NEWS

Roberts, New York Times national editor, Carolina alumnus, to speak Nov. 18

By ANITA KIRSTEN WEEKS

School of Journalism and Mass Communication

CHAPEL HILL -- Jim Roberts, newly named national editor for The New York Times and an alumnus of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, will discuss "How The New York Times Covers the Nation" on Nov. 18 in Carroll Hall.

The School of Journalism and Mass Communication will present the free, public lecture at 5:30 p.m. in 111 Carroll as part of the Roy H. Park Distinguished Lecture Series.

Roberts was promoted to national editor for the Times in July after serving as deputy national editor and national political editor. As national editor, he oversees a 25-member U.S. reporting staff, except those working in Washington, D.C.

As national political editor, Roberts coordinated coverage of the 2000 presidential campaign, the election and the aftermath of the election. He also has been deputy metropolitan editor for regional news and held a variety of other editing jobs at the Times. Roberts joined the paper in 1987 as a copy editor.

A 1977 Carolina graduate in journalism, Roberts began his journalism career as a news reporter with the Richmond Times-Dispatch. He also held editing jobs at the Baltimore News American and the Dallas Times Herald.

Roberts’ speech will be the eighth in the Park Distinguished Lecture Series, which features outstanding mass communication professionals. The Park Foundation of Ithaca, N.Y., funds the lectures to enhance its Park Fellowship Program in the school. Each year the Park Foundation provides fellowships for 24 new master’s and doctoral students to enter the school’s graduate program. The sixth class of Park Fellows began its studies this fall.

The lecture series is named for the late Roy H. Park, who was founder, chairman and chief executive officer of Park Communications Inc., a multimedia company with broadcast and print properties throughout the United States.

Park had a longtime affiliation with the UNC School of Journalism and Mass Communication, serving on its foundation board of directors from 1981 to 1993 and its board of visitors from 1989 to 1993. In 1989, he received the North Carolina Award, the state’s highest civilian honor. He was inducted into the N.C. Journalism Hall of Fame, headquartered in the school, in 1990. He died in 1993.

For more information about the lecture, call the school's graduate program office at (919) 962-3372.

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School of Journalism and Mass Communication contact: Zach Hoskins, assistant dean, (919) 966-3323

News Services contact: Mike McFarland, (919) 962-8593