What IBJ Media does

IBJ Media is a privately held, Indianapolis-headquartered multi-brand regional media company founded in 1980 and solely owned by CEO Nate Feltman since March 2024. The company operates four core brands — Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ), Inside INdiana Business (acquired 2021), The Indiana Lawyer, and IBJ Media Content Studio — delivering business and legal news across print, three daily websites, a weekly TV show on CBS affiliate WTTV, 25 radio affiliates (flagship WIBC 93.1 FM), 14+ podcasts, and 30+ annual events including Power Breakfasts, award programs (Forty Under 40, Women of Influence, Leadership in Law), the Indiana 250 leadership list, and the Innovate Indiana regional series.

The underlying platform is a conventional digital media stack spanning content management, email newsletter distribution, podcast hosting, and multimedia production (including television). IBJ owns proprietary content assets — 70+ Top 25 industry lists, the Book of Lists, and the Indiana 250 compilation — that function as paid research and lead-generation tools. There is no disclosed proprietary AI/ML or technology platform; engineering capacity supports standard publishing infrastructure.

Revenue is generated through four streams: recurring subscriptions across the three news brands (IBJ standard $179/yr with a Young Professionals discount to $107.40), print and digital advertising (sold by a dedicated account executive team across all brands plus native/Content Studio placements), event ticket sales and corporate sponsorships across 30+ annual events with premium title sponsorships on Indiana 250, and Content Studio professional services offering custom magazines, podcasts, video, and thought-leadership content to external brands. Customers are predominantly Indiana-based business and legal professionals as individual subscribers and Indiana-headquartered enterprises as advertisers and event sponsors.

Name

IBJ Media

Legal name

IBJ Media

Website

https://ibjmedia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1980

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

IBJ Media is an Indianapolis-headquartered multi-brand regional media company operating IBJ, Inside INdiana Business, The Indiana Lawyer, and Content Studio, delivering Indiana business and legal news across print, digital, TV, radio, podcasts, and 30+ annual events to business professionals and enterprise advertisers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business and Legal News Media

NAICS

Newspaper Publishers (51311), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Media Streaming Distribution Services, Social Networks, and Other Media Networks and Content Providers (516210)

SIC

Newspapers: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2711), Periodicals: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2721), Television Broadcasting Stations (4833)

akta.pro primary industry

Consumer News & Digital Newsrooms (Web/App-First) (MPAJADAD)

akta.pro secondary industry

Community-Integrated Publishing Platforms (MPACAIAI)

Keywords

• Business journalism
• Regional media publishing
• Trade publications
• Content marketing services
• Business events

Headquarters

HQ city

Indianapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Subscriptions: Paid subscriptions to Indianapolis Business Journal (weekly print + digital), Inside INdiana Business (digital), and Indiana Lawyer (bi-weekly print + digital). Young Professionals discounted rate available.
2. Advertising: Print advertising in newspapers and 20+ special supplements/magazines; digital advertising on IBJ.com, InsideINdianabusiness.com, TheIndianaLawyer.com; sponsored content and native advertising through Content Studio.
3. Events and Sponsorships: Ticket sales, table reservations, and corporate sponsorships for 30+ annual events including Power Breakfasts, award programs (Forty Under 40, Women of Influence, Leadership in Law, etc.), and Innovate Indiana regional series.
4. Content Studio Services: Custom content creation for external brands including print magazines, custom emails, thought leadership series, podcasts, and video production. Paid service positioned as marketing solution for businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

IBJ Media is a regional business media company that produces and distributes business and legal news across Indiana through four primary brands: Indianapolis Business Journal (central Indiana weekly newspaper and daily digital news), Inside INdiana Business (statewide TV, radio, and digital business news), The Indiana Lawyer (statewide legal news), and IBJ Media Content Studio (custom content marketing services for brands). Revenue is generated through paid subscriptions to individuals, advertising sales to businesses, ticket and sponsorship sales for 30+ annual events, and fees for custom content production.

