By Christina Smith
The University installed Professor Robert Papper as the Lawrence Stessin Distinguished Professor in Journalism on Wednesday, March 18. Papper is the chair of the University’s Department of Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations.
Papper joined the University faculty in the Fall 2007 semester. He was previously the chair of Ohio Wesleyan University’s journalism department and the head of broadcast news sequences at American University and Ball State University. Papper’s journalism career includes work as a writer, producer, special projects director, managing editor, executive producer and assistant news editor at various news organizations.
Papper is also nationally recognized for his research examining the state of American radio and television news departments, which includes the Radio Television News Directors Assocition (RTNDA)/Hofstra University Annual Survey on the state of U.S. radio and television news, according to the release. The report is published annually by the RTNDA and is considered “required reading for news practitioners and administrators.” Because of these annual reports, Papper serves as a consultant to the Project for Excellende in Journalism’s Annual State of the News Media.
In addition to his work as a reporter, Papper has written four book chapters, eight major reports, published 81 articles, and is the author of “Broadcast News & Writing Stylebook.” Papper has won more than 100 regional, state and national awards, including a DuPont-Columbia Award for “Excellence in Broadcast Journalism.” The DuPont-Columbia Award is considered to be the broadcast journalism equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize.
Papper explained that to his knowledge, distinguished professorships are given every two or three years and are renewable over time. He said that once the award is given to someone once, they keep it until they retire from the University and that he has been told that Robert Green, a past University professor and veteran newsman, and Carol Rich, another past University professor. Both Green and Rich served as chair for the Department of Journalism, Media Studies and Public Relations.
“This is the only distinguished professorship in the department of journalism,” Papper said. “It is an enormous honor.”
Papper was given the award during an elaborate ceremony in the University Club. He was introduced by President Stuart Rabinowitz, who Papper said, had very kind words to say about him. He said that, as is customary, he delivered a 20 minute presentation about the future of news after being presented with the award.
The Lawrence Stessin Distinguished Professor in Journalism honor is named after Lawrence Stessin, a journalist who worked at the University for 15 years. Stessin graduated from Columbia University School of Journalism, worked at The New York Times and as an editor and columnist for Forbes Magazine, and was published in a wide variety of “scholarly and academic media.” During his lifetime and in his will, Stessin made a wealth of contributions to the University. Papper said that as far as he knew, Stessin was a great journalist and professor.
“After 40 years of teaching, this award is a great honor,” Papper said.