Indianapolis Star drops two business columnists

The Indianapolis Star has decided to stop running columns by personal finance journalist Peter Dunn and Michael Hicks, an economics professor at Ball State, as part of spending cuts that include layoffs, reports Hayleigh Colombo of the Indianapolis Business Journal.

Colombo writes, “‘Budget cuts and whatnot,’ Dunn tweeted. ‘Six years, 315 columns, and lots of reader emails. Thanks for reading.’

“Hicks, in a tweet, thanked the Star for publishing his column ‘for many years’ and pointed out that he was syndicated in at least 25 other newspapers.

“The cutbacks come weeks after six longtime IndyStar employees departed the newspaper after taking early-retirement buyout packages offered by parent company Gannett Co.”

Read more here. Dunn also tweeted that USA Today will continue to run his column, “and they will continue to distribute it to their various newspapers. My commitment to take-on people’s biggest financial challenges is stronger than ever. If you need help, email me.”