Lecture series set to honor late professor

Erinn Finley News Editor efinley1@murraystate.edu

When faculty were looking for a way to honor the late Robert “Doc” McGaughey, who was passionate about press freedom and responsibility, some thought a lecture series would best commemorate his legacy.

The inaugural McGaughey Lecture on Press Freedom and Responsibility will be held on Tuesday, Feb. 14.

Robert Valentine, retired lecturer in advertising, worked under McGaughey when he was the department chair for the Journalism and Mass Communications department. Valentine was the chair of the lecture’s planning committee.

Valentine said when McGaughey was inducted into the Kentucky Journalism Hall of Fame in 2012, he reflected on the beginning of digital mass communication.

“[He said] when the medium does not require you to take responsibility for what you say, nor does it assume responsibility for the consequences of what you say, everything that has defended the free press up until this time falls apart,” Valentine said. “And he was, as it turns out, spot on.”

Kyser Lough, an assistant professor of journalism at the University of Georgia, is one of the board members for the organizing committee Valentine put together. He studied under McGaughey during his undergraduate years at Murray State. The committee decided to have Marc Murphy be the guest speaker for this inaugural lecture.

He is a lawyer and political cartoonist, who often appears in The Louisville Courier. Lough said he thinks political cartoons are an interesting and powerful part of journalism, acting as a way to hold those in power accountable.

“I think it’s such a unique way to kick off this lecture series on press freedom and responsibility because the opinion pages are one of those important areas where we have been able to express ourselves, especially as citizens,” Lough said.

Lough also spoke about his excitement to have Murphy speak at the lecture.