Last week, IndyStar journalists resumed negotiations with Gannett. We asked them to come to the table with a fair deal. (You can read more about our fight here and here.)
We are not discouraged, but we did not reach an agreement. Negotiations continue in early August.
We recently asked you to share the moments that IndyStar journalism moved you. Many of you mentioned our watershed investigation of child sex abuse at USA Gymnastics. You mentioned our reporting of the recent allegations of sexual misconduct by Indiana’s attorney general, our series on the notorious, violent crew led by Richard Grundy III, and our response to the school shooting in Noblesville.
More broadly, you told us how our arts and entertainment coverage helps you navigate the culture of Indianapolis, how you’ve been impacted by our visual journalists, and how our columnists continue to find ways to move you.
But there’s one thing almost everyone agreed on. Here it is, in your words:
Supporting local journalists is critically important. National news definitely has its place, but there are always stories that don’t apply to most of the country and have a hyper-local target audience. Local news allows people to get news about the place where they live.
Local journalists are a crucial part of any community. They deliver information about our city, schools, twin, environment, politicians and government. We stay informed, thanks to them, which allows us to make good decisions. And most importantly, they hold leaders accountable and uncover truths.
We need local journalists to keep us informed about local events and challenges. People who live here trust others that live here.
Local journalists know this community, what’s happening here, and what’s important to people here. Community pride (and subscriptions) come from local coverage. National and international news is available online from a number of sources. The local paper should be more than a regurgitation of news people have already heard.
Because local journalists are involved in the community you live in. They see your world. They see your problems. Your passions. They tell you the truth about what is happening to you and why. They tell you how you can make a difference.
Local journalism ensures the proper documentation of the activities of local and state governments, which has a profound and direct impact on the citizens therein. Local journalism ensures that our stories, the residents, are told, and are given a voice via journalism.
As we said in a letter delivered to IndyStar management last week: We live here. We don’t fly in every so often, like Gannett’s lawyers do. We have a vested interest in Indianapolis because this is our community, too.
Our negotiations with Gannett resume in early August. Your continued support means so much to us, and helps show our corporate owners that we deserve a fair deal and that we have the support of our community.
We need your help.
So please, consider changing your profile photos to our support image (found here), or share your own reasons why you #SupportIndyJournalists on Twitter or via this survey: https://goo.gl/forms/4nPkdYu2wkSSLTPy2. Better yet, tell our executive director Ronnie Ramos why you support us. Email him (ronnie.ramos@indystar.com) or Tweet him (@RonnieRamos), our company account (@indystar) and our corporate owners (@Gannett).
Indianapolis NewsGuild 
