I am extremely sad to learn of the deaths of two people I had come to know through my research, and both contributed so much to their respective professional fields.
Walter Greenwood, described by HoldtheFrontPage as the ‘doyen of journalism training’, co-edited the invaluable journalism law text McNae’s for over 30 years. There are numerous tributes online, with affectionate comments from the many journalists he worked with over the years, following his death aged 87.
‘Walter’s enthusiasm was infectious, and his depth of knowledge awe inspiring’, said one. When I met him in person last year, following email correspondence, that was the impression I had too. Despite being well over retirement age he was still deeply engaged with media legal issues and his passion for the topic shone through. Press Association described how,
Although [his colleague, John] Brownlee retired some time ago, Greenwood never did, and his interest in the law and in the work of training journalists never dimmed.
When asked to recite a sentence of more than 30 words while being assessed following a recent stroke, Greenwood told his fellow law tutor Pat Hagan: “I gave them the briefest of introductions to the law of defamation.”
Also see the NCTJ’s tribute here.
John Tulloch, who died after a long illness aged 67, was also warmly remembered by colleagues. He was founder of the Lincoln School of Journalism and head of the school from 2004-2012. I first met him at a journalism event in 2009 and since enjoyed a number of conversations with him over email and at subsequent conferences.
He gave an excellent and thought-provocative paper at last year’s Institute of Communication Ethics conference, which is published in a recent issue of Ethical Space.
In 2012 he gave me permission to feature his article on ‘Oiling a very special relationship – journalists, bribery and the detective police’ on Meeja Law here.
His ICE and Lincoln colleague, Professor Richard Lance Keeble has written a wonderful tribute here.
It quotes Dr Fiona Thompson, director of ICE, who said, “In ancient Greek writings, a term was used – dikaios – which means a just and honest man or, as Rudolf Bultmann translates it, ‘the quality and situation of being turned in the right direction’ – that’s what John did, turned us in the right direction.”
I only knew Walter and John a little, but was inspired by the work of both and very grateful to them for the time they took answering my questions and sharing ideas.
