Troy , Ala. —M. Stanton Evans, founder and director of the National Journalism Center , told Troy University journalism students that the most important element of any news story is the reporter.

Speaking to the annual “Money, Politics and the Media” Hall School of Journalism Symposium on the Troy Campus on Thursday, Evans said reporters bear a huge responsibility.

“The most important element in a story is you, because you have to get the story accurately, completely and fully in order to do your job as a journalist correctly,” Evans said.

A longtime adjunct faculty member at Troy University , Evans spent the first 25 years of his career as a professional journalist, including stints as editor of the Indianapolis News, writing a nationally syndicated column and serving as a commentator for both CBS television and radio. He is also the author of eight books. Evans has dedicated the last 25 years of his career to teaching journalism.

“Teaching is one of the hardest jobs to have if you care about your students,” he said.  “It takes a lot of thought and understanding of people.” 

Evans said that making better journalists is important because the world is competitive and requires extra skill to secure a good job, and because the nation depends on journalists for the information on which they base their decisions.

Evans was joined on the stage by former adjunct journalism instructor and WTBF and WTSU on-air personality Ralph Black, who served as moderator for a question-and-answer session.

During this portion of the symposium, Evans encouraged future journalists in attendance to get involved with issues they feel strongly about.

“Complaining alone is not enough,” Evans said.  “Be a change agent in the media for what you feel is right.”

In his introduction of Evans to the symposium TROY Chancellor Jack Hawkins Jr. announced the annual symposium would be named in Evans’ honor. The new name: “The M. Stanton Evans Symposium on Money, Politics and the Media.”

“When I see some of the distorted reportage on CNN that bears no resemblance to reality, I stop and think that they would have benefited from a few sessions in Stan Evans’ class,” Hawkins told symposium attendees. “So it is with a great deal of personal satisfaction that I make this announcement.”