Sports Illustrated writer to participate in 2014 Budig Writing Professor event

LAWRENCE — Scott Reinardy, associate professor at the University of Kansas William Allen White School of Journalism and Mass Communications, will host the 2014 Budig Writing Professor event at 12:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 22, in the Clarkson Gallery of Stauffer-Flint Hall. "Inside the Writer’s Room: A Conversation with Sports Illustrated’s Gary Smith” will be preceded by an 11:30 a.m. hot dog lunch and is open to the public.

As chair of the journalism school’s news and information track, Reinardy teaches intermediate and advanced writing courses. In planning this event, Reinardy decided to deviate from the standard lecture format and invite Smith, a renowned magazine journalist, to participate via Skype. Reinardy and Smith will discuss crafting stories that go beyond sports and examine the real human emotion behind them.

Smith, who is regarded by many as the best sports journalist of his generation, has won the National Magazine Award a record four times and was a finalist for the award a record 10 times. He may be best known for his writings on Pat Tillman, the professional football player who joined the army after 9/11 and was killed by friendly fire. Smith, who wrote about Tillman before the truth of his death was known, was able to return to the story and examine how Tillman’s death was misrepresented and used as propaganda to promote the war.

“Gary Smith typically doesn’t do interviews,” Reinardy said. “He tells stories and lets the work stand for itself. But he agreed to share his insights with our students on how a master crafts stories to honor both the subject and the truth.”

Reinardy, who is widely known as specializing in teaching sports journalism, says he doesn’t actually love sports nearly as much as the human stories behind the games. Reinardy served as a reporter, columnist and editor for nearly 15 years at five different newspapers. He earned his master’s degree and doctorate. in journalism from the University of Missouri and has been a faculty member for six years.

The Gene Budig Writing Professorship is named after Gene Budig, KU’s 14th chancellor. Budig and other donors established the teaching professorship to honor excellence in teaching writing. The schools of Journalism and Education share the award.