WXIN, Paper In News, Promo Partnership

Today, Gannett-owned The Indianapolis Star and Tribune’s duopoly of WXIN (Fox) and WTTV (CW) Indianapolis (DMA 26) unveiled a multi-year news and promotion.

The partnership, scheduled to launch Aug.1, will include joint coverage of select breaking news, sports, weather, election and investigative stories across IndyStar’s and WXIN’s on-air, digital, print and other multimedia outlets. Additional partnership opportunities include developing joint community events and offering expanded coverage of Indiana sports, including the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers and Indianapolis 500.

“Over the past several years, FOX59 News has seen tremendous growth in terms of news hours and viewers we serve,’’ says Kerri Cavanaugh, WXIN news director. “We’re thrilled to announce this exciting partnership with IndyStar, as it continues to broaden the scope of the local stories we cover and connects viewers in Central Indiana with the news and information they want, when and how they want it.”

IndyStar Editor-VP Jeff Taylor adds: “We’re excited to combine the power of our two newsrooms to bring an unmatched level of coverage to Central Indiana. We’ll work together on select news stories and in our coverage of breaking news, sports, entertainment, elections and occasional investigative reports, and on joint community events and shows. You’ll see more coverage and will be more informed, engaged and connected with your community than ever before.’’

The media outlets said the partnership will evolve in the coming months and will feature appearances of key reporters and journalists across the entities’ respective media outlets, including WXIN chief meteorologist Brian Wilkes and IndyStar sports columnist Bob Kravitz.

The partnership also includes plans to jointly develop philanthropic initiatives and other co-hosted, grassroots community efforts.