New Publisher, New Vision: Longtime Evansville Magazine ‘News4U’ to Enter Its 35th Year Revitalized

Welcome to the Real World

After graduating from college with a degree in Public Relations in 2005, I had no clue what I was doing with my life. I was bartending on weekends, living it up at the pool during the week, and doing my best to pretend the “real world” wasn’t knocking. But deep down, I knew it was time to put that degree to work and start figuring out my career path.

One Day I Saw an Ad

I interviewed for a few jobs and even got some offers, but nothing felt quite right. Then one day (I honestly don’t remember how I found it), I came across an ad for a staff writer position at a local magazine I had always read. It was a free publication called News4U, and you could find it all over town, my bar included. Writing about local events and interviewing celebrities? That sounded like a blast, and maybe even a decent use of the one Journalism class I’d taken.

Meeting the Staff

My interview was at this old house on the river in downtown Evansville. That’s where I met Dylan Gibbs. He looked like he’d walked straight out of Almost Famous - tall and lanky, curly mop of hair, glasses, and a band tee that just screamed cool. I knew instantly we’d get along.

The first two things Dylan taught me:

• You only need one space after a period.
• Periods go inside quotation marks. Always.

I didn’t believe him at first, but sure enough, he was right. (Shout-out to Kentucky schools for the bad info.)

Then I met Bashar Hamami, longtime Publisher of News4U. He was deeply woven into the Evansville community and immediately made me feel right at home. I got the job, and that kicked off a lifelong love affair with local publishing.

We Ruled the World!

Over the years, I worked my way up to Distribution Manager, Assistant Editor, and eventually Managing Editor. I interviewed everyone from TobyMac and Josh Todd to Florence Henderson. This was back when social media was still a baby, and bloggers were just figuring things out. I judged talent shows, made guest appearances at events, and once even saw Taylor Swift reading a News4U on national TV when she opened her tour at Roberts Stadium.

One day, I was in a Wendy’s drive-thru and the woman at the window asked, “Are you the News4U editor?” She recognized me! I had arrived.

We were everywhere. We ruled the world - or at least the Tri-State area.

Eventually, life shifted, and I moved on to what I thought was a “bigger and better” job. (Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. It sucked!) But God bless the broken road. It led me to the job I’ve held for the last 13 years: managing editor of the websites for your favorite radio stations around the Tri-State.

News4U Will Always Have a Place in my Heart

I owe a lot to the team at News4U. And I’m not alone. So many have fond memories of the magazine, whether employed in production, sales, distribution, or just the thrill of being featured in its pages. With each new editor, the magazine evolved, bringing in fresh voices and new energy.

News4U Will Be Turning 35 Soon

Now, as it approaches its 35th anniversary, News4U looks better than ever, thanks in large part to its newest owner, Brian Buxton.

I recently caught up with Brian to talk about the magazine’s legacy and where he hopes to take it next. Check out our conversation below.

What inspired you to take ownership of News4U?
Honestly, the ownership change came from a completely random comment during a conversation with then-owner Brian Bennett. Like most other things I've done in my life, the business was not something I had thought about or planned. It just presented itself at the right time. And with the other things I was already involved in, such as my food page (Fingers, Fork, Knife and Spoon) and the work I've done with local animal rescues and shelters, News4U seemed to be a natural extension of those things, just in a different medium.

What changes or improvements are you most excited to bring to the magazine?
News4U has been a part of Evansville since November 1991, so I was very aware of the importance of not turning the magazine into something it's never been. And there wasn't a need for any drastic changes. It began as a way to find out where you could enjoy live music, bands, and other forms of entertainment. Over the years, it's grown to cover restaurants, dining, and other local events. But the readers enjoyed what it was, so we wanted to continue that with some subtle improvements to the editorial content, the ads, and the information we provide. The magazine is an opportunity to lend a bit of yourself to what is published, so with me being an auto enthusiasts there has been more content on our local Cars & Coffee event, the current issue has an article on vehicle maintenance and how to prep your vehicle to ensure it's reliable (and with cold a/c, this summer, and we expanded the coverage of our local animal shelters and rescues. My editor and other staff have introduced columns on fashion, health, beauty, and fitness. Plus a lot of other great articles about investing, mental health, real estat,e and more. We have some fantastic monthly contributors that we are very thankful for. We want the magazine to not only provide information on the music and bar scene, but to be something educational and informational that people want to pick up to read.

