PAMELA B. FINE
(785) 864-7646 office email: [email protected]
EDUCATION:
Master of Arts in Journalism – Media Management University of Missouri (Coursework completed; degree expected May 2011)
Bachelor of Science in Journalism. University of Florida
Executive Development programs at Northwestern University; University of Minnesota, American Press Institute; numerous seminars including Ethics Fellowship at the Poynter Institute for Journalism Studies.
ACADEMIC EXPERIENCE:
Knight Chair for News, Leadership and Community and Professor of Journalism University of Kansas , May 2008 --
Highlights:
-$100,000 grant from the Ethics and Excellence Foundation to fund internships and scholarly research for the Midwest Democracy Project, a collaboration with the Kansas City Star and the University of Missouri. August 2010.
-Developed Jlocal blog to highlight innovative efforts by journalism schools and professors to improve local coverage and information-sharing.
-Strengthened web and multimedia focus in reporting courses.
- Developed special reporting project with six student for the campus newspaper and website on failed policies dealing with alcohol abuse at KU. University administrators adopt several policies and practices used at other campuses highlighted in the series.
-Redeveloped “Community Journalism” course with local media partner for Fall 2009 to combine traditional and non-traditional reporting efforts. Also gained approval for a new course for Spring 2010, “Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Local Media” to help students learn principles of product development and business planning while developing their own content ideas.
-Lead effort to bring in Poynter Institute faculty to work with students and professors to improve multimedia skills.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
-Managing Editor, Indianapolis Star (September 2003 - April 2008)
Major accomplishments: -Developed digital capabilities to ensure strong daily coverage, special pages and products, dynamic databases, multi-media and use of reader-submitted content. -Strengthened watchdog, enterprise and beat reporting with an emphasis on government, business, health care and community news and sports. - Lead development of special reporting projects on auto deaths from high speed chases involving state and local police; significant underreporting of child abuse injuries and deaths in Indiana; mismanagement of millions in construction funds for a new central library; violations in child adoption requirements; and the first-ever analysis of more than 200 athletic budgets from Division I universities and colleges, with a searchable database that in its first year drew more than 500,000 page views. -Created and redesigned several key sections of the paper to capitalize on niche audience interests and revenue possibilities. -Also improved training, planning, recruiting and a number of administrative processes and practices.
Managing Editor and Vice President, Minneapolis Star Tribune (April 1994 - June 2002)
Major accomplishments: -Beefed up numerous coverage areas including metro growth, technology, business, education, consumer health, religion, legal affairs, prep sports, entertainment and pop culture. -Created or redeveloped several sections and features particularly involving lifestyle and sports. -Developed civic journalism and computer assisted-reporting components, resulting in more in-depth and authoritative coverage. -Provided editing and leadership on major projects including Pulitzer Prize finalist (West Publishing Co. and its relationship to the Supreme Court); Robert Kennedy Award (on a family with AIDS); Sigma Delta Chi winner (on deaths and abuse involving mentally vulnerable adults); and Columbia University’s “Race Project “ awards for profiling teenage Somali girls in Minnesota; and post September 11 coverage of Muslims in Minnesota and four Middle Eastern countries. -Redesigned newspaper to make it more engaging. Emphasized depth, sophistication, immediacy, accessibility and utility. -Restructured staff to strengthen beat and photo coverage, story packaging, design and graphics for print and online and collaboration among reporters and editors. -Spearheaded numerous administrative improvements including development of a performance assessment process and merit pay system, and staff training
Atlanta Journal – Constitution (February 1982 – March 1994) -Assistant Managing Editor (1991 - 1994) -Metro Editor (1989 -1991) -City Editor (1989) -Political Editor (1987 – 1989) -Deputy City Editor (1986 – 1987) -Night City Editor (1984 – 1986) -Reporter (1982 – 1984)
Highlights: -Assistant Managing Editor/Days - Coordinated daily coverage and planning with direct responsibility for front page story selection and presentation. Worked with all departments on breaking news and enterprise. Served as news department’s liaison with marketing department. -Metro Editor – Managed 160-person local news department with responsibility for state and local coverage; daily metro sections; daily and weekly zoned editions from bureaus in five counties, staffing and evaluations. Major accomplishments included creation of several new beats (Over 50; Census; International Community; Neighborhoods; Drug/Alcohol Abuse; Atlanta University Campus including Spelman and Morehouse Colleges; Weather, Gay Community); new columns (School Matters on trends in lower education; Monroe Drive on traffic and mass transit; personalities in the news); and redesign on zoned EXTRA editions. -Political Editor - Headed state and national coverage of the 1988 presidential campaign, national conventions and congressional races. For Democratic convention in Atlanta, coordinated 60 reporters and a dozen editors to produce a daily 28-page special section. Took a smaller staff to New Orleans for the Republican convention and ran Cox convention bureau for 19 newspapers.
