Cowling Speech Draft

Danielle Buechel
Cowling Speech Draft

UW-Oshkosh Journalism professor Mike Cowling told guests in a presentation Wednesday that changes in the publication and management of The New York Times reflect both the paper’s achievements and downfalls.

Cowling, a part-time employee of the Times, suggested to students, faculty and guests that an increase in government support as well as a lax attitude toward investigative reporting may be contributing factors in the recent decline in circulation of The New York Times.


Cowling stated that though the Times has seen changes since the controversial incident in 2003 involving Jayson Blair and the disclosure that the reporter had plagiarized numerous stories, the paper may have to refocus its attention on more precise coverage of news events and investigative reporting to boost sales. He went on to say that the policy changes have been vital in rebuilding the paper’s credibility.

Cowling, who has worked as a copy editor of both the Nation and Foreign desks, also discussed the paper’s accomplishments in earning nearly twice as many Pulitzer Prizes for journalism than another other newspaper. Cowling praised the Times’ large staff and treatment of its employees.

“The Times expects excellence from everyone who works for them,” Cowling said.

Cowling has been employed by various publications including the Chicago Sun-Times where he served as a national news editor. He currently instructs courses in media ethics and editing at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh where he has taught for 10 years and continues to host conferences and instructional speeches on the subject of journalism.