Wicker

Nov. 12, 2002

Sufficient training for journalists must take precedence in the newsroom, Giles said during a lecture Monday at 7:15 p.m. in Carroll Hall.

Robert Giles spoke as part of the Reed Sarratt Distinguished Lecture Series, which brings the best and brightest in the field of journalism to the University each year. Giles addressed the importance of training journalist to an audience of over a hundred students and faculty members.

Currently Giles is the “curator of Harvard University’s Nieman Foundation for Journalism — the oldest midcareer professional fellowship for journalists in the world.” He graduated from DePauw University and received his master’s degree in 1956 from the Graduate School of Journalism at Columbia University. As the senior vice president of The Freedom Forum, Giles focused on increasing the ranks of minorities in the profession. Giles also worked as a newspaper editor for more than 25 years; two newspapers under his guidance won Pulitzer Prizes.

“It remains a mystery why newspaper organizations don’t put higher emphasis on training,” said Giles.

During his nearly hour-long lecture Giles called attention to this problem facing journalists and educators. He outlined many of the essential areas of training: journalism skill, ethics, news development and news content.

Citing the Freedom Forum in 1993, “No Train No Gain,” Giles reported 1 in 10 journalists received regular training. Reportedly journalists said they felt “ill-equipped to develop stories thoroughly.”

Giles believes the lack of training not only tarnishes the professions credibility but also is a major source of job dissatisfaction causing many to leave the field. The number of women and minorities in the newsroom continues to drop because of the lack of both challenges and room for advancement.

“Newsroom cut-backs have gone far enough,” said Giles. Money for training remains one of the first things slashed from newsroom budgets. Editors say time and insufficient budgets prevent them from further training employees.

Paradoxically journalist training is at the low end, while profit is at the high end, said Giles. He describes the newspaper business as a “robust business” while other media companies report struggling gains. Giles said the key to persuading newsrooms to change is to appeal to their economic self-interest.

“Newspaper companies that invest the most are the ones that gain the most,” said Giles. “Training helps the bottom line.”