Product overview

IBJ Media operates a multi-brand media company offering business and legal news across Indiana. The portfolio includes four core products: Indianapolis Business Journal (central Indiana business news), Inside INdiana Business (statewide TV/radio/digital business news), The Indiana Lawyer (statewide legal news), and IBJ Media Content Studio (content marketing services). Supporting offerings include the Indiana 250 annual leadership list, the IBJ Media Podcast Network with 8+ shows, nearly 30 annual events (Power Breakfasts, award programs, networking series), newsletters, Top 25 industry lists, and regional event series like Innovate Indiana and Engage Indiana. Products are delivered via print, digital, TV, radio, podcasts, and events, with subscriptions providing bundled access across multiple brands.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Indiana 250: Annual list of the 250 most influential business and community leaders in Indiana, with accompanying magazine and Off the Record podcast.
• IBJ Media Podcast Network
• The Book
• Forty Under 40
• Women of Influence
• IBJ Media Podcast Network

Products and services

• Indianapolis Business Journal (IBJ) Central Indiana's primary business news authority delivering a weekly award-winning newspaper, daily digital news updates on IBJ.com, thought-leading podcasts, and 20+ annual events and award programs. Targeted at Indiana business executives, entrepreneurs, and professionals.
• Inside INdiana Business Statewide business news brand delivering a weekly television program, daily radio reports across 25 affiliates, daily website, and email products. Targeted at business professionals across all Indiana regions from Evansville to Fort Wayne. Winner of five Regional Emmys for Best Interview/Discussion Program.
• The Indiana Lawyer Statewide legal news publication publishing daily online news and key court decisions, a bi-weekly print edition, and a podcast; hosts events including the annual Leadership in Law awards. Targeted at attorneys, judges, and legal professionals.
• IBJ Media Content Studio Custom content creation service for brands including print magazines, sponsored content, custom emails, thought leadership series, podcasts, and video production. A paid marketing solution for external brands seeking to reach IBJ Media's audience through IBJ's editorial voice.
• Indiana 250 Annual recognition program compiling profiles of the 250 most influential business and community leaders in Indiana, published as an annual magazine, online profiles, and accompanied by the Off the Record podcast featuring behind-the-scenes conversations with honorees.
• IBJ Media Podcast Network Network of 8 distinct podcasts covering business news, legal topics, personal finance, leadership, AI, and Indiana emerging leaders, distributed across major streaming platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• IBJ Events Portfolio Portfolio of nearly 30 annual events including Power Breakfasts (industry-focused breakfasts with executive panels), award programs (Forty Under 40, Women of Influence, 20 in their Twenties, Fast 25, Leadership in Law), and networking series connecting Indiana's business community. Includes Innovate Indiana regional events covering 9 regions statewide and Engage Indiana events with the Indiana Economic Development Corporation. Revenue from ticket sales, table reservations, and corporate sponsorships.
• Innovate or Evaporate Podcast Podcast featuring conversations with founders, investors, and high-profile leaders on innovation and business growth, hosted by Christopher 'Toph' Day, CEO of Elevate Ventures. Distributed within the IBJ Media Podcast Network.
• Authentic and Agentic Podcast Weekly podcast helping business and community leaders understand artificial intelligence in a practical way, hosted by Jayson Manship with recurring segments on AI news, deep-dive interviews, and applied AI use cases. Title-sponsored by TechPoint.
• Talent Scout with Dave Neff Podcast Bi-monthly podcast spotlighting Indiana's next generation of leaders under 40, hosted by Dave Neff, CEO of Boilermaker Alliance. Released twice monthly on the first and third Thursday. Title-sponsored by Prolific.

