Have you ever wanted to ask journalists a question about what they do? Your chance is coming soon.
The Johnson County Public Library and Daily Journal are teaming up to present the event “Why local media matters” from 6 to 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 15 at the Clark Pleasant Library, 350 Clearwater Blvd., Whiteland. Journalists who live in Johnson County will share their perspectives on how the media has changed, freedom of the press and why local news matters at this panel discussion.
Panelists for the event are Leeann Doerflein, editor of the Daily Journal; Emily Ketterer, editor of Hannah News Indiana; Casey Smith, senior investigative reporter for Indiana Capital Chronicle; and John Herrick, news director for WIBC. John Krull, publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com and director of the Pulliam School of Journalism at Franklin College, will moderate the discussion.
The panelists will discuss the state of local media, share perspectives on how social media has impacted journalism, give insight into newsgathering, share how locals can be more media literate, and — of course — take audience questions.
Here’s who you’ll hear from
Doerflein, a Franklin resident and editor of the Daily Journal, has worked in local journalism for 10 years and has worked for the Daily Journal for five years. She’s a lifelong Hoosier and has lived in Johnson County for four years. She holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism and political science from the University of Indianapolis and a master’s in strategic communication from Purdue University. Before joining the Daily Journal as the Franklin and Johnson County reporter in 2020, she worked for several local newspapers in west central Indiana. She’s won reporting and photography awards from the Hoosier State Press Association and has been part of the news teams to win the Blue Ribbon Award two of the last four years.
Ketterer, a Franklin resident, is editor at Hannah News Service Indiana, where she covers Indiana state government and politics, with a main focus on education and transportation. She authors bi-weekly newsletters, Indiana Education Insight and Indiana Transportation Insight, and contributes to the weekly politics newsletter, Indiana Legislative Insight. Emily grew up in Whiteland and graduated from Franklin College with a bachelor’s degree in multimedia journalism and public relations. Prior to joining Hannah, she worked at the Daily Journal for a total of three years, and she was the Statehouse reporter for the Indianapolis Business Journal. In college, she won a regional Emmy as an assistant producer on the Franklin College/WFYI documentary “The Children’s Crusade Revisited: Slaughterhouse-Five at 50.”
Herrick, a Greenwood resident, is the news director for 93.1 WIBC and Network Indiana. He’s held that position since late 2023 and has been with WIBC since 2017. He is also the pregame, halftime and postgame announcer on the IU Radio Network.
Smith, a Franklin resident, is a senior investigative reporter at the Indiana Capital Chronicle, part of States Newsroom. Her reporting has earned the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting, the George Polk Award, the Selden Ring Award, and recognition as a Pulitzer Prize finalist, among other honors. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The San Francisco Chronicle, USA Today and other publications. Smith previously covered the Indiana Legislature for The Associated Press and has completed fellowships with the Investigative Reporting Program at UC Berkeley, the Investigative Reporting Workshop in Washington, D.C., The Indianapolis Star, and National Geographic Magazine. She holds a master’s degree in investigative reporting and narrative science writing from UC Berkeley’s Graduate School of Journalism, as well as undergraduate degrees in journalism, anthropology and Spanish from Ball State University, where she now teaches journalism.
Krull has been the director of Franklin College’s Pulliam School of Journalism since 2004. It was a return home for him, as he graduated from Franklin as a journalism and history double major.
He is the publisher of TheStatehouseFile.com, an award-winning news website powered by Franklin College journalism students that has become one of the largest news services in Indiana and writes a column three times a week for TheStatehouseFile.com that appears in more than 30 Indiana newspapers. He was the host of “No Limits,” a twice-weekly news and public affairs radio program produced by WFYI, that aired in several markets around the state from 2010 to 2019 and earned awards for excellence in broadcasting every year the show was on the air.
Krull has produced, written and narrated six documentaries, two of which won an Emmy and another that was nominated for an Emmy. Franklin College journalism students helped produce all six of the documentaries.
Prior to coming back to Franklin College, Krull was an award-winning reporter, editor and columnist for The Indianapolis News and The Indianapolis Star for more than 15 years and the executive director of what is now the American Civil Liberties Union of Indiana for nearly six years. During his career as a journalist, he has been honored with more than 100 awards for excellence in reporting, writing and broadcasting. He received his master’s degree in American Studies from Saint Louis University. Krull also is the author of “Emily’s Walk.”
Why you should come
The discussion is a chance to learn more about how local media works, where it is going and where it has been. The panel will bring together perspectives from print, digital and radio journalists who know Johnson County and can relate to the concerns of its residents.
We hope the discussion will be informative and that the journalists can help the public gain a better understanding of why local media matters, how local residents can help shape local media coverage and scrutinize sourcing to make informed decisions.
People who would like to ask a question of the panelists can do so at the event via a provided note card. Anyone who has a question but can’t make the event can email it to newstips@dailyjournal.net.
The Daily Journal will provide coverage of the event online on Thursday and in the Friday newspaper following the event.