Tribune-Star editor Max Jones to be inducted into Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame

Feb. 19—Tribune-Star editor Max Jones is one of seven media professionals who will be inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame on April 27.

Established in 1966, the Hall of Fame honors media professionals with Indiana ties in its annual induction ceremony.

"Under (Jones') leadership, the newspaper has tackled issues that affect not only Terre Haute but also surrounding areas and the state," according to a news release. "As a leader in the profession, he has supported fellow journalists and news organizations as well as First Amendment rights and open government."

Jones, 71, has spent nearly 49 years in newspaper journalism, first at the Sullivan Daily Times and later at the Tribune-Star in Terre Haute. He has been Tribune-Star editor since October 2000.

"It's a tremendous honor and very humbling, especially when you look and see the people you get a chance to stand beside, not only in this year's class, but looking over past inductees," Jones said.

Among the things Jones said he is most proud of during his tenure is "the sustained quality of the product we've been able to put forward here in Terre Haute."

He added, "The only way that can be accomplished is if you are surrounded by smart, high-quality people who stand with you and practice the craft we practice every day."

That quality has been sustained "even through the challenges the newspaper industry has encountered over the decades," Jones said.

"It's truly been my pleasure to know and work with Max," said Robyn McCloskey, Tribune-Star publisher and regional executive for CNHI, the newspaper's parent company. "His passion for community journalism and his extensive knowledge of local, state and national concerns is awe inspiring."

Jones has long been involved with the Hoosier State Press Association, including its freedom of information committee, where he helped the association with legislation promoting the cause of open government and a free press.

Maintaining open government and transparency "is truly an ongoing battle," Jones said in an interview. "It seems like every time you see progress, you also see backsliding. ... It's not something you can ever declare victory on."

He was a charter member and past president of the Indiana Debate Commission and remains on the executive committee. He served as president from 2011 to 2014.

From 2011 to 2016, he was a board member of the nonprofit Friends of Ernie Pyle, which serves as owner/caretaker of the Ernie Pyle World War II museum in Dana. He got involved when the museum's future was in question after the Indiana Department of Natural Resources no longer wanted to operate it.

During his tenure as Tribune-Star editor, he won the HSPA Distinguished Service Award in 2011 and has won multiple first place awards for editorial writing and editorial pages. Under his direction in 2015, the Tribune-Star won the Newspaper of the Year award from CNHI.

Jones is a native of Loogootee and holds a journalism degree from Indiana University-Bloomington, where he graduated in 1974.

Merv Hendricks, former Tribune-Star managing editor who was part of a team that nominated Jones, said, "I'm extremely pleased ... the class of 2024 is extremely strong. Max is in very, very good company."

Jones has all of the skills necessary to be a strong editor including his writing, editing and design abilities, Hendricks said. He knows the community and understands political processes as well as the state of the newspaper industry.

"I think Max has been on the top of his game and in my mind he just kept getting better and he still is getting better," Hendricks said.

Despite the challenges to the industry in recent years, "I think the staff at the Tribune-Star together has maintained a good quality newspaper ... and I think Max has played a big role in that," Hendricks said. "He has kept his eye on the prize of producing a good newspaper."

Since 2020, Jones has also been editor of the Commercial-News in Danville, Illinois, one of the Tribune-Star's sister newspapers owned by CNHI. In recent years, he began serving as CNHI's regional editor for the company's newspapers in New York and Massachusetts.

The new members of the Hall of Fame class of 2024 include editors and reporters, broadcasters and authors who served readers and viewers in markets large and small, local and around the world.

They join more than 200 members inducted into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame since its founding.

This will be the first year the hall is partnering with Butler University to promote and preserve the work of Indiana journalists, past and present.

Others being inducted into the IJHF Class of 2024 are:

—Bill Benner, a former sports reporter, writer and columnist at the Indianapolis Star.

—Sandra Chapman, broadcaster formerly with WISH-TV and later WTHR-TV in Indianapolis, where she focused on investigative journalism.

—Eric Deggans, a former print journalist at the Tampa Bay Times who later became NPR's first full-time television and media critic.

—Francisco Figueroa, 1896-1951, the printer, publisher and editorial contributor to Indiana's first Spanish language newspaper, El Amigo del Hogar.

—Wallace Terry, 1938-2003, journalist, documentarian and author who covered war and civil rights for a variety of national newspapers and magazines.

—Kathy Tretter, owner and publisher of the Spencer County Leader and the Ferdinand News, where she edits, reports and writes columns.

The 57th annual induction ceremony, which includes lunch and a program featuring each inductee, is open to the public. It will take place April 27 at the Woodland Country Club in Carmel.

Tickets are $60 each for adults and $30 each for children 12 or younger, $20 of which is tax deductible. Tables of eight are available for $480. To purchase tickets, email the hall of fame at injournalismhof@gmail.com.

Sue Loughlin can be reached at 812-231-4235 or at sue.loughlin@tribstar.com. Follow Sue on X at @TribStarSue