APME President Karen Magnuson '78

40 Pages·2007·5.45 MB·English

t
accen s
Alma College Alumni Magazine News and Events for Spring 2007
APME President Karen Magnuson ’78
leads the charge for news innovation

Editor
Mike Silverthorn
Designer
Beth Pellerito
Contributors
Aimee Bentley
Vaughn Brines ’10
Sarah Chapman ’07
Nan Freed
Susan Heimburger
Brent Neubecker ’95
Renee Pietila ’08
Elizabeth Podufaly ’08
Saundra Tracy
Skip Traynor
Alumni notes compiled by:
Kathleen Dyki ’07
Board of Trustees
David T. Provost ’76, Chair
Candace Croucher Dugan, Vice Chair
Gary W. Fenchuk ’68, Secretary
Bruce T. Alton
Larry R. Andrus ’72
Harry Cendrowski
David K. Chapoton ’57
John Colina
James C. Conboy Jr.
John C. Foster ’67
Nancy E. Gallagher ’80
Glenn D. Granger ’83
Richard P. Heuschele ’59
F. Martin Johnson
Raymond B. Knudsen II
David P. Larsen ’84
David F. Lau
Donald A. Lindow
John McCormack
on the cover Thomas J. McDowell
James T. McIntyre ’69
Karen Magnuson ’78, executive editor of the Rochester
Stephen F. Meyer ’80
Democrat and Chronicle in western New York, became
Roger L. Myers
the 70th president of the Associated Press Managing
Antje Newhagen ’67
Editors in October 2006.
Marcia J. Nunn ’73
Glenda D. Price
Pictured above is Ben Folds, who performed in
Ron R. Sexton ’68
Cappaert Gymnasium April 15, 2007. The concert was
Lynne Sherwood
organized by the Alma College Union Board (ACUB).
t
accen s
Spring 2007
features
6 Innovation or bust
Karen Magnuson ’78 helps newspaper editors become better
innovators to reach more news consumers more frequently.

10 Writer, photographer, outdoorsman
Writer Mike Gnatkowski ’78 uses his journalism skills to
promote the outdoors.
12 The cycle of life
Honors Day 2007, page 20
Life is like riding a bike, says Jim Elsenheimer ’86, accom-
plished runner, triathlete and author.

14 Searching the stars
departments
Physics professor Cameron Reed compiles world’s largest
blue star database.

6 great scots
18 College of Distinction
Alma College is one of 240 colleges in the nation selected for 14 thistle & pipes
inclusion in the Colleges of Distinction guidebook. 26 highland games
28 tartan tidbits
26 Hall of Fame
Eight individuals, four teams to be inducted into Alma
College Athletics Hall of Fame.
accents is published in October,
February and June for alumni,
parents, students and other friends
mission
of Alma College. Send comments
to Mike Silverthorn, Accents editor,
Alma College, 614 W. Superior St.,
Alma College’s mission is to prepare graduates who think critically,
Alma, MI 48801-1599, or e-mail:
serve generously, lead purposefully and live responsibly as stewards of
[email protected].
the world they bequeath to future generations.
accents is viewable online at:
http://alumni.alma.edu/accents/
only one alma. 
‘The proof is in our graduates’
The successes of our alumni are the true
and best test of Alma College’s quality
Growing up in Indiana where basketball U.S. News has created proprietary for-
is affectionately referred to as Hoosier mulas to generate scores for many of the
hysteria, I love the month of March and the variables in their rating system. We are not
NCAA basketball “March Madness.” But able to predict our institutional scores. Per-
there is another kind of March madness of haps of more concern is the fact that these
which you may not be aware – the annual variables do not directly relate to student
college ratings madness. outcomes. While I agree that the percent-
age of alumni who donate to their alma
March is the month that each president,
mater is critical, it is not a good measure of
provost and chief enrollment officer re-
what is learned in the classroom.
ceives the infamous U.S. News and World
Report survey to rate all other institutions So how can alumni, prospective students
President Saundra Tracy
of similar institutional type in the nation. and their parents and others determine
The receipt of this report is preceded by an the quality of Alma College or any other
incredible marketing blitz. Our mailboxes school? I believe the answer lies in student
are literally filled with glossy brochures, learning and success rather than institu-
personalized letters, books, DVDs, and tional reputation and resources, and there
other items to garner attention for specific is some promising new information avail-
institutions. Last year I received a small able in this arena.
pine tree quite cleverly packaged by some
A large study called the National Survey of
institution. It apparently did not work as
Student Engagement (NSSE) was begun
intended; I vividly remember the tree but
several years ago to assess those factors
have no idea of the name of the institution.
shown to most relate to student learning.
