Indiana Pro SPJ honors Evans, Key

Steve Key, director of the Hoosier State Press Association, received the Slaymaker Award for Service to Journalism from the Indiana Pro chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists April 22. Julie Slaymaker gave Key the Award. (Photo by Virginia Black)

Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame member Tim Evans and board member Steve Key were honored by the Indiana Pro Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in the 2021 Award Ceremony April 22 in Indianapolis.

Key, who will retire as executive director of the Hoosier State Press Association in May, was awarded the Slaymaker Award for Service to Journalism by IJHF board member Julie Slaymaker.

Evans, consumer advocate and investigative reporter for the Indianapolis Star, was part of a team to receive Story of the Year and first place (publication circulation above 30,000, news services and digital media) for a series called “Death Sentence” about the alarming number of deaths in jails across Indiana. Others honored for that series are Ryan Martin, Ko Lyn Keang and Robert Scheer.

Evans was inducted as a member to the Hall of Fame in a ceremony April 9.

Also honored was Lauren Chapman of Indiana Public Broadcasting, who was named Journalist of the Year for her reporting on COVID 19 in Indiana.

• See the Indiana Pro SPJ website to read about other awards.

• See the HSPA website to learn about the career and retirement of Steve Key.