First Year at KU: 2004 Classes taught: Multimedia Editing, Research and Writing Education: Associate of Arts, Southeast Community College, Fairbury, Neb. 1981; B.S. in journalism and mass communication, Kansas State University, 1983; M.A. (with Honors) in journalism, KU 1991; Ph.D. mass communication, University of Maryland, 1996 and Minor field: American cultural history.

“KU shares the same values as the New York Times and I have, quality journalism is important.” — Doug Ward

By Lindsey Scott, Emporia, Kan., senior

At age 13, Doug Ward began taking photography classes through a local community college in Fairbury, Neb. He developed as a photographer and began shooting freelance photos for the Fairbury Journal-News. Eventually he became a reporter for the paper. It was an easy decision when he went to Kansas State University to study journalism.

After graduating from Kansas State, Ward worked as news editor at the Parsons Sun and night editor at the Hutchinson News.

In 1989, Ward came to the University of Kansas to earn his masters degree and worked as a graduate teaching assistant. This was the first experience he had with teaching other students.

“I had a desire to teach. It was an opportunity to use the skills I had in a different way and that was exciting,” Ward said.

After graduating from KU, he went to the University of Maryland to earn his doctorate degree.

At Maryland, Ward became interested in another area of research and journalism. Ward is especially interested in the way companies changed their perceptions of audiences during the emergence of a consumer society.

“I enjoyed all of my university experiences. You take away something different from every university that you attend,” said Ward.

While earning his PhD, Ward worked as a freelance copy editor at the Philadelphia Daily News and the Philadelphia Inquirer. In 1996, he became a staff editor for the New York Times. At the Times, he worked on the business, national, and metropolitan desks, and contributed to the New York Times Book Review.

Ward misses parts of working at the Times. He misses the people, but does not miss the deadlines or the commute that he made three times a week from Philadelphia into New York City. When the editing position opened at KU, Ward felt it was an opportunity that he couldn’t miss.

“KU shares the same values as the New York Times and I have, quality journalism is important,” said Ward.

“The J-School is known for teaching the solid, building blocks of journalism, including writing and editing,” said Dean Ann Brill. “Doug Ward is committed to continuing this tradition.”

Ward enjoys teaching students at all different levels, as long as they are eager to learn and improve their writing and editing skills. This semester he is teaching research and writing and multimedia editing. He believes that learning these fundamental skills will help students succeed in a career in journalism or outside the field. He also encourages students to explore other areas of interest and to never stop learning new things.

“If you have the desire to question things, it will make life more interesting,” Ward said.