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How would you describe the current mission or voice of News4U?
Really, to champion the city of Evansville. We want to showcase our great local businesses, restaurants, and people. Everything that makes Evansville so unique and vibrant. We want to encourage everyone to shop, eat, and spend locally.

How do you decide what local events or stories to cover?
Some of our content comes from our readers. We receive emails, PMs on Facebook, and even letters with great feedback and ideas. We also have monthly planning meetings where we look at what holidays and events are coming up and discuss what we think is important, as well as what we think our readers will enjoy. We also want to showcase unique stories and people. Plus, we have a creative staff that always has great ideas.

Are there any new content sections or features readers can look forward to?
We have a list of stories that our readers can look forward to. July will be about the Independence of our country and the 4th of July celebrations. September will be our pet issue. We will have something on Bally's Casino and the history going all the way back to the Aztar river boat, plus a feature on Ellis Park. I'd like to do a story on Ray Ryan and a look into the connection that Evansville has historically had with the mob in Chicago (horse racing, gambling, etc.). I'd also like to include more on real estate in the near future - both informational and what commercial and residential properties are available. Plus we plan to continue the "Best of Evansville" and "20/30 under 40 or 50" features.

News4U has a long history and has been woven into the fabric of Evansville’s entertainment scene. How often do you connect with people who have been a part of its journey over the years?
It's funny because almost anywhere I go, someone with come up to me and tell me that they used to write for News4U, sell ads, or even deliver magazines. I have had people tell me about the columns or stories they used to enjoy, or the people they made connections with. I'm always surprised at how much each effect the magazine has had.

How do you see News4U playing a role in supporting the Evansville community?
That's something that is very important to me and the staff. The magazine has been, is, and will continue to be a representation of our city. We want it to be fun, informative, educational, and interesting. Maybe even inspirational. We purposely stay away from politics or highly divisive topics because there is too much of that in the world already. And people should come together based on what they share as human beings, while realizing that their differences make them unique and that much more interesting.

What kind of partnerships or collaborations are you hoping to grow with local businesses or organizations?
We partner with a lot of great local businesses and organizations now, but there is always room for improvement. We work with the Evansville Philharmonic, the Ford Center, Victory Theater, ONB Events Plaza, and others now. I'd like to do more with the Evansville Zoo, and both the art museum and CMOE. We have made a specific effort to include more content on the local artists and the art scene. We are always thankful for our great advertising partners who are with us each month.

What's your take on the current cultural and creative scene in Evansville?
It's been interesting to watch the changes in our city. The trends that have come and gone, the change in how people shop and receive purchases, as well as the changes in the population, and how that affects all aspects of daily life. People are shopping online more than ever, and choosing the convenience (but also the added expense) of delivery to their doorsteps. Our dining scene has been reflective of the growing Mexican and Latin population, with an explosive growth in both restaurants and food trucks that represent this change. We have a thriving and growing art scene, and live music seems to be making a bit of a comeback after the closure of so many local venues. The use of social media and specifically AI in how people work, do research, and find information. There really is a lot going on.

How can readers get involved or contribute to News4U?
We welcome feedback on past and present issues, plus ideas for future issues. We enjoy hearing from our readers and being made aware of what we are doing well and how we can improve.

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What’s been the most rewarding part of taking over News4U so far?
For me, I think the opportunity to be creative is one of the most rewarding. To work with the News4U team to find interesting content and present it in a way that resonates with our readers. I have always enjoyed writing and telling stories, and the magazine offers that daily. It's also satisfying to be able to carry on a 34-year tradition and to keep print relevant and at the forefront.

What do you hope people say about the magazine a year from now under your leadership?
I'd like to hear that people are enjoying what we have done. That they found a new favorite restaurant, or a new place to shop, or a new non-profit that they can support. We want businesses to grow and thrive, and community members to find new things to enjoy about our city.

Happy 35th Anniversary News4U!

For all those reading who have worked at the publication over the years, I'll go ahead and share that I put a bug in Brian's ear that a reunion is most definitely in order! Maybe I'll see you all then! Follow News4U on Facebook for the latest updates.