What exactly does the U.S. News and World This survey looks at first-year and fourth-
Report rating report? The largest compo- year students annually to assess factors like
nent of an institution’s score comes from the amount of reading required, type of as-
the survey sent to college administrators signments they are given, time spent in di-
where we are asked to assign a score from rect interaction with faculty, application of
1 to 5 for each institution. We have no data classroom learning outside the classroom,
on which to base such a rating. Thus, the etc. and how do these change as the stu-
rating is primarily a report of reputation. dent progresses through college. Provost
The Annapolis Group, a selective group Michael Selmon reported on Alma’s results
of the top liberal arts institutions in the on these important measures in the last
nation (including institutions like Swarth- Accents (Winter 2007 issue). As a reminder,
more, Williams, Davidson, Bryn Mawr Alma is in the top five percent nationally
and Alma), has suggested its members not among all institutions (public and private)
complete this survey. on several of these measures.
The data-based part of the score comes An emerging group called Colleges of
from institutions’ self reports, part of Distinction was identified through national
which is taken from the annual federal surveys of prospective students, guidance
report each college must file. The pres- counselors and others on four areas: quality
sures resulting from this ratings war has of teaching, student engagement, campus
led to questions about the integrity of some climate and successful outcomes. While
institutions’ practices in reporting data. For having some of the same flaws as the U.S.
example, a recent Wall Street Journal article News ratings due to emphasis on reputation
called into question the way some institu- reporting, at least this group focuses on key
tions report their percent of alumni giving, variables that make a difference in student
a key variable in the U.S. News rating. learning. I am pleased to report that Alma
 only one alma.
College was selected for this recognition, one of fewer The bottom line is no single measure of institutional
than 300 nationally. quality is sufficient; the best measures are those that
demonstrate the outcomes of an Alma education more
Finally, I encourage people to seek out the track record
than the inputs. The national ratings are here to stay
of an institution’s graduates. What do students do when
because they sell magazines. And in fairness, they do
they graduate? Did you know that 91 percent of last
raise important questions about institutional quality and
year’s Alma College graduates were placed in jobs and/
accountability. The fallacy is in assuming that U.S. News
or graduate or professional schools within six months
and World Report, or any other snapshot of this complex
in spite of many doing so in the state with the highest
process called education, adequately assesses quality.
or second highest unemployment rate in the nation,
depending on the month? This percentage is actually a As Alma College Campaign Chair Mart Johnson so aptly
bit lower than previous years. states in our campaign video, “the proof is in our gradu-
ates.” The successes of our alumni are the true and best
Alma’s graduate and professional school placement
test of Alma College’s quality. I am sure the class of 2007
rate is equally positive. Ninety-one percent of the Alma
will continue to demonstrate the quality of an Alma edu-
College pre-medical students were accepted into one
cation as they join the ranks of Alma alumni.
or more medical schools last year; the national average
is slightly below 47 percent. A similarly astounding 90
percent of our pre-law students were accepted in law
school, benchmarked against a national average some
30 percentile points lower.
Alma College President
only one alma. 
 great scots
A transformation is taking “Will newspapers die? Not in my board in 2000 after attending APME
place in many newspaper lifetime,” she says. “I love news- conferences and becoming involved in
offices across the country, papers. Even though national committee work. After two years, she
and Karen Magnuson ’78 is newspaper readership is declining, jumped on the leadership ladder and
one of the leading voices trumpeting our circulation is increasing. Some has served as a committee chair, board
the change. people continue to be seven-day sub- secretary and vice president.
scribers. Others want to pick up the
“Users want information on de- As APME president, she is frequently
news when they want to read about
mand,” says Magnuson, president sought out for comment on national
something specific. There are a lot of
of the Associated Press Managing issues related to the First Amend-
pass alongs — people who go to the
Editors, the international association ment and freedom of information.
coffee shop, for example, and pass
of newspaper editors in the United For example, in February 2007 she
around a newspaper.”
