategy here."

Beckwith told I-Team 8 he does not know exactly what happened on Thursday in a closed-door meeting at the Statehouse with Vice President JD Vance, Gov. Mike Braun and other top state lawmakers.

However, Beckwith said, he is aware of the taxpayer cost to calling a special session.

He says it's worth it.

"I think in the long run, if we can get the outcome that we're looking for, I think it will be certainly we're going to have to spend money. Yes, they are expensive. Nobody takes that lightly. That is certainly a conversation that needs to be had, and we need to look at that. But, I do think if we can take the 1st and 7th districts back, and really make Indiana a powerhouse red state, and then also give Washington a boost with a little bit more in the majority there. I think, economically, it will pay off in the long run, and I think we'll see our investment have big returns."/p<>


Kyla Russell wrote this article for WISH-TV.


get more stories like this via email

A public funding mechanism for Seattle elections is up for renewal in next week's election.

The Democracy Voucher program was passed 10 years ago. It offers voters four $25 vouchers to use each election cycle for candidates who accept certain fundraising and spending limits. Supporters said it is a model for more inclusive democracy, touting higher turnout, increased participation from more small donors and a more diverse candidate field.

Spencer Olson, spokesperson for the group People Powered Elections Seattle, which supports Proposition 1, said the program helps level the playing field.

"It's really important that people's voices are heard and that candidates can run being supported by their constituents," Olson contended. "Versus just listening to those wealthiest donors, those special interests that have historically been the loudest voices at the table and really dominated what priorities rise to the top."

The voucher is supported by a property tax. Olson and other supporters hope to bring the model statewide. Critics said the program is not big enough to make a difference in elections and has not curbed outside spending. Ballots are due by 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Olson pointed out the vouchers have succeeded in encouraging more diverse participation in local elections.

"The intention of the program was to bring a public financing program to Seattle elections to help empower more candidates -- more diverse candidates, women, renters, people of color -- to have equal access to be able to run, and run competitive elections without having to rely on wealthy donors, special interests," Olson emphasized.

Olson noted because the money comes from a dedicated tax levy, unused vouchers roll over to the next election.

"The goal isn't to create an unlimited pot of money but to be able to provide resources for candidates to run with the community's support," Olson stressed. "But it's not a blank check at the same time."


get more stories like this via email

Texas lawmakers will return to Austin on July 21 for a special legislative session called by Gov. Greg Abbott.

The 18 items on the agenda include redrawing congressional maps. Redistricting usually occurs every 10 years, following the census, but Abbott added the item to the agenda after the Department of Justice drew attention to four Democratic seats.

Christina Sanders, founder of the nonprofit PoliChic Engagement Fund, said Texas maps are already caught up in litigation.

"Some of the court cases that are still even pending from the maps that have not been drawn fairly and the potential impact of new maps in the middle of a census cycle," Sanders explained.

The Biden administration sued Texas, alleging the state's legislative and congressional district maps discriminate against Latino and Black voters. The Justice Department, under President Donald Trump, withdrew from the lawsuit earlier this year.

The seats targeted by the Justice Department are held by Rep. Al Green, D-Texas, Rep. Sylvia Garcia, D-Texas, and Rep. Marc Veasey, D-Texas. They are also focused on the vacant seat previously held by late Congressman Sylvester Turner. Following the 2023 legislative session, Abbott called four special sessions to pass a school voucher bill, which failed.

Sanders feels Abbott is using special sessions to push personal agendas.

"A special session would be for something like the flood that just occurred," Sanders argued. "It would be something that there is an emergency -- something immediate needs to happen at this moment -- because this policy for the state cannot wait."

Flood warning systems and communication are also on the agenda, along with hemp and THC legislation and changes to the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness test.