Photo by Bill Knowles

There are only two candles, but McGiffert gives it his best. "Being 80 is really in conflict with my self image," he says. At upper left are Professor Clem Work and Pollner Fellow Tom Cheatham.

'The Pensioner' turns 80
Faculty surprises McGiffert
with party, eponymous award

By Chelsi Moy
J-School Web Reporter

For emeritus J-School professor Bob McGiffert, turning 80 is no excuse to feel old.

"Being 80 is really in conflict with my self image," he said.

Ten years after retiring from the School of Journalism, McGiffert, who became an octogenarian on Nov. 27, still radiates youthful energy and passion for journalism.

He inspired students to become journalists for 36 years.

Now, because of that legacy and his continued interest and involvement in the J-School, the faculty has decided to establish a scholarship in McGiffert’s honor.

"Too often the school waits until someone has passed on to do something in their name," said J-School professor Clem Work, who originally thought of the scholarship idea. " We wanted it to be in honor of someone who could still appreciate it."

Photo by Bill Knowles

McGiffert gets a welcome kiss from Carol Van Valkenburg, who threw the surprise party for his 80th birthday. Van Valkenburg, a former student of McGiffert's who is now the J-School's print department chair, credits her editing prof with persuading her to switch her major to journalism. "He made me want to be a journalist," she says.

The $275 McGiffert Award will go to a journalism student at the end of each year. The student must show an interest in one of two areas McGiffert enjoyed teaching the most: copy editing and media law. That person must either portray strong editing skills or be dedicated to freedom of information.The size of the annual award may grow if the scholarship's endowment increases.

As a birthday present, J-School Dean Jerry Brown told McGiffert of the scholarship at a surprise party thrown for him Nov. 24 at professor Carol Van Valkenburg’s home.

The First Amendment allows journalists to report the news without fear of punishment from the government, McGiffert said, and only by exercising these rights will the First Amendment be protected.

"The First Amendment is the foundation of all our liberties," he said. "All of them hinge from freedom of speech and freedom of press."

Not only does McGiffert value people’s right to information, but also the ability to deliver news in a way that people can understand.

"The only way to convey news is if people are devoted to accuracy and precision through editing," he said.

Photo by Bill Knowles

The dapper octogenarian dons the birthday hat. Former students Deborah Richie Oberbillig (center) and Lilly Tuholske approve.

McGiffert was an editor for most of his journalism career. He worked as a city editor for a Pennsylvania newspaper for 16 years. He spent time overseas at a Paris newspaper and occasionally assisted at the Baltimore Sun.

Until 1996, McGiffert spent his summers at the Washington Post as a vacation relief editor.
At age 40, McGiffert was being consumed by his work. His wife happened to see a job announcement for a journalism professor at Ohio State University.

"I was killing myself withwork at the time," he said. "It looked to be a great change."

This was the beginning of a blossoming teaching career for McGiffert. He taught at Ohio State for four years before taking a leave of absence to come teach at UM.

"I went there for a year and stayed 36," he said.

Since then, McGiffert has made a profound impact on the J-School.

Photo by Bill Knowles

Bob rakes it in.

"He’s the reason I changed my major to journalism," said Van Valkenburg, a student of McGiffert’s and now the chair of the print journalism department at UM. "He made me want to be a journalist."

As a teacher, McGiffert would dress in aviator goggles and flap his arms when discussing how the media covered events such as Charles Lindbergh’s flight across the Atlantic Ocean. He knew lots of Civil War songs, said Van Valkenburg, who specifically remembers him singing "Marching Through Georgia."

"The thing I love about Bob is that besides being a first-rate teacher," Van Valkenburg said, "he conveys absolute love for journalism."

Although his eyesight is not as sharp as it used to be, his ability to pinpoint mistakes in newspapers is as keen as ever. McGiffert often e-mails the J-School faculty about mistakes in newspaper articles so students can learn from the errors.

Dean Jerry Brown, (l), announced the creation of the annual McGiffert Award, a $275 scholarship for a student who shows exceptional promise as an editor or as a journalist dedicated to freedom of information.

"He still teaches even if he’s not in a classroom," said Van Valkenburg. "He catches the most amazing things. Nothing escapes him."

Not even his youthful nature escapes him.

"I love being with students," he said. "Being with young people is insurance from being an old fogey."

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