Amanda Waltz
Two members of The Republic staff have received national accolades for their professional achievements.
AIM Media Indiana art director Amanda Waltz was recognized by Editor & Publisher magazine as one of 20 Creative Visionaries for the Class of 2022, and Republic Opinion page editor and assistant managing editor Dave Stafford was one of four recipients of the Carmage Walls Commentary Prize for editorial writing.
The honors were announced last month, and Bud Hunt, group publisher and vice president of AIM Media Indiana, formally presented the awards to Waltz and Stafford at The Republic on Nov. 4.
“We are fortunate to have talented individuals who work hard daily to deliver our news products to readers. While we will never take for granted the talents and abilities of Amanda and Dave, it’s nice to see that what we experience on a daily basis is recognized nationally,” Hunt said.
Waltz was recognized for her art and design work for newspapers and specialty publications including The Republic, The Daily Journal of Franklin, The Daily Reporter of Greenfield and others. She was one of just 10 graphic artists nationally highlighted by Editor & Publisher.
In discussing her work with the publication, Waltz said, “I feel that adaptation is essential. As an industry, we’ve got to be able to create new ways to connect with the audience, both readers and advertisers. Coming up with creative new ways to relay information keeps us interesting in a world where everyone is being bombarded with other ways to view their media.”
Of Waltz and other honorees, E&P said, “Their talents for communicating the news in visually intriguing ways helps our readers better understand and fully experience our stories. They don’t often receive the byline or recognition, but today we celebrate these often-unsung colleagues who support us daily.”
Hunt added, “Amanda leads a talented team that is responsible for the creative pieces in everything from our daily and weekly newspapers to magazines and special niche publications we provide readers. Putting together attractive, eye-catching advertisements and magazines that draw readers in are key pieces of reader engagement.”
Stafford was awarded second place for editorial writing in the Carmage Walls Commentary Award for newspapers with a circulation of less than 50,000. First place in the category was awarded to Cindi Scoppe of The Post and Courier in Charleston, South Carolina.
Stafford was recognized for a series of editorials critical of proposed Indiana state laws that would have, among other things, restricted teachers’ ability to discuss certain topics in the classroom and could have threatened librarians with criminal charges for recommending materials to minors.
A groundswell of statewide opposition to such measures included key local stakeholders publicly opposing such bills and a “read-in” protest at the Bartholomew County Public Library. Ultimately, none of the multiple proposals aimed at teachers and librarians passed the Indiana General Assembly this year.
Of Stafford’s editorials, “Judges commented that his editorials were among the shortest overall, but also the sharpest — very powerful. … One judge said editorial writers sometimes feel like they are tilting at windmills and fighting the good fight without seeing direct change. This series did have an impact, with the bills being withdrawn.”
Hunt added, “While a lot of newspapers are beginning to shy away from editorials in local communities, we think it’s important our readers know the newspaper’s stance on issues that are important to them. Dave’s commentary has proven to be insightful, well thought out and grounded in good common sense. Sometimes he has a little fun making his point, too.”
