Ole Miss Hires Veteran International Journalist to Lead Jordan Center

Herman, who is retiring from Voice of America, will start at the center housed in the School of Journalism and New Media on July 7. He will lead the center's mission of engaging students, journalists and the public in addressing media literacy and journalistic integrity.

Providing communities with accurate and timely information ultimately shapes the nation's foundation of democracy, Herman said. He noted that this is a critical time to produce practical, innovative solutions.

"We're talking about issues of constitutional matters and democracy," he said. "That requires an all-hands-on-deck approach.

"Not all these challenges that we face with journalism and the First Amendment at the core can be solved only by journalists. We need a lot of help."

A Cincinnati native, Herman has filed news reports from dozens of countries, covering major events such as the 2011 Fukushima nuclear disaster. He was one of the few journalists to cover the incident from the grounds of the crippled power plant.

He served as VOA's White House bureau chief for nearly five years and previously worked as a Tokyo-based correspondent and VOA correspondent and bureau chief in India, Korea and Thailand. A member of the National Press Club's board of governors, he also held several leadership positions, including governor of the Overseas Press Club of America.

The Jordan Center's focus on journalism advocacy and innovation sparked his interest in joining the team at Ole Miss. He has become a recognized voice advocating for First Amendment protections.

"(Herman's) distinguished career and global perspective will enhance the center's civic and professional impact, empowering storytellers and strengthening public trust in media," said Andrea Hickerson, UM journalism dean.

Innovation and advocacy are at the heart of tangible solutions affecting news integrity, Herman said.

Through events, research, and college and pre-college programming, Ole Miss can play a major role in reducing news deserts, rethinking the news business model and bridging the gap between the academy and the public, he said.

Collaboration across fields will be key to getting things moving, he said.

"Most people in the industry agree that the models are broken," Herman said. "We're in a period of transition and fragmentation. We need to figure out what's going to work.

"Ole Miss is a place where we can be a major part of a nationwide deliberation and problem solving."

Top: Steve Herman reports from the White House while working as chief national correspondent for Voice of America, once the nation's largest international news broadcaster. Herman joins the UM Jordan Center for Journalism Advocacy and Innovation as its inaugural executive director in July. Photo by Sarah Silbiger