Profiles
Jill Geisler
Bill Plante Chair in Leadership and Media Integrity
Education
M.A. in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh
B.A. in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison
Jill Geisler is the inaugural Bill Plante Chair in Leadership and Media Integrity, a position designed to connect Loyola’s School of Communication with the needs and interests of contemporary and aspiring media professionals worldwide. Geisler is known internationally as a teacher and coach of leaders in media and beyond. She developed and guided key management and leadership programs of the Poynter Institute for 16 years and continues to be the go-to expert when leaders need help managing change, improving their culture and teams, tackling ethical challenges or building their individual leadership skills.
Geisler’s first career was in 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.
Research Interests
Leadership, management, ethics, diversity, women in leadership, change management, organizational development, staff development, writing, editing, business and interpersonal communication skills.
Professional & Community Affiliations
Geisler serves on the advisory board of the Journalism & Women Symposium. She is a member of the Radio-TV Digital News Association, which honored her with its Oldfield award for service to the organization. She serves as lead trainer and advisor for the American Society of News Editors Minority Leadership Institute, and is a regular presenter at journalism and media conferences. It’s hard to find a news organization in the United State, and many overseas, that hasn’t been touched by her leadership teaching, either in person or via her writing and popular podcasts.
Awards
Geisler’s many professional honors include induction into three media halls of fame, along with recognition for writing, editing and service to her community and the profession.
Publications
BOOKS:
Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know - Center Street, 2012, paperback release 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” – NEW! Coming soon to iTunesU
“What Great Bosses Know” - 145 podcasts with 13+ million downloads on iTunesU