I regularly hear the voice of William D. Downs Jr. echoing in my mind.
Dr. Downs was the department chair and professor of communications and journalism at Ouachita Baptist University for 41 years.
He was relentless, hounding us want-to-be reporters like a military drill instructor, which made more sense after learning he’d been one in the early 1950s.
He took journalism seriously and demanded that graduates of his program take it seriously too. He recited an endless stream of memorable maxims that applied to our future careers as reporters. Example: “If your mother tells you she loves you, get three sources.” Another: “Trust no one and assume nothing.”
Full story below:
Share with others: