Stallworth: discusses the role of accurate and courageous journalism during the Civil Rights Movement. JD Schein / ASSISTANT PHOTO EDITOR
Stories about encounters with the Ku Klux Klan resonated from an 82-year-old journalist at the Dixon Auditorium at the Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center last Thursday.
Clarke Stallworth was the speaker for the Neil O. and Henrietta Davis Lecture Series, sponsored by Auburn University’s Department of Communications and Journalism.
He talked about his life as a newspaper journalist and writing consultant during his time working for Alabama newspapers.
“Sometimes I feel like a journalistic artifact,” Stallworth said. “That they should put me up in a museum.”
Stallworth spoke about ways to become a better person that he said would work at institutions, at Auburn University, in families and in corporations.
“I can tell you in five seconds,” Stallworth said. “Look for the good stuff first then the things to improve.”
Stallworth, a self-proclaimed nit picker, was born again after being a nitpicky writing consultant.
His eyes peered out from behind frames as he told the audience how he would tear apart newspapers, marking every single mistake with a red pen.
Then he changed.
“Somewhere along the way I had an epiphany, and I changed,” Stallworth said. “I decided it was better to put together than to tear apart. No one looks for the good stuff.”
Stallworth demonstrated this point by tearing a newspaper to shreds and magically putting it back together.
Stallworth focused on the difference between recklessness and courage in reporting and included examples from his long career as a journalist.
Stallworth witnessed KKK meetings all across Alabama, many times putting himself in dangerous situations.
Stallworth said that during that time, the “Birmingham Post Herald and Birmingham News beat the Klan. We made them take their hoods off.”
Stallworth gave advice to students, saying that in order to survive in the newspaper industry today, journalists had to be superb.
Katherine Haas, a sophomore in journalism, was among many students who attended the lecture series.
“I enjoyed hearing all of his stories,” Haas said. “I definitely thought it was very interesting.”
John Ellithorp, a senior in RTVF, said he enjoyed listening to stories from such a wise and experienced speaker.
“It was a wonderful start to a series that will be an important part of the Auburn community,” Ellithorp said. “It was a rare treat.”
Many Auburn journalism professors also attended the lecture series.
“As a journalism teacher, I often use (Stallworth’s) handouts and coaching techniques,” said Laura N. Fairley, an associate professor of journalism at Auburn. “Clarke Stallworth is a legend in his own time.”
Judith Sheppard, an associate professor in journalism at Auburn and committee chair for the Davis Lecture Series, introduced the lecture series.
Sheppard said the lecture series was meant to teach journalism students the high principles needed for the industry.
“This is such an important lecture series,” Sheppard said. “He is a wonderful example of a person who had great courage during a hard time in journalism history.”
The Davis Lecture Series was established in 1996 in honor of Neil O. and Henrietta Davis who both reported and edited for the Lee County Bulletin.
Both journalists have been inducted into the Alabama Press Association’s Hall of Honor.
