Washington Journalism Center Director Linda Killian decided to leave the program before the spring 2010 semester was canceled, she said.
Killian announced on Sunday at a brunch with Washington Journalism Center students that she would be leaving after this semester and that the program is canceled for next semester. She said she did not leave because of her contract, contrary to what College of Communication Dean Tom Fiedler said in a Dec. 8 Daily Free Press article.’
‘I did have a contract that ran on a calendar basis from Jan. 1 to Dec. 31,’ Killian said. ‘But that is not the reason why I decided to leave.”
International Programs Executive Director Philippe Pavillard said in an email Tuesday that a new director has not yet been chosen.’
Killian, a Boston University and Harvard University alumna, started the Washington Journalism Center in 2000 with then-journalism department chairman William Ketter, she said.
‘I thought I had a good idea to help students jumpstart their careers,’ Killian said. ‘Ketter hired me, and we began working closely together.”
The program allows students to cover national news and report to Boston-based newspapers, she said. Currently, only three other schools ‘- Northwestern University, University of Missouri and University of Maryland ‘- offer a similar program.’
‘Columbia doesn’t have a program like this,’ Killian said. ‘NYU doesn’t have a program like this. It made the journalism department special. It was its jewel.” ‘
Killian said her decision to leave the program was ‘bittersweet,’ as she loves the program but feels that she has been the director for too long.’
‘It’s been nine years,’ she said. ‘I’m very proud of what we have done here but I’m just ready to move on.”
In addition to reporting back to local Boston papers, students have also interned at major news outlets such as USA Today, National Public Radio, ABC, NBC and the Washington bureaus of The Boston Globe and The Los Angeles Times over the course of her tenure, she said.’
‘I have heard students say it was the highlight of their time at BU,’ Killian said. ‘They say they wouldn’t have gotten their jobs if it hadn’t been for this program.”
BU alumna and spring 2001 Washington program participant Meredith Warren said in an email that students will be disadvantaged without Killian.’
‘Killian taught me how to be a good reporter,’ Warren said. ‘Students who don’t get a chance to work with Linda are definitely missing out on something special” ‘
Fall 2003 participant and Rasky Baerlein Strategic Communications senior vice president David Tamasi said Killian was a great resource to have in the program and hopes that the new director can fill her shoes.’ Tamasi said his experience in Washington was invaluable to his career.’
‘Nothing compares to Washington,’ Tamasi said. ‘Folks that are interested in film go to Hollywood and L.A., people interested in finance go to New York and Wall Street, and those interested in public affairs go to Washington.” ‘
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