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<B>Lecturer blasts civic journalism</B><P>
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<FONT SIZE=4><B>By Chip Bright</B><BR></FONT>Staff Writer
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This year's Pulitzer Prize recipient, Michael Gartner ellicited a chorus of laughter and a standing ovation as key-note speaker of the 20th annual Joe Creason Lecture.<P>
Gartner's lecture followed the induction of five new members into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame and recognition of journalism student scholarships.Brenna Reilly, editor-in-chief of the Kentucky Kernel, and Jeff Vinson, managing editor of the Kernel, introduced Gartner as a writer who speaks to the heart of issues affecting his newspaper's readers. Reilly and Vinson also recognized him for his defense of free speech.
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"Mr. Gartner is a staunch defender of First Amendment rights and ... of student rights," Vinson said.
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Gartner began his speech with several brief stories about his first days in Kentucky as the editor of The Courier-Journal in Louisville.
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Gartner said Republican Sen. Mitch McConnell came to see The Courier-Journal editorial board and told him The Forum was bad with the Bingham brothers but had gotten worse since the Gannett Co.'s takeover.
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"That was the best compliment anyone had given me in six months in Kentucky," Gartner said.
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Addressing recent trends in civic journalism, Gartner questioned the definitions of civic journalism, which proponents of the trend boast. He said promoters declare community journalism as interaction and involvement in helping the community.
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"Newspapers are being conned by civic journalism," the 58-year-old Iowa man said. "Newspapers explore issues not solve them. Papers are suppose to tell the truth."
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The editor and co-owner of the Ames, Iowa Daily Tribune related to his own experience as an outsider on a Kentucky newspaper staff while discussing the ills of chain-ownership and constant transfers that dominate modern newsrooms. Gartner said his lack of knowledge of the state and its people hindered his closeness and understanding of the community.
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Gartner, who writes a biweekly column "Words, Words, Words" for The Courier-Journal, attacked the constant movement of reporters and editors, which he said creates the need for civic journalism because editors have to constantly learn about new communities.
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"Activism within communities is just a scheme to get editors and reporters to learn about their towns," Gartner said.
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Undeclared sophomore Brad Pulian said Gartner's view as an outsider in Kentucky did not represent how Pulian feels as a native of the state.
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"He talked down on native industries and habits without applying what that had to do with me personal," Pulian said.
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"He was a funny guy to listen to, but I didn't recognize all the people within the state he criticized," Toya Bailey said.
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Bailey, a communications freshman, said Gartner's observations of the state did not include all aspects of the state and sometimes stuck to stereotypes.
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"I knew I could never know Kentucky like my native colleagues, so I packed my bag and went back to Iowa," Gartner said.
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"Now that's what I call community journalism."
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<B>Photo: </B><B>PULITZER MAN</B> Pulitzer prize winner Michael Gartner talks with Director of the School of Journalism and Telecommunications Buck Ryan.
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<B>STEPHANIE CORDLE</B> Kernel staff<BR>
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