States and Canada. “Before, newspa- was quoted in news stories about the
pers delivered information when it Refusing to take short cuts release of the audiotapes of former
was convenient for them. Now, we White House aide I. Lewis “Scooter”
In addition to innovation, Magnuson
have to deliver information 24/7.” Libby’s grand jury testimony.
has identified newsroom diversity,
Twenty-four hour cable news net- freedom of information, professional “This is a victory for the public’s right
works along with technological development, and raising money as to know,” Magnuson was quoted in
advances in cell phones, personal goals for APME in 2007. the newspaper articles. “Audio adds a
digital assistants (PDAs), Web sites layer of information that citizens can
“The newspaper industry at large
and online communication have use to become more informed about
does not accurately reflect the diver-
forced newspapers to change the way the way the government operates.”
sity of the country,” says Magnuson.
they approach news delivery. For a
“It’s important for newspapers to have Her colleagues describe her as ener-
growing number of people, reading a
diverse newsrooms and to cover all getic, passionate and driven. In an
printed newspaper delivered daily to
aspects of our communities.” article in the fall 2006 edition of the
their home is no longer adequate.
APME News, Phil Currie, senior vice
Magnuson, whose 30-year journalism
Magnuson, executive editor of the president/news for Gannett, the par-
career began at Alma College where
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle ent company for the Rochester Demo-
she was managing editor of The
in western New York, has identi- crat and Chronicle, credits her deter-
Almanian, was elected to the APME
fied innovation as her top priority mination and drive for her success.
for APME. She practices what she
preaches; she has helped her own
newspaper adapt to new technologies
and methods of news delivery.
Karen Magnuson’s goals for APME
“We have created the Rochester
Karen Magnuson became the 70th president of the Associated Press Managing
Information Center, which offers
Editors in October 2006. The following are her goals for the organization.
information to our users in multiple
platforms, including the Web, PDAs . Innovation with integrity:
and television,” she says. “We work
Help editors become better innovators to reach more news
with our broadcast partners to get our
consumers more frequently.
information on television. We have
2. Devotion to diversity:
created a miniature TV studio in the
middle of our newsroom so report- Advance commitment to increasing diversity in newsrooms with a
ers can comment on breaking news special focus on retention.
for our TV partners. We also provide . Focus on First Amendment:
podcasts and a weekly vodcast — a Fight for freedom of information and aggressive watchdog
podcast with video.” journalism on multiple platforms.
Newspapers must stay on top of these . Professional development with impact:
new delivery technologies if they are
Give editors the tools they need through training and other means
to remain relevant in an increasingly
so they are effective leaders during a time of dramatic change.
technological society, says Magnuson.
. Planning for the future:
“We have to be nimble with the
Lead a fundraising campaign to strengthen APME so it will
times,” she says. “Editors are facing
continue to provide professional development and a productive two-
a dramatically changing landscape.
way link to the AP for many years to come.
Editors need to be more innovative in
reaching out to new audiences. Source: APME News, fall 2006
great scots 7
“One of Karen’s great strengths is UPI as a reporter in Chicago; opened “My mom was born in Scotland and
her ‘can do’ attitude that combines a a UPI news bureau in Iowa; man- brought her highland dancing skills
collaborative effort with an upbeat aged news bureaus in Springfield, Ill., with her,” she says. “She had a school
personality,” says Currie. “Karen and Salt Lake City; and served as a in Detroit. I took up Scottish dancing,
has embraced innovation online and regional executive for California. competed in the Highland Festival
is heading an effort in her Games in Alma and fell in
newsroom to integrate print, love with Alma College.”
online and broadcast. This
Writing with a ‘Twist’ Since Alma College didn’t
combination is essential in
offer a major in journal-
today’s world.” Karen Magnuson is not the ism, Magnuson developed a
Michael G. Kane, president only former Almanian editor Program of Emphasis and
and publisher of the Demo- enjoying a successful journal- took advantage of intern-
crat and Chronicle, described ism career. Kristin Allen Bull ship opportunities to learn
Magnuson’s leadership skills ’95 came to Alma College her profession.
