The Indianapolis Star History and Legacy of IndyStar

The Indianapolis Star, commonly known as IndyStar, is a prominent morning daily newspaper based in Indianapolis, Indiana. Established on June 6, 1903, it has evolved into the city's primary daily news source, especially after the cessation of the Indianapolis News in 1999.

A Century of Journalism

Early 20th Century Foundations

The publication was founded by Muncie industrialist George F. McCulloch to compete with the Indianapolis Journal and the Indianapolis Sentinel. Through a series of acquisitions, the Star absorbed both competitors by 1906. Following a period of ownership under Daniel G. Reid and publisher John Shaffer, the paper saw significant growth under the leadership of Eugene C. Pulliam, who purchased the Star in 1944. By 1948, it had become the largest newspaper in Indiana.

Consolidation and Ownership Shifts

In 1948, Pulliam also acquired the Indianapolis News, merging their business and circulation operations while maintaining separate editorial teams. This arrangement lasted until 1995, when the newsrooms merged, and eventually, the News ceased publication in 1999. In 2000, the Gannett Company acquired the paper as part of a $2.6 billion purchase of Central Newspapers, marking a shift from local to corporate ownership.

Award-Winning Investigative Reporting

The Indianapolis Star is renowned for its commitment to investigative journalism, earning three Pulitzer Prizes:

• 1975: Awarded for a series exposing corruption within the Indianapolis Police Department.
• 1991: Awarded for reporting on medical malpractice.
• 2021: Awarded for National Reporting regarding investigations into police K-9 unit attacks.

Beyond these awards, the Star played a pivotal role in uncovering the systemic abuse perpetrated by USA Gymnastics physician Larry Nassar. Starting in 2016, the paper's reporting shed light on the failure of USA Gymnastics to investigate credible complaints, leading to criminal charges against Nassar in November 2016.

Production and Facilities

For years, the Star utilized the Pulliam Production Center, a state-of-the-art facility featuring massive MAN Roland Geoman presses capable of printing 75,000 papers per hour. However, following layoffs in 2023, Gannett announced the closure of the center in April 2024, moving printing operations to Peoria, Illinois.

Relocation to Circle Centre Mall

In 2014, the newspaper moved its headquarters from its long-time location at 307 North Pennsylvania Street—where it had been since 1907—to a new space in the former Nordstrom department store within the Circle Centre Mall.