Published Tuesday, April 3, 2001
Oppel’s term ends but not his crusade
BY ICESS FERNANDEZ
ASNE Reporter
His term may end in a matter of days, but outgoing ASNE President Richard A. Oppel still considers himself a crusader for the organization.
"As editors we have to be leaders," said Mr. Oppel, editor of the Austin American-Statesman.
As ASNE president during a year of editorial and financial challenges to the newspaper industry, Mr. Oppel said, "We must be able to protect the value of journalism. It's not business we serve, it's the public interest."
Mr. Oppel identified three items as hot-button topics during his yearlong term: leadership, newsroom diversity and public access to information.
His answer for leadership was forming a committee headed by Jennie Buckner, editor of The Charlotte (N.C.) Observer.
Ms. Buckner said leadership is needed to react to the changing needs of readers. "There are a lot of changes in the external environment. Readers have more choices because of competition, and because of competition readers are more demanding. One of the biggest challenges is budgetary. Newsprint prices are going up and ad revenue is going down. With a tight budget we have to produce the best quality paper," she said.
The focus on leadership is likely to continue after Mr. Oppel’s term ends. Incoming ASNE president Tim J. McGuire also believes this is an important issue.
"I would like to see a continued emphasis on leadership. I think it was a bold move on (Mr. Oppel’s) part," said Mr. McGuire, editor of the Star Tribune in Minneapolis.
Diversity was another hot topic during Mr. Oppel’s tenure.
ASNE has issued a newsroom employment survey for 23 years, and last year’s newsroom survey showed a slow and minimal increase of minority representation.
This year’s survey results will reflect a change, but not a significant one, Mr. Oppel said.
"I think we will find some encouraging news and some disappointing news," he said. "I think the next step should be work on retention."
Mr. Oppel is to elaborate after the release of the new employment figures Tuesday at his president’s address.
At his own paper, one way he shows commitment to diversity is by sending staff members of color to job fairs.
"When people of color see people like (themselves) doing the hiring ... it becomes a more attractive place to work," he said.
Mr. Oppel’s hot topics also included the protection of public access to information – a battle he fought both nationally and at home in Austin.
In February, the Statesman was not allowed into meetings to decide Texas’ senate president – also known as the state’s lieutenant governor.
"It was so important, and it was the people's business," he said.
After an appeal and being joined by two other major Texas newspapers, the Houston Chronicle and the San Antonio Express-News, the Statesman won its complaint against the state.
Nationally, Mr. Oppel and ASNE supported the Orlando Sentinel’s request to view autopsy photos of racecar driver Dale Earnhardt.
Mr. Oppel said the Sentinel’s request to view the photos was not for publication purposes but to aid in a story about Mr. Earnhardt and the safety of auto racing.
"It was a very controversial issue and my sense is the editor, Tim Franklin, didn’t get as much support (from journalists)," he said.
Mr. Oppel said he believed Mr. Franklin and the Sentinel would have received more support if more journalists had understood the issue.
"Not as many newspapers took the opportunity to publish columns and editorials to support the paper," he said.
Mr. Oppel will talk about the Earnhardt case during his address.
The end of his presidency does not mean the end of Mr. Oppel's involvement with ASNE.
"There are things I hope to do and continue. I’ll still be active in ASNE but probably not as active in a structured way," he said.
In addition to being on the Pulitzer board, he also is on the ASNE Writing Committee. He also looks forward to being a mentor to his successors.
"If they need help from an ASNE gray hat, I’m here," Mr. Oppel said.
Oppel’s term ends but not his crusade
