J-school search down to 3

The number of dean candidates for the School of Journalism has shrunk to three one month after the list was narrowed down to seven. Kansas State University's Lori Bergen, University of Texas' Stephen Reese or Case Western Reserve University's Ted Gup will replace Trevor Brown, dean of 17 years.\nThe three candidates will be recommended to IU-Bloomington Interim Chancellor Ken Gros Louis, who will interview them with the help of several deans of other schools and representatives from the J-school's faculty and students. \nSearch Committee chair David Nord said the final interviews will begin before spring break.\n"What's really important here is that we have someone who is interested in, and grounded in, both academic work and professional journalism work," Nord said. "Steve and Lori have roots in the academic side, but are very much committed to professional practice, where Ted comes more from the professional side but is very interested in liberal arts."\nReese has been teaching at Texas for more than 20 years after graduating from the University of Tennessee and getting his Ph.D. from the University of Wisconsin. Reese worked for public and commercial radio in Knoxville, Tenn., Winston-Salem, N.C. and Madison, Wis. Since then, Reese has had several books published including "Mediating the Message: Theories of Influence on Mass Media Content," which was named by Journalism and Mass Communication Quarterly as one of the most "significant journalism and communications books" of the 20th century.\nUnlike Reese, Gup has done more of his work outside of the classroom lately, despite having previously taught journalism at Georgetown University for 18 years. He frequently writes pieces for The Washington Post and The Chronicle of Higher Education, and he has recently written for Slate. Gup also spent four years finishing a book focusing on the CIA through the lives of operatives who passed away in the agency.\nGup said he has recently been reading about the journalism school, viewing the faculty profiles and other background work, to learn about the school as they learn about him. \n"Some view journalism as more of an apprentice craft not very strong in intellect. I'm not one of them," Gup said. "I am very comfortable in the newsroom and the classroom."\nBergen graduated with a Ph.D. in journalism from IU and has had a long relationship with the school.\n"I get up everyday with a set of Indiana glasses on, not rose colored but crimson," Bergen said. "I see my job and work through a filter that was set 20 years ago."\nBergen has spent time at Kansas State University in a "troubleshooter" type of role. Heading an undergraduate grievance board and a committee on assessment while holding an advisory position to the dean of the College of Arts and Sciences. Bergen said she wanted to provide both teachers and researchers with the skills and resources they need.\n"The dean has the obligation to ensure academic programs are providing students with skills for their careers and maintain relationships with all constituents," Bergen said. "Deans aren't bosses, they are people who facilitate, help, lead and make things easier for people to succeed."\nReese could not be reached for comment.