Friday, February 5. 1999
The University Daily Kansan
Section A · Page 5
Panel discusses sensationalism
By Chris Hopkins
Kansan staff writer
Albert R. Hunt, executive Washington editor of The Wall Street Journal, was thankful to take a break yesterday.
Hunt, who is on the Cable News Network show "The Capital Gang," and is a host on CNN's "Evans, Novak, Hunt & Shields," discussed media responsibility in a time of sensationalism.
Hunt said that part of the reason why newspapers did not stop printing impeachment stories was because of demand.
"There is a marketplace at work for this kind of coverage," Hunt said.
"I don't think we can pretend that it's going to go away. It's going to escalate," he said.
Hunt also said that sensationalism in the media would continue.
Hunt said that speaking on the panel in front of a crowd of mostly journalism students was a welcome change.
Burdett Loomis, Dave Helling and Al Hunt speak in Alderson Auditorium. The panel spoke about sensationalism in the media and the way journalists should handle it.
Photo by Christina Neff/KANSAN
"This is much more edifying, educational and uplifting," he said.
The panel also included Gerald Seib, deputy Washington bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, Dave Helling, weekend anchor and political reporter for WDAF-TV Channel 4 in Kansas
PREVIOUS WINNERS
Some of the previous winners of the annual William Allen White Award, which recognizes journalists for excellence;
■ Bill Kurits, 1998
■ David S. Broder, 1997
■ Bernard Shaw, 1994
■ George F. Will, 1993
■ Charles Kurts, 1989
■ Jim Lehrer, 1982
■ Robert McNeil, 1982
■ Walter Crankite, 1969
City, Mo., Emerson Lynn, publisher of The Iola Register, and Mark Zieman, editor of The Kansas City Star. The event was moderated by Burdett Loomis, professor of political science.
Zieman and Seib graduated from the University of Kansas in 1983 and 1978 respectively.
The panel agreed that a serious problem was confusion in the industry about who decided the news. Seib said that it was one of the most important issues journalism was facing.
"It's not clear who's in charge any more and that's a fundamental problem." Seib said.
Zieman said that the industry's refusal to adopt a common ethical policy was a serious problem.
Hunt is in Lawrence to accept the William Allen White Award from the KU School of Journalism and Mass Communications at 1:30 today in the Kansas Union Ballroom.
"We are our own worst enemy
Hunt will give a speech he said would relate to a lot of the things the panel discussed last night but will connect them to the legacy of William Allen White.
Hunt said that he knew about the legacy of White before he was chosen for the award but that he really became excited
after reading his biography.
White, who was the editor of The Emporia Gazette, won a Pulitzer Prize in 1923 for editorial writing. White maintained the Gazette as an Independent paper. The KU School of Journalism and Mass Communications bears White's name.
James Gentry, dean of the School of Journalism, said that following White's legacy was a major part of winning the award.
"It's basically based on a record of service to the public," he said.
University schools bound for restructuring
By Chris Hopkins
Kansan staff writer
Administration and faculty at three schools at the University of Kansas are examining and may be adjusting their governing structures soon.
Bob Basow, president of the University Council and associate professor of journalism, said that faculty at the School of Business, the School of Journalism and Mass Communications and the School of Fine Arts have been looking at their rules and regulations and may make some adjustments this semester or next year.
participation and power.
David Guth, an associate professor of journalism, is spearheading the bylas project for the School of Journalism with Basow.
He said that one of his primary concerns in revising the bylaws, which haven't been updated in 14 years, was that the faculty and the students both had appropriate amounts of
"We're trying to find a place where we can provide governance, where we can provide leadership where appropriate." Guth said.
Basow also said that one of his goals in restructuring the school's system was to get more students involved.
"I would think that the students in the J School should take a leadership position," he said.
The School of Business' students have no problem with taking leadership, said Mike Ettredge, associate professor of business.
"We've got a very active undergraduate business council." he said
The problem with the School of Business is that it doesn't have any written bylaws.
Bruce Budditz, associate dean of the School of Business, said that he had been in the School of Business since 1986 and had never seen any bvlaws for it.
Most of the problems that arise are solved by
looking at the minutes of previous meetings, Bublitz said. The School has an archive that goes back to 1922, and he said that he may work on putting some bylaws together this summer.
Chris Hepp, associate professor of music and dance, doesn't think the bylaws for the School of Fine Arts are adequate.
He, along with professors Simon Carrington and Daniel Politoske, both in music and dance, want the School to guarantee inclusion of the professors in decision-making.
"The three of us would like to see more visibility, a higher profile for faculty governance in the Department of Music and Dance and the School of Fine Arts," he said.
Peter Thompson, Dean of the School of Fine Arts, is stepping down after this semester, and Hepp said he was reluctant to make any serious changes that a new dean might want to reverse.
Hepp said that he would ask applicants for Thompson's position what the role of the faculty had been at their previous schools.
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