Other newspapers: Gwinnett Daily News (February 1981 - February 1982) Rockdale Neighbor (January 1980 - February 1981) Daytona Beach News Journal (April 1979 - October 1979)
PROFESSIONAL SERVICE HIGHLIGHTS
American Society of News Editors (ASNE): Board member and former chair interactive and diversity committees. 2006-
Pulitzer Prize Juror in 2000, 2001, 2006 and 2007
Associated Press Managing Editors (APME): Served two terms on the board and was 2000 national convention chair. Served two, two-year terms on the Indiana APME board.
Society of Professional Journalists: Indiana chapter board member. Wrote 2007 article for SPJ’s Quill magazine on how to get hired at a metro newspaper.
Washington and Lee University Presented case study in ethics seminar sponsored by the Knight Foundation, April 2006.
Minnesota Women’s Economic Roundtable: Board member and 2001 program co-chair.
American Press Institute: Seminar leader at American Press Institute on Ethics; Newsroom Restructuring, 1990s.
ACADEMIC PRESENTATIONS AND SERVICE:
2010/2011 - Awarded $100,000 grant from the Ethics and Excellence Foundation for the Midwest Democracy Project.
-Panelist, From Newsroom to Classroom, AEJMC convention, August.
2009/2010 - American Society of News Editors, re-elected to a three year term on the board in April 2010; co- chair 2010/2011 ethics committee; co-chair 2010 convention program committee.
-Launch of J-local blog for journalism professors, April 2010.
-Contest judge, Florida Newspaper Association, spring 2010.
-Outside reviewer for promotion of Geanne Rosenberg, Baruch College/Cuny. March 2010. -Contest judge, ASNE writing awards, February 2010, held at the Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg, Fl.
-Presentation on newsroom organization and leadership for Chinese journalists visiting the University of Kansas, December 2009.
-Developed and facilitated November 2009 Montgomery Family Symposium with the Kansas Newspaper Association on the digital future of newspapers, for publishers and editors.
-Panelist for a “citizen conversation” at the Kansas City public library on the impact of the decline in local news reporting. An edited version of the June 2009 community event was aired on Kansas City public television, a co-sponsor with the community improvement group, Consensus.
-Journalism Accreditation Council site team member to University of Maryland, spring 2009.
2008/2009: -Moderated “town hall” meeting in St. Louis, Mo. for the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ). The May 2009 event focused on journalism ethics and was designed to create a conversation between the public and professional journalists.
-Session leader for SPJ regional conference in Indianapolis, April 2009. Presentation focused on helping journalists and students manage their careers.
-Judge, Florida Newspaper Association, spring 2009.
-Judge ASNE Writing Awards Judge, February 2009 held at the Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg, Fl.
-Presenter and partner in fourth annual Citizen Journalism Academy in 2009 sponsored by the Lawrence Journal World and the journalism school.
-Journalism Accreditation Council site team member to Baylor University, fall 2009
-Dinner speaker at 2008 civic engagement conference of Kansas high school teachers sponsored by the Dole Institute at KU.
OTHER:
KU School of Journalism
Curriculum committee, 2008- Tenure Committee for Barbara Barnett (service), 2009 Tenure committee for Scott Reinardy, (service) 2010
Community:
Presentation to the Zodiac Club, KU women retirees, on the Pulitzer Prizes 2009
Invited to join Kansas Bar-Media committee which provides educational programs for lawyers and journalists, fall 2009.
Interviews:
American Editor magazine on changes at J-schools, fall 2008
Diverse magazine on diversity hiring in newsrooms, summer 2008
American Editor magazine on advice to editors about how to bolster staff morale, fall 2009
American Editor magazine on what J-schools are doing to prepare students.
Media Matters website by Joe Strupp on professional practices and partisanship, summer 2010