Thursday, 4:30 PM
Walter V. Robinson, Globe Spotlight Team leader, to teach at Northeastern
(Globe staff photo by John Tlumacki)
Walter V. Robinson shown holding a poster of himself from a photo taken of him during his early years at the Boston Globe, presented to him at his birthday party in the newsroom.
By Andrew Ryan, Globe Correspondent
Pulitzer-Prize winner Walter V. Robinson is joining the faculty at Northeastern University after a 34-year career at the Boston Globe that has taken him from Metro Editor, to Middle East Bureau Chief, to leader of the newspaper’s Spotlight Team.
The Northeastern graduate has reported from 48 states and 30 countries, with beats as varied as Boston City Hall, the Reagan White House, and the Persian Gulf. He has uncovered the art world's complicity in the Nazi art plunder during World War II and helped expose a pattern of sexual abuse by clergy in the Catholic Church.
“Walter Robinson brings a wealth of experience to our program as one of the nation's leading journalists," said Stephen D. Burgard, director of Northeastern University's School of Journalism, in a written statement. "This will benefit all of our students, and be of special interest to graduate students and select undergraduates interested in learning investigative reporting techniques from one of the industry masters."
Globe Editor Martin Baron announced to his staff this afternoon that Robinson had accepted the Northeastern position but would remain as a consultant to the newspaper and continue to periodically write stories.
“For some time now, Walter Robinson has talked with me about the possibility of doing something entirely different at this stage of his life and career,” Baron wrote. “I was hoping he would drop the subject. He hasn’t.”
Robinson will join the Northeastern faculty in January 2007 as a Distinguished Professor of Journalism and establish an investigative reporting course targeted at mid-career journalists. He will also teach graduate and undergraduate courses.
“I’ve had an enormously gratifying career at the Globe,” Robinson said this afternoon. “Now I’d like to have another career teaching the next generation’s journalist some of what I’ve learned.”
“It’s a wonderful opportunity because I will also continue here at a part-time role in the Globe,” Robinson said.
Baron made it clear how much of an impact Robby, as he is known in the newsroom, has had at the newspaper.
“His byline alone was a signal to readers that the story was big,” Baron wrote in the staff announcement, adding, “Anyone who reflects on Robby’s career at the Globe can’t help but marvel at his record of accomplishment.”
Robinson is perhaps best known for leading the newspaper’s coverage of the clergy sexual abuse scandal, for which the Globe won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service in 2003. Most recently, Robinson lead an investigation by the Spotlight Team dubbed “Debtors’ Hell” that exposed the practices of debt collectors.
