Editors' Day
SINCE 1889
Special edition for Saturday, Oct. 19, 1985 for publishers and editors.
THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN
FRIDAY, OCT. 18, 1985, VOL. 96, NO. 40-A (USPS 650-640)
Inside:
Internships of students listed, page 9.
Ex-students write, page 8.
John Chandler named to Hall of Fame
By Calder M. Pickett School of Journalism
Back on August 14, 1950, a 35-year-old Kansan started his long tenure on one of the state's famous newspapers with these words:
"It is a privilege to acquire a newspaper with so long and fine a record of community service as the Holton Recorder. I am also keen aware of the responsibility for maintaining the high standard set over the past three quarters of a century by Will T. Beck and his father, the late M.M. Beck, as reporters and interpreters of the news . . .
"I am enthusiastic about Hotton, both as my future home and as a field for newspaper
The words were those of John E. Chandler, who had been advertising manager of the Wood River Oil and Refining Company of
Wichita. It is John E. Chandler whose name, record and reputation today become a part of the Kansas Newpaper Editors' Hall of Fame. His picture will be one more of those that will look down on those who sit in the board room in Stauffer Flint Hall.
I suppose that it is starting to sound almost like a cliche, my telling you about personal pleasure in being able to make such an announcement, and to utter a few words about someone. But it is a special pleasure. All of us like to know that our efforts are appreciated on occasion, and in the autumn of 1975, John Chandler liked the talk I gave about the newspaper people of the American Revolution well enough to invite me to come to Holton to give it again, in a special program he had put together. Nola and I went to Holton and spent a fine evening with John, and I had a warm feeling for him and thus a
Kansas Newspaper Editors'
Hall of Fame Inductee:
special feeling when I was told that John Chandler's fellow editors in the Kansas Press Association had recognized him and voted him into the Hall of Fame.
John Chandler Holton Recorder
When Chandler took over the Holton Recorder these words were written by Will T Beck: "And I apprehend the new owner will instill much new life and a fresher outlook in the paper, bringing to it the energy of youth
Servant and senator
Prophetic words, for John Chandler became not only a leader in Holton but a leader in the state as well, and many who didn't know his work as a newspaper man did know his work in the Kansas Senate. And it seemed singular to some of us that he would be the third editor of the Holton Recorder to be named to the Hall of Fame, for Moses Milton Beck was one of the first, named back in 1834, and Will T. Beck was named in 1970.
and a well-trained mind, as well as a determination to become established as a permanent member of our community."
A little biographical data now, about this man we honor today. John Chandler was born July 13, 1915, in Topeka, to Herbert and Ruth Naylor Chandler. He graduated from Lawrence High School in 1933 and from the
University of Kansas in 1877, with a degree in political science. He grew up in Junction City and Lawrence, served in the Army in World War II, including fifteen months in the European Theatre of Operations as a major in the 14th Tank Battalion of the 9th Armored Division. He was a member of the Society of Remagen Bridge, those who crossed the Rhine in the 1944 drive into Germany. In 1982 he was one of 900 veterans who gathered at Fort Riley to commemorate the event.
He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and of the American Legion, but for our interests today he was especially an active leader in the journalism of Kansas, being past president of the KPA and of the Kansas Press Service. He was a member of the National Newspaper Association and a
See CHANDLER a 10 col 1
What does this mean?
Lauretta McMilien, Lawrence senior and campus editor of the University Daily Kansan, asks a detail in a story from Jennifer Benjamin, Lawnridge junior
John Lechliter/KANSAM
and Kansan reporter. About eighty students are working on the Kansan this semester.
Editors and newspapers losing clout
By Emerson Lynn Jr.
Jola Register
Do good newspapers make good communities? Do bad newspapers ruin communities? When a newspaper dies, from the pocketbook up does that produce a sour, grasping community?
The answer to questions such as these is probably no. Newspapers don't have that much clout today.
Back when Kansas was young, strong editors such as William Allen White. Marsh Murdock, Henry Allen,
Arthur Capper, Oscar Stauffer,
Clyde Reed and Charles F Scott — just to name a handful — focused constructive energy in their cities and took leadership roles.
The personal journalism they practiced was welcomed. When they tackled a city problem and hollered, "Charge!" Their readers followed.
An editor who tried that tactic today would be considered a brick short of a full load.
longer first among equals in the ranks of community leaders. Most of its readers no longer put community needs at the top of their priority lists.
Today's newspaper is just one of the means of communication in the modern community. Its editor is no
The primary reason for this, I think, is that people have become less parochial. Most seem more loyal to the special interest group of their choice than to the community they happen to be living in.
So today's editor must do more than wave the hometown flag in order to stimulate civic action. He
See LYNN p. 10 col. 1
Emerson Lynn Jr.
Local newspapers reap rich rewards
Community journalism is more rewarding and less mediocre than its reputation.
Bv Bill Mever
Marion County Record
The stigma some people attach to small town newspapers is a product of ignorance. Few of them realize that the part played by newspapers is often the difference between a thriving town and a dying one. Fortunately, Kansas is a state noted for its strong local newspapers.
Metropolitan journalism doesn't necessarily mean high quality, professionalism and high standards. Nor does community journalism mean sloppy preparation, poor management or lack of professionalism or low standards.
The country editor with black-thumb basic printing skills, a shirt-tail full of type and fire in his belly is gone. Today's community editor must be a student of rural sociology.