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% of subscribers consider IBJ their primary source for business news
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Nexstar Inc. (FOX59 and CBS4)coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 22 July 2022News partnership between Inside INdiana Business, IBJ, and Nexstar's FOX59 and CBS4 stations for content sharing and broader news distribution across Indiana broadcast market.
• Aaron Wealth AdvisorsflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Indiana 250 annual list and reception event recognizing 250 most influential Indiana business leaders.
• CareSourceflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Indiana 250 annual list recognizing 250 most influential Indiana business and community leaders.
• Ice MillerflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Indiana 250 annual list recognizing Indiana's most influential business and community leaders.
• Pacers Sports & EntertainmentflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Indiana 250 program and exclusive reception at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
• Lucas OilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerPremier sponsor for Indiana 250 reception celebrating state's most influential business leaders.
• Indianapolis Motor SpeedwaycoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost sponsor for Indiana 250 exclusive reception held at Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum.
• Penske EntertainmentcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerHost sponsor for Indiana 250 reception recognizing Indiana's top business and community leaders.
• TechPointflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Authentic and Agentic podcast helping business leaders understand AI in practical, human-focused way. Yearlong season partnership.
• ProlificflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerTitle sponsor for Talent Scout with Dave Neff podcast's first season of 24 episodes spotlighting Indiana's emerging leaders.
• Elevate VenturescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInnovate or Evaporate podcast hosted by Elevate Ventures CEO Toph Day. Partnership connects show to IBJ Media's audience of Indiana business leaders. Elevate Ventures provides early-stage company support through education, investment, and connections.
• GleanersminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner event on food insecurity and health trends, co-hosted with IBJ providing coverage and promotion.
• Greater Indy Habitat for HumanityminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner event exploring housing stability and community well-being connections, co-hosted to provide editorial coverage.

Scale indicators7 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Emerging players

• Axios: Digital-native national business and policy news outlet expanding into local markets (Axios Local). Represents the competitive threat from a newer, well-funded digital model targeting the same executive audience that reads IBJ's newsletters and podcasts.

Direct peers

• American City Business Journals: Operates more than 40 regional U.S. business journals under the Bizjournals brand and was IBJ Media's former owner (1986-1988). Same core model — regional business news, events, Top 25 lists, and digital subscriptions — making it the closest direct comparable for valuation and operating benchmarks.
• Crain's Chicago Business: Flagship regional business publication from Crain, serving the Chicago metro business community with print, digital, events, and Top Lists. Direct functional peer for IBJ's Indianapolis operations in audience, monetization, and product mix.
• Nashville Business Journal: ACBJ publication serving Nashville's fast-growing business market. Comparable regional business publication with print, digital, events, awards programs, and lists — useful benchmark for subscription and event economics in a similarly sized metro.
• Columbus Business First: ACBJ publication covering central Ohio business news with print, digital, events, and Book of Lists. Comparable mid-market regional business journal with the same revenue model (subs + ads + events + lists) as IBJ.
• Crain Communications: Family-owned business publisher behind Crain's Chicago Business, Crain's New York Business, Crain's Detroit Business, Ad Age, and other titles. Closely mirrors IBJ Media's multi-brand regional business journalism model combined with events and custom content services.
• Denver Business Journal: ACBJ publication covering the Denver business market. Comparable in print + digital + events + lists model and in its position as the dominant regional business news outlet for its metro — the same role IBJ plays in Indianapolis.
• Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal: ACBJ Twin Cities publication with similar product mix to IBJ. Notably relevant because IBJ was previously owned by MCP Inc. (Minneapolis-based) — the historical ownership lineage makes it a tight functional and historical comparable.
• Cincinnati Business Courier: ACBJ publication covering the Cincinnati metro business community. Closely comparable in market size, business demographics, and multi-format offering (print, digital, events, lists) to IBJ's central Indiana footprint.

Broad incumbents

• The Indianapolis Star: Gannett-owned general-interest daily newspaper serving the same Indianapolis metro. Overlaps in local business, legal, and event coverage but at broader scope and different scale; competes for the same advertising base and reader attention as IBJ.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ibj_media
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/IBJMediaCorp/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/IBJMediaGroup
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ibjmedia
• Instagraminstagram.com/ibjmedia

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about IBJ Media