Max Jones inducted into Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame

Apr. 30—Tribune-Star editor Max Jones was one of seven media professionals inducted Saturday into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame.

"It was a special day and the honor of a lifetime," Jones said of the induction ceremony, which took place at the Woodland Country Club in Carmel.

Established in 1966, the Hall of Fame each year honors media professionals with Indiana ties. This year's inductees have been described as "trailblazers, innovators and defenders of press freedom."

Jones spent 10 years at the Sullivan Daily Times before joining the Terre Haute Tribune-Star, where he served as bi-state editor, editorial page editor and ultimately was named editor in October 2000.

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.

Jones has been a leader in Indiana statewide press organizations and a charter member of the Indiana Debate Commission.

A profile on Jones written by Tim Harmon, a longtime Indiana newspaper editor now retired, stated in part:

"Often today, disagreements are winner-take-all battles, compromise is weakness and courtesy is for losers. Max Jones has a very different approach to journalism and leadership, based on a deep set of Hoosier values.

"As those who have worked with him know, Jones looks for points of consensus instead of division. He knows that good management, and good community journalism, are about listening to people as much as they're about telling them things."

In that same profile, Stephanie Salter, IJHF president who worked for Jones for eight years and is herself a member of the hall of fame, was quoted as saying, "Max in many ways is a diplomat. He keeps his cool and is so fair. He doesn't lose it — he's super adaptable, always trying to find his way through, no matter the mess or controversy."

In his acceptance speech, Jones, 71, a Loogootee native, gave thanks to family, journalism mentors, colleagues and friends who, through his 49 years in newspaper journalism, have supported him in his career.

Among those in the audience were his wife, Helen, son, Nick, daughter, Chelsea, and his siblings.

He also acknowledged the other six individuals being honored. "What a privilege it is to stand beside this distinguished group of inductees," he said.

Jones described growing up in a large family with parents "who embraced education, civic participation and community pride." Several newspapers, from the Indianapolis Star to the Loogootee Tribune, were always in the house.

He learned the tools of the trade at Indiana University's journalism school and upon graduation, began his career at the Sullivan newspaper, where owner/publisher Rex Pierce "took a chance on me" and allowed him to grow into the job and eventually promoted him to editor.

"I learned a great deal from him, and not just about journalism. His sense of community, and his newspaper's place in it, have been a guiding light," Jones said.

When he was ready to advance his career, then managing editor Merv Hendricks opened doors for him at the Tribune-Star in 1985. Jones had known Hendricks since their time at IU, when Hendricks was a newsroom leader at the Indiana Daily Student.

"I benefited greatly from working closely with someone whom I admired and viewed as a role model," Jones said.

In 2000, then Tribune-Star publisher Trevis Mayfield asked Jones to be the newspaper's editor. "It was one of the greatest honors of my life," Jones said.

Jones has been an active participant in many of the Hoosier State Press Association's projects and programs, including its freedom of information committee, where he helped the association with legislation promoting the cause of open government and a free press.

In 2007, he became a charter member of the Indiana Debate Commission, which sponsors statewide televised debates among candidates for the major offices of governor and U.S. Senate.

He is still involved with the debate commission.

One of his most treasured associations, he said, was time spent on the board of the Friends of Ernie Pyle, a nonprofit organization that owns and operates the Ernie Pyle World War II Museum and birthplace in Dana, Indiana, Ernie Pyle's hometown.

Jones acknowledged newspaper colleagues, past and present, as well as leadership of CNHI, the Tribune-Star's parent company.

"As much as I enjoy the hard work of community journalism, my years doing this job wouldn't be near as rewarding, or as much fun, if it wasn't for the many talented, caring, passionate and committed people I've had the great fortune to work closely with," he said.

He also said that "times have been tough for the newspaper business in recent years. It's been easy to get discouraged. I've tried to remain optimistic. One of the reasons I've been able to do so is the company I've worked for throughout my time as editor in Terre Haute."

Parent company CNHI became the new owner of the Tribune-Star the same day Jones began serving as editor.

"I'm grateful for the commitment to strong community journalism the company has made to its newspapers," he said. "Top to bottom, CNHI's leadership has been greatly supportive of me. And I thank all of them for that."

As he concluded his speech, the Tribune-Star's editor of 24 years said, "My emotions are raging. My heart is full. With deepest expression of gratitude, I say ... to the board of the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame, to my friends and colleagues, and to my family ... Thank you very, very much."

Others 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.

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