Bob Dotson: ‘ It’s not enough to just give information’

Listening to the conversation between a group of aspiring journalists and a legend in the field of broadcast journalism seemed to cement the opening words of Bob Dotson’s presentation: “Don’t listen to anyone in my generation who says that the golden age was 20 minutes before your time.” \nDotson, an NBC News correspondent known most for his segment “American Story with Bob Dotson” on the “Today Show,” presented a speech Monday night at the School of Journalism. \nSince his start in 1969 at an NBC station in Oklahoma, Dotson said he has always believed that good news stories are just that: stories. Dotson said the next generation of journalists should know what matters the most in broadcast news.\n“I think its very important what we as journalists really do,” he said. “What we deliver should be the emphasis of our day.”\nDotson compared the modern journalist to a storyteller, claiming that there is more to the job than just getting out the facts as quickly as possible. \n“You want a response,” he said. “It’s not enough just to give information.”\n Many attendees said they came to learn from someone whom they considered to be a guru in journalism.\n“I came because Bob Dotson is a living legend,” said Jeanne Power, who graduated from IU last May and currently works at WTHI Terre Haute. “Just to pick his brain for half an hour is priceless.”\nMany students attended the event even after hearing Dotson speak previously in the day. \n“I actually heard him speak earlier today in my video journalism class,” said Josh Levering, a journalism graduate student. “He’s basically the best. I’m here to soak up more of his knowledge.”