Role of the Media in Today's Political Arena

Professor Will Norton, Jr., was dean of the Meek School of Journalism and New Media from 2009 to 2020. He was dean of the College of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln from August 1990 until July 2009. He served as president of the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (2000-2001) and as president of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication (1989 to 1990).

Norton is a partner in ownership of The South Reporter, Inc., Holly Springs, Miss., a corporation that publishes two newspapers and a total market publication. He was publisher of The Daily Iowan. He previously was on the staff of the Chicago Tribune and was sports editor of The Daily Journal, Wheaton, Illinois. Norton was a trustee of The Freedom Forum and the Newseum.

He has written articles for publication in journals and popular magazines, has ghost written three books and directed funded research for a dozen newspapers. His travels have taken him to nearly 60 nations.

He was graduated from the University of Iowa with a PhD in Mass Communications. Among his other degrees are an MA in mass communications from Indiana University and a BA with honors in history from Wheaton College.

In April 2005, Norton was named Journalism Administrator of the Year by the Scripps Howard Foundation. Its National Journalism Awards honor the best in print, Web and electronic journalism and journalism education.

He and his wife Susan are the parents of William and Laine.