RSJ News
Former Executive Editor of Detroit Free Press visits j-school
04-02-2009
Caesar Andrews speaks to a group of beginning reporting students at the Reynolds School of Journalism Thursday afternoon. Photo by Donica Mensing.
By Lukas Eggen and Jay Balagna
RSJ Students
When Caesar Andrews began his career in journalism, he wasn’t convinced that it was for him.
“I fell in love with it in a gradual kind of way,” Andrews said.
More than 20 years later, Andrews can’t get away from it. Speaking to a beginning reporting class on Thursday afternoon, Andrews brought a wealth of experience to provide insight on diversity and the future of journalism.
Andrews’ career spans more than two decades and includes working on the start-up staff for USA Today in 1982, and serving as the executive editor of the Detroit Free Press from 2005 to 2008.
During his speech, Andrews stressed the importance of diversity in the newsroom as a necessity in order to keep up with an audience.
“If my audience happens to be diverse, doesn’t my coverage have to reflect that diversity?” Andrews asked.
Speaking for an hour, Andrews also addressed the issue of the uncertain future of journalism.
“The saving grace for all of you is that there is still an interest in the news,” Andrews said.
Andrews emphasized that journalism may be more competitive, but that it was still possible to have a great career.
“You have to seize your own careers,” Andrews said.
Although many students were underclassmen, Andrews believes that the journey to becoming a journalist has already begun.
“I think you have to do it now,” Andrews said. “You become your own talent agent.”
Andrews began his discussion with a recap of the coverage of the Detroit mayor scandal by the Detroit Free Press, which occurred while Andrews was the executive editor. The scandal involved Mayor Kwame Kilpatrick’s misconduct trials after it was revealed that he lied under oath about an affair with his chief of staff and illegally fired two police officers who knew and leaked information.
Andrews described Kilpatrick as “seen by many as the man that was going to save Detroit.” He was a gifted, young politician and appeared to be the hope Detroit needed in a dark time for the city, Andrews said.
That was before the scandal.
“I hated this story,” Andrews said. “But despite my, really somewhat depressed, feelings it would be malpractice on my part to not release the story.”
Key to the story were transcripts of text messages between Andrews and his chief of staff, Christine Beatty, that revealed their affair in graphic detail and discussed their illegal firing of the two officers. The transcripts were provided to the Free Press by an anonymous source.
“I don’t think anonymous sources should be common,” Andrews said. “But if I can’t get anyone to talk on the record, I have to be inventive and creative and aggressive to get the story out.”
The Free Press had to be careful with the story to make sure that it did not slip into sensational coverage of the details of the sex scandal and instead focused on what was important, Andrews said.
The newspaper decided to focus its coverage on three main points: the treatment of the fired officers, the perjury committed by Kilpatrick and Beatty and the use of public money in the scandal and its subsequent trials.
“As an editor, I wanted to make sure we were conducting the story in a way that would make it credible,” he said.
For the Reynolds School of Journalism, there is more riding on the visit than just giving the students an opportunity to see an experienced journalist.
Andrews, who is on a three day visit to the school, is interested in possibly obtaining a visiting lectureship at the school.
“I’m scouting to see what’s going to be next,” Andrews said.
Professor Saundra Keyes, who has known Andrews for more than 20 years, believes that Andrews would add a lot to the school.
“He is really smart, really thoughtful, really ethical, and he is fun to be around,” Keyes said.
Although Andrews is considering all of his options, Keyes believes that the Reynolds School of Journalism has a lot to offer.
“Our school is big enough to be ambitious,” Keyes said. “but small enough so that teachers can get to know their students.” Keyes also pointed to the school trying to be innovative as a potential draw to Andrews.
Although Andrews future with the school is uncertain, he is sure of one thing. Despite not being sure of whether journalism was right for him, the things he has experienced has been amazing.
“The things that I’ve learned have been astounding to me,” Andrews said.
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