Eric Larsen, long time Gannett editor, will take over as IndyStar executive editor

Binghui Huang, Indianapolis Star
Updated ·3 min read
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Eric Larsen, the executive editor of the Fort Collins Coloradoan, will become the executive editor of the Indianapolis Star.

Larsen, who's worked in journalism for more than 20 years, will take over as the newsroom faces an increasingly competitive news climate in the city. Numerous media outlets have sprung up in Indianapolis in recent years, covering statehouse issues, providing daily newsletters and supplying community journalism.

Eric Larsen
Eric Larsen

Larsen, 43, said his priority for the newsroom is growing the IndyStar audience by producing essential journalism that Hoosiers need in their everyday lives.

"I think there's an opportunity in any metro to strengthen that," he said.

During a virtual staff meeting with the IndyStar Wednesday, Larsen said he wants to build the relationship between the newspaper and the community. He promised to sport his new IndyStar shirts as he explores his new home.

"I want people to come up to me. I want people to say 'Hey, you know, I really love the bad bars investigation' that you guys did. I follow Gregg Doyel and I hate when he's talking about Michigan,'" he said. "I want those people to complain about print delivery."

Larsen will begin his tenure at a time when employers across Indiana cite hiring and retention as their number one challenge. IndyStar is recruiting for a number of roles, including a growth and development reporter, a housing reporter and a courts reporter.

The trick to retention, Larsen said, is to help journalists achieve their personal goals in the newsroom and marry that with the needs of the community. When it comes to recruitment, Larsen said he wants local aspiring journalists in high schools and universities to know the Star and want to work there.

Gannett leadership launched a national search for an editor in October, when then-editor Bro Krift left the IndyStar to become the CEO of Free Press Indiana.

"Eric's leadership experience, his strong commitment to community and providing important journalism makes him the perfect choice to be the next top editor of the Indianapolis Star newsroom," said Mary Irby-Jones, Midwest regional editor for Gannett, who oversees the Indianapolis newsroom.

Under Larsen's leadership, the Fort Collins Coloradoan has won multiple Colorado Press Association Innovation awards and was the recipient of the 2019 News Media Alliance John P. Murray Award for Excellence in Audience Development. He oversaw a series published by the Coloradoan in collaboration with the Arizona Republic about a lack of federal oversight over private use of water on national forest land in the drought-stricken Colorado River Basin.

Larsen, a graduate of Oregon State University and native of Oregon, began his career as a sports reporter for the Times-News in Twins Falls, Idaho.

Larsen, who will be the third executive editor for the IndyStar since 2021, said he's committed to developing community journalism at the Star for the long term. He plans to move to Indianapolis with his wife and three children later this year.

"I don't hop around a lot," he said at the Wednesday staff meeting. "I was rooted in Idaho for 10 years and rooted in Fort Collins for 12 years. We chose Indianapolis because of the newsroom."

His first day at the IndyStar is Monday, Jan. 22.

Binghui Huang can be reached at 317-385-1595 and Bhuang@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Eric Larsen, long time Gannett editor, will take over as IndyStar executive editor