USA Today editor: Accuracy key to journalism

Last night more than 500 people filled the IMU Alumni Hall to listen to USA Today Editor Ken Paulson speak about his career in journalism and the importance of the First Amendment. \nPaulson was the last speaker in the School of Journalism’s lecture series. The Illinois native serves as the editor and senior vice president of USA Today. He is also the former director of the Freedom Forum’s First Amendment Center and a bar-certified attorney in two states.\nPaulson started his career as a lawyer but quickly realized that journalism was a more logical path for him. He joked that every defendant he represented ended up in jail. \n“I’m so glad life gave me a nudge in the right direction,” he said. \nPaulson was among the first group of journalists to publish USA Today in 1982. Now, USA Today is the most widely-read newspaper in America with a 2.3 million circulation.\nPaulson discussed student readership programs, citing that there is a 10 percent increase in USA Today readership on college campuses. He attributed this to an increased availability of newspapers to students. \nHe also discussed the importance of accuracy in journalism. Using the scandal involving fabrication of stories in the USA Today in 2004 as an example, Paulson insisted that not only his newspaper, but all news organizations need to make 100 percent sure facts are correct. \nUSA Today helps assure that everything is factual by checking every source, by listening to readers’ opinions and by sending out about 20 letters every week to random sources they quoted, just to make sure they got it right, Paulson said. \nPaulson focused on the importance of the First Amendment and the need for more Americans to realize its value. \n“The First Amendment and the Bill of Rights are the core of this nation,” he said. \nHe said the media needs to keep a concentration on integrity, balance, keeping the public’s business public and asking the \ntough questions. \nTim Street, assistant communications \ndirector at the School of Journalism, said he was pleased with the turnout Wednesday night. \n“It went really great, and Ken had a lot of great things to say,” Street said.\nPaulson’s advice to aspiring journalists was to stay idealistic about the news industry and learn how to write and collect \ninformation well. \nMany of the audience members at Paulson’s speech were journalism students.\n“I thought it was interesting,” sophomore Doug Moran said. “But I also thought it was a bit of an advertising tactic for USA Today.” \nOther attendees believed the lecture \nwas beneficial.\nGraduate and Professional Student Organization Moderator Paul Rohwer said he enjoyed it and thought it was “wholesome.”\nPaulson concluded his speech by stressing the importance of the First Amendment, the importance of the newspaper and saying he has the best job in the world. \n“There is no other profession like it; where you can go in everyday and as the world changes, so does your job,” he said.