in the same article. intent on becoming an English
“I wanted to study jour-
teacher, but her experience
“Karen inspires her staff nalism, but I realized that
with the student newspaper
through personal leader- people don’t typically go to a
Kristin Allen Bull ’95 changed her plans.
ship,” says Kane. “She small school to study jour-
refuses to take shortcuts in Today, Bull is a free-lance writer and contributor to nalism,” she says. “My theory
preparing the daily news Twist, a Sunday tabloid magazine published by the was that I could go to a small
report in print and online. Detroit Free Press. school like Alma and receive
She communicates fully “Twist is a magazine that features stories of interest to more individual attention
with staff, management women, especially those living in the metro Detroit and have better opportunities
peers and readers. She is area,” says Bull. Her stories typically focus on people, for internships.”
creative and pushes those health issues, personal growth and relationships. The strategy worked. In ad-
around her — including
Her work for the Free Press is the latest stop in Bull’s dition to serving as managing
her colleagues throughout
newspaper career. She was city editor at the Adrian editor of The Almanian, she
the operation — to consider
Daily Telegram and a writer, editor and graphic artist worked as a student writer in
all possible solutions.
for the Kansas City Star. the public relations office. She
“The walls of the newsroom also had paid internships with
“I came to Alma to study English and become a teach-
corridors are covered with the Alma Daily Record Leader
er,” says Bull. “Dr. [John] Ottenhoff suggested I join
awards, recognition and and Mount Pleasant Times-
The Almanian in my junior year, and I took his advice.
thanks for the quality of the News. Part of her POE was
I started as a writer and immediately liked it – the
work performed by Karen taking journalism classes for a
writing, meeting people and learning about the com-
and her colleagues. She semester at Central Michigan
munity. I became co-editor during my senior year.”
is quick to give them the University.
credit,” he says. Bull took an internship at the Morning Sun newspa-
“When I decided to be a
per in Mount Pleasant to further her training. After
Inspired by journalist, it was when All the
graduating from Alma, she enrolled in graduate school
President’s Men by Woodward
All the President’s Men
at Michigan State University to continue her study of
and Bernstein came out after
Magnuson joined the Demo- journalism.
Watergate,” she says. “There
crat and Chronicle as manag-
Her husband, Kevin, is an assistant sports editor at was a heightened interest
ing editor in 1999 and was
the Free Press. They live in Rochester Hills with their in journalism. I felt more
named executive editor in
children, Brady, 4, and Caroline, 1. comfortable at Alma with
2001. Prior to that, she was
the individual attention I
managing editor of the
received.”
Wichita Eagle. She also — Mike Silverthorn
‘The best years of my life’
served as managing editor of
the Valley Times in Pleasan- She describes her time at
ton, Calif., and editor of the Oxnard Her first full-time job after graduat- Alma College as “the best years of my
Press-Courier in Oxnard, Calif. ing from Alma College was city edi- life.”
tor at the Sturgis Daily News.
She worked for six years in middle “I loved my years at Alma College;
management at the Daily News of Los Originally from the Detroit area, it was where I first learned to be a
Angeles and as a writer and bureau Magnuson came to Alma College leader,” she says. “In addition to being
manager for seven years with United because of highland dancing. managing editor of The Almanian, I
Press International. She started with was captain of the Kiltie Lassie Dance
8 great scots
Magnuson as a Kiltie Lassie in 1975
Team and vice president for the Al-
pha Theta sorority. I’ve been building
on those experiences ever since.
“Alma also taught me about versa-
tility,” she says. “With a liberal arts
education, you learn a lot about a lot.
The POE set me up to learn a lot of
different subjects. It helped teach me
how to think critically and how to ask
the right questions. Alma also taught
me about teamwork. In the vari-
ous organizations, you could not get
things done without understanding
team dynamics and learning how to
inspire others.”
When she isn’t working, Magnuson
enjoys wine tasting, playing with her
dogs, boating, reading and spend-
ing time with her husband, Tod. She
stopped dancing when she graduated
from college but looks back on her
dancing years fondly.
“I work hard, but I also play hard,”
she says. “I embrace my professional
life with lots of gusto and passion,
and I try to do the same with my
non-professional life.”
— Mike Silverthorn
great scots 
0 thistle & pipes