Legendary Journalist Talks to LHS Classes

Kathleen McElroy, a professor in the School of Journalism and Media at the University of Texas at Austin spent all day Tuesday speaking to a number of different English and Journalism classes at La Grange High School. McElroy catered each talk around the interests and questions of the students, and peppered her discussions with interesting anecdotes from what is a remarkable career. She received her Ph.D. from UT-Austin in December 2014, after nearly 30 years as a professional journalist. At The New York Times, she held various management positions, including associate managing editor, dining editor, deputy sports editor and deputy editor of the website. She previously worked for The National, an all-sports daily, and Newsday on Long Island as well as the Austin American-Statesman, The Huntsville Item and the Bryan-College Station Eagle. She told the students about her time as Dining Editor at The New York Times, which allowed her to eat at many of the best restaurants in the city, and also her times as Page 1 editor of The Times, and the tough decisions she had to make in that role.

“I’m 63 years old and I have no idea what I want to do when I grow up,” McElroy said. She told the students the fact that she didn’t know how to drive initially led her from her native Houston to New York (because of the public transit). Even traits about yourself that you’re not proud of can lead you on great adventures, she said, so embrace your quirks.

“It’s part of your narrative. The not-driving thing worked for me,” said McElroy, who has since learned to drive.

McElroy tried to impart some aspects of media literacy to the students.

“Know what the good stuff is on here,” McElroy said, holding up a smart phone. “If you don’t know the source of your information, you are part of what’s deteriorating in this country. Know where your information comes from.”

She also talked to the students about the difference between misinformation and disinformation (the intent to deceive).

When asked by one of the students what her biggest regret was, she smiled.

“I’ll just say I never make the same mistake twice,” she laughed.