The Education of a Columnist

Examiner column for September 17.

    In today’s Examiner, I wrote the Power Profile on Dan Mote, and taking on the role of reporter instead of columnist was an education. Columnists are, by definition, presenting a slanted point of view; it’s “opinion,” after all. A reporter needs to be objective and check facts. It’s a much harder job than you’d think!

    This column will be, in a way, the flip side of the Profile of Dr. Mote.  The previous sentence reveals the first difference between a column and an article: Dr. Mote is a University President, and has earned his title. A reporter, however, treats all subjects equally. In the Profile, the quoted student is called “Murray” and the President is “Mote,” rendering every contributor equal in rank. In a column I can pay deference to people’s titles.

    Also not included in any reporter’s work is mention of the hurdles jumped in finding people to interview, then checking the text of the transcribed words, and checking all facts. It will be no surprise to you that the hardest part of interviewing Dr. Mote was driving around the Beltway from Virginia to College Park. That took about 90 minutes each way, with many frustrating, absolutely mystifying delays. I don’t normally drive in rush hour, so this was an education in itself!

    Next I needed questions that would be interesting.  We focused mostly on students, but when it was over, I wished I had asked more questions about his own academic work—which is impressive. He has 300 publications. 300! As an academic with few publications, I really wanted to know how he viewed himself: is he more administrator or more scientist?

    What also never make it into print are all the checks and cross-checks of wording and statistics. The University of Maryland’s Director of the Office of University Communications is Millree Williams, and he and I were on a first name basis as emails flew back and forth. He was there for the interview, and there to correct facts and terminology and to give me an encouraging word now and then. He was the liaison through which I obtained Dr. Mote’s Five Tips for Success, which I think are words to live by. Thanks, Millree!

    The most frustrating part of writing a portrait based on interviews is trying to capture the spirit as well as the letter of the subject. When Dr. Mote was talking about the mission of the university, he waxed eloquent about how “miraculous” it is that this country has “designed an educational system that reaches students at the optimum age when they’re ready to change. I never cease to marvel at the transformation that happens when a student gets a higher education.”

    There was awe in his voice as he praised our educational system, and I felt his continued amazement at the beauty of the model. I was able to include part of that moment, but not all of it due to space limitations.
    And so I return to the business of being opinionated, a job I enjoy. But I will carry with me my favorite moment as a reporter—the moment Dr. Mote reminded me of the miraculous effect of education.

Comments

[Bob F.]

Isn't it amazing how much we learn by changing roles? From columnist to reporter, teacher to student, administrator to protestor--sometimes I think there should be an explicit course (college? high school?) in experiencing the power of role responsibilities, world view, limitations, etc. Thanks for taking on a new role and then describing that experience from the inside--it, too, was miraculous.