Batten Professor Holds Personal Conviction on Importance of Press Freedom
Charles Hauser, Batten Professor of Public Policy
|
1/20/2005
Contact: Bill Giduz 704/894-2244 or bigiduz@davidson.edu
Throughout his career in journalism, Charles M. Hauser has come to deeply value the right of American citizens to a free press under the First Amendment of the Constitution. He has even gone as far as to disobey a federal judge and risk spending time in jail in his efforts to uphold that right. As the Batten Professor of Public Policy at Davidson this semester, he hopes to teach students about the significance of this amendment and inspire those who are contemplating careers in journalism.
A native of Newton, N.C., Hauser grew up in a military family, which frequently moved from base to base throughout the southeastern and southwestern portions of the United States. In 1946, Hauser enrolled at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he became enamored with writing for the student newspaper. He interrupted his studies to follow in his father's military footsteps by enlisting in the Army. Following two years of combat and leadership training, he served as a field artillery forward observer during the Korean War from 1952-1953, where he was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. Even after returning to civilian life, Hauser remained in the Army Reserves for twenty-six years, eventually retiring with the rank of colonel.
Hauser returned to Chapel Hill after the war to finish his education, and earned a B.A. in journalism in 1954. He found his first job as a reporter on the staff of The Chapel Hill Weekly, covering everything from city council meetings to car crashes.
He soon found himself playing on broader fields. He covered the North Carolina General Assembly for the Associated Press in Raleigh in 1955. He served as a foreign correspondent for United Press International in Paris and London from 1958-1960, reporting on the press conferences of former French President Charles de Gaulle. He also worked as a Washington correspondent for North Carolina-based Knight Newspapers from 1961-1962, and served as vice president and executive editor of the Providence (R.I.) Journal-Bulletin from 1973-1989.
It was in that post that he disobeyed a federal judge and printed a controversial article about a New England mob family. Although he faced the possibility of a jail sentence, Hauser remained firm in his belief that he was exercising his right to a free press. His case was eventually brought before the U.S. Supreme Court, and his right to print the article was upheld.
Hauser also has worked as a reporter or editor on the Charlotte Observer, the Greensboro Daily News, and the Norfolk Virginian-Pilot. He has even written several short stories, one which was published in the literary magazine, Lonzie's Fried Chicken.
“I have always loved the creative element of writing,” said Hauser. “I love writing pieces that benefit or entertain others.”
Hauser enjoys a retirement career now as a free-lance writer, a columnist for the Chapel Hill News, and teaches part-time in the journalism department at UNC. He is a consultant to the newspaper industry in writing and news management, and sits on the board of directors of the Sun Coast Media Group in Venice, Fla., and the board of trustees at the Writers' Center of the Chautauqua Institution in Chautauqua, N.Y. He has also taught writing as a part-time adjunct faculty member at Brown University, and the University of Rhode Island, and has led writing workshops at many institutes and papers. However, the Batten Professorship is Hauser's first full-time teaching position.
Hauser is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Yankee Quill Award, which is given by the New England Society of Newspaper Editors to individuals for outstanding service to the journalistic profession. He has been elected to the Academy of New England Journalists, inducted into the North Carolina Journalism Hall of Fame, and has received several regional awards for his newspaper columns.
Vice President of Academic Affairs Clark Ross is enthusiastic about the depth of knowledge of the newspaper industry and teaching experience that Hauser brings to the classroom. “We try to choose an individual who has had extensive experience working in the journalistic or public policy professions for the Batten Professorship,” said Ross. “Hauser is someone who has had extensive experience working at newspapers and teaching journalism.”
He is teaching courses at Davidson in “Journalism Ethics” and “Journalism and Media Law.” In “Journalism Ethics,” the students will examine real cases and the ethical questions they force on editors-including the question of whether or not he should have disobeyed the federal judge while working at the Providence paper. “I hope that the students in my classes will take away a deeper appreciation of the First Amendment and a greater knowledge of the ethical practices of good journalists,” he said.
The “Journalism and Media Law” course will include assigning students to write news stories, investigative pieces, and examine the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
More than anything, Hauser is looking forward to interacting with students both inside and outside of the classroom. “I am looking forward to enjoying Davidson's intimate campus and getting to know the students,” said Hauser. “I hope that I might inspire students who are interested in a journalism career.”
The James K. Batten Professorship in Public Policy was created at Davidson in 1995 by grants from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and Knight-Ridder, Inc. in memory of James K. Batten ' 57. It is an interdisciplinary position held annually by an individual with experience and expertise in such diverse realms as politics, economics, urban affairs, journalism, and the sciences.
Davidson is a highly selective independent liberal arts college for 1,600 students. Since its establishment in 1837, the college has graduated 23 Rhodes Scholars and is consistently ranked among the top liberal arts colleges in the country by U.S. News and World Report magazine. Davidson is engaged in “Let Learning Be Cherished,” a $250 million campaign in support of student financial assistance, academic resources, and community life.
|
