Aly Colón John S. and James L. Knight Professor of Media Ethics
Reid 120
540-458-8433
colona@wlu.edu
Curriculum Vitae
Aly Colón is the Knight Professor of Media Ethics in the Department of Journalism and Mass Communications at Washington and Lee University. Prior to joining Washington and Lee, Colón spent more than 30 years in journalism. He worked for a news service, daily newspapers, public radio, network television and a journalism institute. Most recently, he served as a Director of Standards & Practices at NBC News and Telemundo Network News. He held editing and reporting positions at The Seattle Times, The Everett Herald, The Oakland Press and Fairchild News Service. He also spent a decade teaching professional journalists about ethics and diversity at the Poynter Institute, a global resource in journalism. Editor of Best Newspaper Writing book, more than 400 pages of award-winning journalism used by journalists and university journalism professors. Colón has conducted newsroom training for more than 50 news organizations and has done consulting on diversity, ethics, writing, editing and leadership. He has been a media consultant and independent journalist, and has worked as a corporate communication manager.
Education
Knight Center Fellowship: "Paying for Health Care," seminar, Knight Center for Specialized Journalism, University of Maryland, 1993.
Robert Bosch Foundation Fellowship: "A United Germany in a Uniting Europe," Three-week, journalistic, in-depth European program for U.S. journalists, 1992.
Atlantik-Brüke Foundation Fellowship. Studied German politics, armed forces and culture. Wrote about the fall of the Berlin Wall and the German aerospace business, 1989.
American Bankers Association Communications Council Fellowship, Stonier Graduate School of Banking, University of Delaware, 1987.
American Newspaper Publishers Association Management Development Workshop. Mid-level managers workshop aimed at all newspaper departments, 1986.
Knight-Bagehot Fellow, Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Graduate School of Business, 1982-83.
National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship for professionals focused on ethics involving public responsibilities and private values, University of Kansas, July 1981
M.A. in journalism from Stanford University, 1975
B.A. in Journalism, Loyola University, New Orleans, 1974
Teaching
JOUR 344: Ethics in Journalism
JOUR 345: Media Ethics
JOUR 240: Poverty in the Media
JOUR 295: New Media, Race & Ethnicity
Selected Publications
“Dear Media: Here are some tips for covering Donald Trump and the GOP campaign,” The Conversation, Jan. 27, 2016
“The future of diversity in the News,” on ASNE.org, 2012.
“Include ethnicity or leave it out?” The Oregonian, April 17, 2010
“SABEW: Standing Strong for Ethics in Business Journalism,” AHBJ.org,
Society of American Business Editors and Writers. March, 2013
“Covering Faith Holistically,” Poynter.org, Feb. 25, 2003
“WREG-TV Questions Whether to Use Slang in Story about Locksmiths,” Poynter.org, March 6, 2009
“Covering the ‘Colorblind’ Generation,” Poynter.org, April 27, 2008
“Preying Presbyterians?” Poynter.org, Sept. 17, 2003
“Ethics as Craft,” Poynter.org, Oct. 31, 2003
“Decoding “Moral Values” “ Poynter.org, Nov. 11, 2004
“Reporters Watch Candidates, Viewers Watch Reporters,” Poynter.org, Oct. 25, 2004
“Private and Public: What Journalists Reveal About Themselves,” Poynter.org, Oct. 8, 2004
“Charging Toward Controversy,” Poynter.org, Sept. 20, 2004
“The Ethics of Silence,” Poynter.org, June, 30, 2004
“Blogs and Ethics,” Poynter.org, April, 22, 2004
“Faith, Not Fear,” Poynter.org, March 26, 2004
“Great Journalists Credit Others,” Poynter.org, Jan. 2004
Professional Experience
NBC News & Telemundo Network News, Miami, FL
Director of Standards and Practices, 2012-Aug. 2014
Consultant and Independent Journalist
Media/Ethics/Diversity, 2010-2012
Avanade, Inc.
Internal/External Communications Manager, 2008-2010
Safeco
Diversity Program Manager, 2007-2008,
Poynter Institute, St. Petersburg Fl.
1997-2007
Reporting, Writing & Editing Group Leader
Ethics Group Leader
Director of Diversity Programs
Ethics & Diversity Visiting Professional
The Seattle Times, Seattle WA
1991-1997
Diversity Reporter & Coach
Assistant Metro Editor
Assistant City Editor
The Everett Herald, Everett, WA
1983-1991
Executive Editor-Economy & Features
Economy Editor
Assistant Economy Editor
The Oakland Press, Pontiac, MI
1979-1991
Assistant Magazine Editor
Fighting Inflation Columnist
Regional Reporter
Business Reporter
Fairchild News Service
1977-1979
Northwest Bureau Chief based in Seattle.
Professional Memberships
Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
Society of Professional Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Hispanic Journalists
Asian American Journalists Association
Native American Journalist Association