OXFORD, Miss. – Veteran journalist Patricia Thompson has been named
\ndirector of the S. Gale Denley Student Media Center at the University
\nof Mississippi.
\n
<\/p>\n
\nWill Norton, dean of the new Meek School of Journalism and New Media,
\nsaid Thompson was chosen for the post because of her experience in the
\nfield of journalism and in the classroom.\n<\/p>\n
\n“She’s known
\nthroughout the nation as an outstanding journalist and journalism
\neducator,” he said. “She’s considered first-class.”\n<\/p>\n
\nThompson’s duties include supervising both the editorial and
\nbusiness operations of the center. Her title also includes assistant
\nprofessor, and she will begin teaching in the spring.\n<\/p>\n
\n“I was very much attracted by the multimedia emphasis at the
\nMedia Center,” Thompson said. “I like the combined newsroom, which
\nfosters collaboration among all the students.\n<\/p>\n
\n“This is a great opportunity to be able to work with students.
\nThe industry is reeling right now and having major problems. Maybe we
\ncan help steer things in the right direction, try some new things and
\nreally make sure that students get the kind of information they need to
\nget good jobs in this challenging environment.”\n<\/p>\n
\nThompson said she was attracted to journalism at an early age.\n<\/p>\n
\n“I actually became interested in journalism in the sixth grade
\nwhen I was elected editor of our class newsletter,” she said. “Then I
\nwas co-editor of my high school newspaper and yearbook, and my passion
\nfor writing and editing just continued to grow.”\n<\/p>\n
\nAfter earning her bachelor’s degree in journalism at the
\nUniversity of Missouri-Columbia, Thompson began her career as a staff
\nwriter at The Washington Post. She then worked as an assistant
\nprofessor for the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern
\nUniversity, followed by 15 years as an editor at the San Jose Mercury
\nNews. Most recently, she was deputy managing editor for the South
\nFlorida Sun Sentinel, where she was the senior editor of the Sunday
\npaper, as well as for key coverage areas including the 2004 and 2008
\npresidential elections, the economy and health care. Her staff won
\nstate, regional, national and international awards for their work.\n<\/p>\n
\nSince assuming her new post, Thompson has been meeting with
\nstudent and professional staff at the Media Center and attending
\nfaculty meetings.\n<\/p>\n
\n“I feel like I’m just jumping in from day one, which is great,”
\nshe said. “It’s a beautiful campus and everybody has just been so
\nsupportive and helpful. I know I’m really going to like it here.”\n<\/p>\n