New lecturer in journalism

Press, Volume CX, Issue 32425, 12 October 1970, Page 11

New lecturer in journalism

A prominent British journalist, broadcaster and author and former editor of “The Times Educational Supplement” has been appointed reader in journalism at the University of Canterbury.

He is Mr Walter James, who was largely responsible for organising the change to front-page news on “The Times” in 1966. Mr James, who will take up his position next year will be in charge of the postgraduate diploma course in journalism which was established at the University of Canterbury in 1968, by Mr J. V. Williams, who has returned to Britain to take up a position at the University of Cardiff.

After graduating BA with first class honours in history from Oxford University, Mr James undertook historical research in the British School at Rome before joining the then “Manchester Guardian” as a leader writer in 1937. He remained there tin 1946 writing particularly about the Spanish civil war, the military conduct of World War H, the control of nuclear weapons and the Nuremberg trials of Nazi war criminals. He was appointed deputy editor of “The Times Educational Supplement” in 1947 and was editor from 1952 until last year. During his period of control the circulation rose from 52,000 to 109,000. In 1965 Sir William Haley, the former editor of “The Times” appointed Mr James chairman of a small working party to carry through over six months the change to front-page news. Changes in typography, design and running order of pages were his responsibility and he also advised on new features, including women’s page and masthead design. Last year Mr James was appointed special adviser on education to Times Newspapers, Ltd, and manager of Times Education Service, a new department responsible for publishing material from the files of “The Times” to support study of current affairs, social questions and contemporary literature in schools.

“A Middle-Class Parent’s Guide to Education.”

For nine years Mr James was a member of the General Advisory Council of the 8.8. C. and is a past member of the Councils of Industrial Design and the Royal Society of Arts. He is also a governor of the Central School of Art and Design. Mr James, who is 58, is married with three children.

“I am sure that Mr James will bring distinction to the post-graduate course in journalism at the university, which he is almost uniquely qualified to direct,” said the vice-chancellor of the university (Professor N. C. Phillips). “In making this appointment the university was also hopeful that Mr James’s wide public service in the United Kingdom would be parallelled by his contribution to the community of Christchurch, and indeed of New Zealand.”

Mr James began broadcasting in 1947 and since then has given thousands of talks, interviews and taken part in discussions on radio and television. He is author of “The Christian in Politics,” “The Teacher and His World,” and