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Jill Geisler

Clinical Professor - Leadership, Journalism and Ethics

Jill Geisler serves as Clinical Professor of Leadership, Journalism and Ethics, after serving for a decade as the SOC’s inaugural Bill Plante Chair in Leadership and Media Integrity. Geisler is known internationally as a teacher and coach of leaders in media and beyond. She connects Loyola to the contemporary world of media issues through her Master Class for Media Managers and her service to journalism organizations. She is the go-to expert when leaders need help managing change, improving their culture and teams, tackling ethical challenges or building their individual leadership skills. She also supports Loyola students as they grow into media leaders of the future. 

Before joining Loyola in 2015, she developed and guided key management and leadership programs of the Poynter Institute for 16 years. Her first career was on the front lines of journalism, where she worked as a reporter, producer, photographer and anchor before becoming, at the age of 27, one of the USA’s first women to serve as news director of a major market TV network affiliate. She led an award-winning newsroom for several decades, defined by its commitment to enterprise, ethics and yes, fun. 

Education

Master of Arts in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests

  • Business and Interpersonal Communication Skills
  • Change Management
  • Diversity
  • Editing
  • Ethics
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Organizational Development
  • Staff Development
  • Women in Leadership
  • Writing

Professional/Community Affiliations

  • Journalism & Women Symposium, Advisory Board Member
  • Radio-TV Digital News Association, Member (recipient of the Oldfield Award for service)
  • American Society of News Editors Minority Leadership Institute, Lead Trainer and Advisor
  • Various Journalism and Media Conferences, Regular Presenter

Courses Taught

Master Class for Media Managers

Publications/Research Listings

BOOKS

  • Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know – Center Street, 2012 (paperback release in 2014)
  • News Leadership at the Head of the Class: The Journalist’s Guide to Teaching Management Skills and Values – Radio and TV News Directors Foundation, 2005, 2006

COLUMNS

  • “Behind the News: How to Run a Successful Newsroom” – Monthly column for Columbia Journalism Review
  • “What Great Bosses Know” – Columns on Poynter.org

PODCASTS

  • “Q&A: Leadership & Integrity in the Digital Age” – Coming soon to iTunesU
  • “What Great Bosses Know” – 145 podcasts with 13+ million downloads on iTunesU

Awards

  • Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication - Burkum Service Award
  • Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
  • Wisconsin Broadcasters Association Hall of Fame
  • Milwaukee Press Club Hall of Fame
  • Milwaukee Press Club Knight of the Golden Quill
  • Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Oldfield Award
  • Recognized for her work in writing, editing, and service to both her community and the journalism profession