The Power of Storytelling

A Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Learning Event

Thank you for joining the Trust and your fellow members of the Indianapolis nonprofit and philanthropic community for “The Power of Storytelling: A Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust Learning Event.

This event highlighted innovations in media and storytelling, imparted guidance for interacting with members of Indianapolis’ news media, and provided tips for improved storytelling through effective media relations and social media strategy.

We hope what you learned at the event, along with these tips and contacts, will assist you and your organization in strengthening your own power of storytelling, helping you expand your reach and impact within our community.

Keynote Speaker
	Nicole Carroll USA TODAY Editor in Chief nicole@usatoday.com Nicole was named to her current position in March 2018. Prior to that she served as vice president/News and editor of The Arizona Republic and azcentral.com. Under her leadership, the Republic/azcentral.com was twice named a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News. In 2018, the Republic and USA TODAY Network won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting. She has led award-winning, groundbreaking work that pushed the boundaries of digital storytelling, delivered impact and changed lives. Carroll graduated from the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism in 1991. She earned her master’s degree from Georgetown University in 1996. After graduation from ASU, she held reporting and editing jobs at the El Paso Times, USA TODAY and the East Valley (Mesa) Tribune. Carroll joined The Arizona Republic in 1999, where she held positions ranging from city editor to planning editor to managing editor for features. She was named executive editor of the Republic and azcentral.com in 2008. That same year, Carroll was inducted into the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Alumni Hall of Fame. Carroll received The National Press Foundation’s prestigious 2017 Benjamin C. Bradlee “Editor of the Year” award. She has served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prizes three times (local news, breaking news and public service). In 2018, she was elected to the board of the American Society of News Editors.
Media Panel
	Alvie Lindsay, News and Investigations Director IndyStar alvie.lindsay@indystar.com Alvie Lindsay is the news and investigations director at IndyStar. His teams have won numerous awards for work ranging from failures by the Department of Child Services to protect children, for which he was awarded a Casey Medal, to, most recently, IndyStar’s investigation into USA Gymnastics’ failure to report sexual abuse complaints. He has been an editor at the Star for the past 10 years. Prior to coming to IndyStar, Alvie was the capitol bureau chief in Sacramento for the San Jose Mercury News, where he worked as an editor and writing coach for eight years. He also worked as a reporter, covering sports, education and city government, and as an editor for The Modesto Bee, for 14 years. He lives in Indianapolis with his son, Jackson, who is a senior at North Central High School.
	Lindsey Erdody, Reporter Indianapolis Business Journal lerdody@IBJ.com Lindsey Erdody covers state government, politics and philanthropy for the Indianapolis Business Journal. She joined IBJ in February 2015 and spent three years writing about the northern suburbs of Indianapolis, along with philanthropy. In early 2018, she began covering state government and politics and launched The Rundown, a weekly political newsletter, in the spring of 2018. Since graduating from the Indiana University School of Journalism in May 2012, the Michigan native has spent time at The Arizona Republic in Phoenix, The State Journal in Frankfort, Kentucky, and The Herald-Times in Bloomington. She has won several state and national awards for her work, including a silver award for “Best Body of Work” from the Alliance of Area Business Publications for her coverage in 2017.
	Sarah Neal-Estes, News Director WFYI Indianapolis sestes@wfyi.org Sarah Neal-Estes is the news director for WFYI, Indianapolis, and former managing editor for Indiana’s Regional Journalism Collaboration, Indiana Public Broadcasting. She started her journalism career at KUAC, Fairbanks, and the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism. In between Alaska and Indiana newsrooms, she taught at Indiana University, where she founded two audio courses and American Student Radio.
	Allison Carter, Digital Assignment Editor IndyStar allison.carter@indystar.com Allison Carter is digital assignment editor at IndyStar, her hometown newspaper. She works with a crazy, talented team of reporters and producers to find stories people are passionate about, create them quickly and deliver them in the places her audiences are. Allison started her professional career on the dark side. She spent four years doing content marketing and social media work for Roundpeg, a small business marketing agency. After a brief stint as an advertising copywriter, creating everything from TV commercials to those banners that go in bank branches, she followed her passion for news to IndyStar. In her four years at IndyStar, she’s managed the day-to-day running of social media accounts, served as a trending news reporter and yes, read the comments section. Follow her on Twitter @AllisonLCarter.
	Ruthanne Gordon, Senior Planning Manager FOX59/CBS4 ruthanne.gordon@tribunemedia.com Ruthanne Gordon is Senior Planning Manager for FOX59 & CBS 4 in Indianapolis. A graduate of the University of Evansville, she spent her sophomore year studying in England under the University’s overseas program. Following graduating she has worked as an anchor and reporter in Terre Haute, Indiana and Dayton, Ohio and Indianapolis, Indiana. She has received awards from Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists, United Press International and recently received two Emmy nominations.