WISH Political Veteran Jim Shella To Retire

Media General CW affiliate WISH Indianapolis (DMA 27) announced today that political reporter Jim Shella is retiring, after covering Hoosier politics for more than 34 years.

“I arrived at WISH-TV looking for a job and found a career,” said Shella.  “I have been given the privilege to cover Indiana politics with the freedom to pursue stories that other stations ignore. I send my thanks to the viewers who made it possible.”

Shella has been covering Indiana politics longer than any other television reporter in the state, the station says. He recently broke the story that Mike Pence was traveling to New York, where he was named Trump’s running mate.

Other major stories he broke include Dick Lugar’s decision to run for President in 1996, and Mitch Daniels being chosen to become President of Purdue University. Shella also covered the rebuilding of the Pentagon after 9/11.

He has followed 6 Indiana Governors, and covered 14 national conventions. He has interviewed President Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton, Donald Trump, George H.W. Bush, Ronald Reagan and Dan Quayle, to name a few.

For 15 years, Shella did his Weekly Chat with the Governor. He has also hosted and produced, Indiana Week in Review in conjunction with public TV’s WFYI Indianapolis, for the last 25 years.

“Jim has been a staple in Hoosier homes and Indiana politics for more than three decades. His dedication as journalist is second to none,” said Joe Abouzeid, interim WISH GM.  “Jim is a part of the WISH-TV legacy, and personifies 24-Hour News 8’s commitment to our viewers.”

Before coming to WISH in 1982, Shella worked as a reporter for WOTV (WOOD) in Grand Rapids, Mich. He began his career at WMT (KGAN) in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. A native of Jasper, Minn.,, Shella attended St. Cloud State University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in mass communications.

Shella will cover this November’s election cycle, with his last day being Friday, Nov. 11.