Within days of their campus interviews, the other two finalists withdrew.
Last Thursday, Annie Hammock was hired as a media adviser at Ball State University in Indiana. A day later, Don Mariutto said he, too, was taking another job, although he didn't specify what. I assume it's not in student media. (He didn't seem to grasp the basic concepts during his interview.)
That leaves former TV reporter Michael Douglas.
The student managers at the TV and radio stations have declared their support for him. Alas, those stations don't currently practice journalism. The University Press editor and the journalism professor on the search committee weren't impressed with Douglas's resume or his interview.
On their official candidate evaluation forms, they checked off, "Not a Viable Candidate – do not recommend for hire."
This is what professor Bob Bailyn wrote about Douglas on his evaluation form...
He’s a good soldier in the trenches but needs someone to tell him what he’s fighting for. He’d be sure to ask a student journalist if she’s checked her sources, but he’d have no clue as to whether the story is worth doing in the first place. Give him a leader and he’d be a loyal and able follower, but student media at FAU need advisers who have the vision and the goals to take them and the university to the next level. This is not the guy.
The search committee meets tomorrow afternoon to decide what to do next: Hire Douglas or reopen the selection.
TOMORROW: A little journalism knowledge is dangerous.
The search committee meets tomorrow afternoon to decide what to do next: Hire Douglas or reopen the selection.
TOMORROW: A little journalism knowledge is dangerous.
