Dean of Colorado broadcasters addresses spring graduates

Bob Palmer talks of covering exciting stories, meeting important people, traveling the world

Thank you Dean Rowland, and good morning to the Class of 1997. That was a much nicer introduction than I endured recently at the Denver Press Club. On that occasion the emcee, a friend of mine, just said, "Now, ladies and gentlemen, here's the guy that does the news with Aimee Sporer and Stephanie Riggs."

You know, you put in 40 years and that's what you get.

I've probably endured a hundred graduation speeches and, so help me, I can't remember anything anybody ever said. So, I'd adhere to the concept that the best speech is usually the shortest speech. I won't keep you here long.

Talking to Dean Rowland and others on the staff of SJMC, I believe the Class of '97 deserves special congratulations, not only on your graduation, but for leaving the school itself a better place than you found it. Largely through the efforts of this class, student government in the School has been revitalized. The student government is flourishing. Students have pitched in with the faculty and staff to improve programs, to get new equipment, to help with fund-raising and special events and to get more alumni involved with the School and its ever-expanding goals.

'This is an element of journalism I don't think we talk about enough. The fun of it. The sheer enjoyment and satisfaction of the job.'                  --Bob Palmer

It's not entirely the seniors who have done all this. I know that. But the Class of '97 has provided much of the extra effort and leadership. You're to be commended.

I know, too, that from what I hear, you'll be greatly missed.

When I decided to be a reporter, I was about 16 years old. I have to confess my motives were pretty shallow. To me, at 16, it just sounded like an exciting way to make a living. And, then as now, there was an aura of romance about being a journalist. I envisioned myself doing exciting stories, interviewing important people, writing documentaries, traveling around the world and shaking hands with presidents and movie stars.

And you know what? I was right. I've done all those things and more. Oh, there were difficult times, of course, and stressful events. But never, never was I bored. And seldom a day goes by, I don't remind myself what a wonderful job I have, and how smart I was at age 16.

This is an element of journalism I don't think we talk about enough. The fun of it. The sheer enjoyment and satisfaction of the job. Among other things, is the pleasure of working with interesting and colorful friends. People who are just as excited as you are about coming to work every day. There's an old story about a newspaperman who was retiring at the age of 80 and they were interviewing him. "What stood out," they asked, "after 55 years as a street reporter?"

And the old guy said, "Well, I guess the most pleasurable thing has been the opportunity to meet hundreds of wonderful, interesting people. And every one of those people," he added, "worked here at the newspaper."

There's a lot of truth in that. You've already observed, I'm sure, that you have more fun in a week in the school of journalism than those poor suckers in the engineering schools have in a year.

Where else but the School of Journalism and Mass Communication do students address their instructors by their first names? Where else is there the kind of rapport among students, working professionals, instructors, professors and staff in the field of journalism. I'll tell you where: Nowhere.

And there's no way of proving this, but I'll wager there's no school where the faculty works so hard trying to "place" graduates, or follows their careers with as much pride as at the J-School.

Maybe it's good we like one another so much because I want to tell you, ladies and gentlemen, we're not all that popular with the public in general. We aren't popular and we aren't understood.

The American people, who depend on us to tell 'em what's going on, have little understanding of the role a free press plays in a democracy -- how important it is. The majority of your readers, or viewers, couldn't care less for these so-called "First Amendment rights" that they don't really grasp.

It's frightening -- really -- to realize, as I do, that if it were put to a vote of what we call "ordinary Americans," a set of laws would be imposed on newspapers and radio-TV stations regulating what can, and can't be said.

If you don't believe this, sit at my desk sometime and answer the phone calls and letters that I receive from people who see us not as the "nourishment" of democracy, but the poison of America.

During the Watergate and Vietnam years, I used to sit in my office, looking out through bulletproof windows (which were installed after three bullets had been fired into the newsroom) and wonder if "freedom of the press" could long endure.

And, though the anger we invoke is not as intense or threatening today, the underlying ignorance and resentment have not changed. And other crises will come.

I had a friend at KOA named Alan Berg, a goofy, delightful, brilliant little guy who never took himself seriously. But somebody did. Four of these neo-Nazi "supermen" sneaked up on him and killed him with their machine gun because on his radio show he ridiculed their extremist agenda.

There is always a threat like this from individual crazies or lunatic fringe groups, but that's not the scariest thing. The most fearful factor is the ignorance of ordinary, well-meaning Americans who see the media as irresponsible and disrespectful and would like to have us stilled.

You can't believe how difficult it is to explain to decent, patriotic, middle-class Americans how criticizing the Pentagon, the police departments or the president is really "good for America."

On television not long ago, I watched actor James Whitmore's portrayal of Will Rogers, delivering one of his classic monologues. And I chuckled at a line in which Rogers proposed a rule for Congress, guaranteed to eliminate 90 percent of the time taken up by speeches. The rule, said Rogers, would be that "when a congressman has said everything he knows, he would be required to shut up."

That's not a bad rule for commencement speakers, as well.

Tomorrow morning I'll be sitting up on the platform in Folsom Field when you graduate, and I'll be with all the learned academicians, feeling a bit out of place.

But when they introduce the graduates of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication, I'll feel great. I'll feel very close to you, very proud of you and very happy for you.

You've become part of a proud and vibrant profession.

Hang onto your ideals. Take as big a bite of life as you can get. ..And, as they used to say on "Hill Street Blues," "be careful out there."

Thank you and good luck.