Journalism chair Peck packs bags

The surprise announcement that Belo Endowed Chair of Journalism Chris Peck would become editor of the Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn., led to immediate structural changes within the division of journalism. Dean of Meadows School of the Arts Carol Brandt announced Tuesday Peck had moved up his departure date. He resigned that day instead of finishing out the fall semester, as he had originally planned.

“I met with Dean Brandt Tuesday and she said she felt it would be better for SMU if the change was made now, and I have to respect her wishes,” Peck said.

Ralph Langer, who formerly served as executive-in-residence and interim chairman of the division, will teach the two media ethics courses Peck is leaving, while Jim Goodnight will fulfill Peck’s administrative duties as executive director of the division.

A new search committee is currently forming to fill the empty Belo Endowed Chair, said Managing Director of Meadows Greg Brown. Although unsure of its makeup, Brown hopes it will meet next week.

Langer, who has been working on a novel and fishing in Montana, will drive back, arriving on campus next week. In addition to teaching ethics again, he will assist Goodnight with finishing the Belo digital newsroom.

Langer thinks it’s better for the division to move on instead of drifting under a chairman who has announced his resignation.

“Between now and the end of the year is a long time when you’ve accepted another position – you’re mentally in the other place,” he said. “Memphis wanted him before January.

“This will keep the momentum of journalism program going. It’s better for everyone,” he said.

Langer will teach the ethics courses until the semester ends. Langer will not teach the classes slated for Peck in the spring.

Goodnight will stay in his position until May, overseeing budgets, assisting faculty and doing other administrative work. He served as interim chair of the former division of advertising and the new Temerlin Advertising Institute from August 1999 to August 2002. Although his experience lies mainly in advertising, he has had journalism exposure.

“I was president of Baker Publications, so I know something about the management of journalists, but I don’t pretend to be a journalist,” he said.

“We’re excited,” Goodnight said. “There’s an awful lot of new initiatives going on in the division.”

A search committee selected Peck for the Belo Chair Dec. 13, 2001, following a nationwide search and several months of interviews and candidate appraisals.

At the time of his appointment, Peck said he was drawn to the commitment of SMU and the Belo Foundation to build one of the leading journalism programs in the country.

“This is a rare opportunity to help a quality institution build a program that will serve students and the media at a critical juncture for journalism,” he said at the time of his appointment.

Peck began his duties as Belo Distinguished Chair in January.

Commercial Appeal CEO John Wilcox said the paper began searching for a new editor in August and had selected its final candidates a month ago. Peck accepted the editor position Oct. 7.

Peck’s family will stay in Dallas to allow his son to finish the semester in high school. He will travel back and forth.

He said the pace in the newsroom is more fitting for him.

“This is just a fantastic opportunity to edit a newspaper again,” he said. “That’s where my interests lie, I think I can do more in the newsroom than anywhere else.”

His favorite part of the job at SMU was working with the student.

“I was able to see some bright lights there in the classes,” he said. “I have nothing but good things to say about SMU. I wish all the folks in journalism the best