Hi, everyone.
I’m John Palen, your instructor for JRN 516, Public Affairs Reporting, Spring 2009. Call me Dr. P.
Here’s a little about myself.
I’m a fourth-generation journalist, with 20 years of experience working for daily newspapers in the Midwest. I’ve worked for the Joplin (Mo.) Globe, the St. Louis Globe-Democrat, the Southern Illinoisan, the Edwardsville (Ill.) Intelligencer and the Midland (Mich.) Daily News, where I was the editor from 1975 to 1983.
I left the Daily News in 1983 to make a career change to journalism education. I’ve taught both at Michigan State University and at CMU, where I am a professor in the Department of Journalism. I chaired the department from 1993-96.
I earned a bachelor’s degree in English literature from Washington University in St. Louis, a master’s in journalism from MSU and a Ph.D. in American Studies from MSU. I’ve done research on science, technology and environmental journalism, civic journalism, and gender issues.
My wife, Lois, and I have four children and three grandchildren. We live in Midland. She’s a cellist and music teacher, and I have published seven books of poetry in addition to all the journalism I’ve done over the years.
I also put out an alternative newspaper in Midland, called Midland Issues. It’s published monthly and is also updated daily on the web at www.midlandissues.com.
