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University announces writers in residence for spring

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Also by Nick Penzenstadler:

For whom the bell tolls (November 29, 2007)
New apartments for West Wash? (November 20, 2007)
One-and-out: Kumar will not seek 2nd term on Dane County Board (November 15, 2007)
Displaced Carroll residents call university, bookstore helpful (November 13, 2007)
Carroll Street fire displaces students (November 12, 2007)

by Nick Penzenstadler

Tuesday, March 27, 2007

Two well-known national news reporters will travel to the University of Wisconsin this April to take part in the annual Writers in Residence program, the university announced Monday.

UW will host Charles Gasparino, an on-air editor and business reporter for CNBC, and Jim VandeHei, executive editor of a political news website in Washington, D.C., who was previously a political reporter for The Washington Post.

VandeHei, an Oshkosh native and graduate of UW-Oshkosh, shook up the political reporting scene in Washington when he launched politico.com with his then-boss John Harris.

"Jim represents this transition from the more traditional print media to a web-based news source. He's going to have a lot of valuable insights on journalists using technology," UW program organizer Dennis Chaptman said. "It's important to round out the journalism experience — the professors in the School of Journalism have recognized that for a long time."

When contacted by The Badger Herald, VandeHei said he was excited to speak and spread the "Politico gospel back in the homeland."

With a presidential election on the horizon, VandeHei said he's prepared to speak about the rapidly changing journalism market.

"I hope to talk about Politico and talk about what we're up to, but I'm pretty well positioned to talk about the industry and how [students] have to adapt their skills for the new media."

VandeHei also said companies are currently looking for college graduates who are equipped with different skills than were sought 10 years ago.

"Some schools have been a little slow to adapt and equip [students] with what they need," VandeHei said. "[The industry] doesn't even look the same as it did even five years ago."

Gasparino, on the other hand, reports on the stock market for CNBC and previously worked as a senior writer at Newsweek and as a business reporter for The Wall Street Journal. He also authored the popular book "Blood on the Street" and is awaiting the August release of his latest work, "King of the Club," about Dick Grasso, former New York Stock Exchange chief.

Chaptman said Gasparino would bring his wealth of investigative journalism knowledge with corporate America.

"One of the things is giving business students access to business writers to give them a flavor of what business journalism is all about," Chaptman said.

James Baughman, chair of the School of Journalism and Mass Communications, also said students become exposed through the program.

"I think it's great to bring someone in from CNBC because we tend to be print-media-focused," Baughman said. "Many students aren't interested in business reporting until they meet someone and realize it's really exciting."

Chaptman added the writers in residence also interact with faculty and often come away from the experience saying they learn as much as the students during their week on campus.

"We put [students] in touch with working professionals to give them a sense of what issues they deal with and demands they face," Chaptman said. "It's a great opportunity to interact sometimes on a one-on-one basis with these professionals."

VandeHei will speak the week of April 9, and Gasparino will be in Madison the following week.

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