Bill Meyer
The old print shop editor has been replaced by computerized com-
Students preparing for the richly rewarding field of community journalism must learn to write clearly. But they also need to understand people, accounting procedures and electronics.
understand business management and know the stylebook. Fire in the belly still helps.
municators who not only cover the courthouse but also balance the books, conduct editorial campaigns, paste up pages and shoot photos.
The old days are gone. It's easier than ever to get into the community newspaper business. But it's harder to be successful. Competition is fierce. The student who craves a career in computers journeys out for the 40-hour week. But there are fringe benefits not found in other careers.
Many small town newspapers in Kansas have broader news coverage, crisper typography more logical business than larget paper in other states.
And they do a better job of serving the community.
Rewards are greater than cash can buy. They include walking the streets of a town you've promoted, covered and editorialized to improve. It matters little if there's surplus cash in the bank, if the amount is adequate
Community journalism provides deep satisfaction for folks who place "getting out the paper" as their first priority. They'll be cussed at times, discussed often, alternately hated and loved. But the title "our editor" is special recognition that can only come from "our town."
for normal needs and you are happy in your lifetime career.
Community journalists and country doctors must be general practitioners, not specialists.
And the town that has a strong newspaper is a town that's likely to prosper. Such a newspaper serves the community in various ways — as a promotions advocate, as the public's watchdog guarding governmental affairs and as a stimulus for culture and commerce.
There are few exceptions to the expression, "Show me a good town, and I will go."
Meyer is editor and publisher of the Record
Surveys indicate need to establish more reader trust
By Diane Borden School of Journalism
Earlier this year the American Society of Newspaper Editors released an important research study called "Newspaper Credibility: Building Reader Trust."
This summer, NBC commentator John Chancellor narrated an hourlong TV program on the same subject. And later this month at their convention in San Francisco, the Associated Press Managing Editors will learn about yet another survey on credibility . . .
Three-fourths of all adults in this country, the ASNE report found, have some problem with believing the media. And the same percentage think reporters are concerned only about getting a good story and don't worry very much about hurting people in the process.
Many think that we are biased. That we sensationalize. That we invade people's privacy. That we emphasize too much bad news.
They think that the press does not show enough concern for how ordinary people may be hurt by news coverage (although the survey does suggest that people who read papers with a circulation of 40,000 or less feel strongly about this issue than those who read large newspapers).
The survey reports that many people question the honesty and ethical standards of reporters and editors, and many think that reporters are rude and patronizing.
A majority question whether newspapers give fair coverage to the political candidates after one candidate has been endorsed on the editorial page.
And here's an interesting finding: Trust is lower among people who think that news coverage is influenced by advertisers.
Many people think that a byline entitles a reporter to put opinion into the news story. Almost one-fourth say the front page contains more opinion than the rest of the paper.
The ASNE report shows that these credibility problems affect all kinds of newspapers — large or small, independent or party group.
1 was the managing editor of a small daily newspaper in the Northwest for several years. During my first few months there, I discovered that one of the town's most respected citizens — the manager of a large retail store — refused to read or subscribe to the newspaper.
Building reader trust
Now I'm sure that if we all thought about it for a few minutes, we could recall an instance or two in which we know we lost credibility with our readers.
The reason? Several years before, the newspaper had misspelled his daughter's name in a wedding announcement. How many other readers have had similar experiences? And how many have carried their negative perceptions for so long? More, I'm afraid, that we'd all like to admit.
I would argue that we need to take seriously this research on credibility because we've heard it all ourselves. If we've been listening, we've heard our readers say some of the same things. And we need to take steps to solve the problem because if we don't, we'll lose those readers and maybe someday find ourselves out of a job.
I would argue, as does David Lawrence, editor of the Detroit Free Press, that editing a good newspaper is entirely consistent with building reader trust. There are some things we can do — things that don't have to
See BORDEN, p. 8; col. 1
Products of J-schools show professionalism
By Clyde M. Reed Jr.
School of Journalism
A few grizzled journalists can recall the days when the issues in their chosen vocation centered on whether there should be journalism schools of any kind.
Early-day scriveneres fell into two camps. One of them clung to the belief that journalism schools weren't only unnecessary, but downright needless as an expensive saddle on the taxpayer, poor fellow
We can say today only that times indeed have changed and so have attitudes toward J-schools, if we can be pardoned for the use of the vernacular.
They are welcomed because they fill an important — indispensable — role in communications.
The ink-stained detractors have faded and their days are gone. J-Schools are producing what newspapers, television, radio and magazines need. It's as simple as that.
The schools aren't producing finished products, but they are well on their way toward that happy goal. Lunchcakes no longer are for the
J-schools no longer are for the birds in the minds of seasoned professionals: they are welcomed with
open arms. Ask J-school recruiters for ready confirmation.
Ask also one tough old bird for additional confirmation. He will tell you that in his related class (the teachers editorial writing) his eyes have been opened wide by the maturity of his brood, not only on the issues of the text, but also on the events fall, also by the professionalism that marks their work.
This particular old bird began teaching late in life and fully expected to find all the sins about which old-timmers traditionally had complained under the subject of J-schools only because at any given journalistic event.
But with a few exceptions the old bird still is looking for the worst of crimes that he had expected on the road in to him for daily assignments.
General observation has led him to think his eyes fall on work that is the rule and not the exception.
The same old bird who finds stimulus in his students' work has a few suggestions that he thinks would improve their products.
Naturally. What are old-timers for if not to offer a suggestion here and there for improvement of the breed?
See REED, p. 10, col. 3