Chatelain balances community loyalty with professionalism
By Kara Wilkinson
J Alumni News staff
Steve Chatelain, honored at the 2003 J Days ceremonies as the outstanding news-editorial alumnus, credits his success to his experience in community journalism.
Chatelain, 46, graduated from the UNL journalism program in 1979. He began his career as a part-time reporter for the Auburn News-Press and the Nemaha County Herald in southeast Nebraska. In 1980 he went to work at the Keith County News in Ogallala as a sports editor and later became the general manager.
It was in Ogallala that he met his mentor, Jack Pollock, who was then the publisher. Chatelain said he admired Pollock because he "manages to balance so well being supportive of his community while still being true to his profession.
"I have always been impressed with how he could take positions, take stands that were true to his heart, even at times when they were unpopular."
Chatelain said what Pollock taught him "has always been important to me: a delicate balance to report on your neighbors and your friends."
Chatelain left Ogallala for a copy editing position at the Scottsbluff Star-Herald. His next career move was to the Kearney Hub, where he was managing editor.
After four years at the Hub, Chatelain left to become the publisher at the Columbus Telegram. He returned to Kearney in 1993 as the publisher.
Because Chatelain has worked in small communities his whole career, he said he has been able to develop a way of dealing with the local public that he might not have learned in a metro setting. And it has served him well.
Chatelain was the honored news-editorial alumnus at this year's J Days celebration. Marilyn Hahn, secretary and treasurer for the Journalism Alumni Advisory Board, said Chatelain was an obvious choice for honored alumnus because he had distinguished himself in his profession.
While visiting the college, Chatelain emphasized a journalist's role in the community. He said, "I believe we are going to be successful only if our community is successful."
Chatelain plays an active role in his own community. He is a member of Kearney First Baptist Church and serves as a board member in several local and state organizations.He is a past president of the Nebraska Press Association.
"You have to be very open and honest with what your role is," he said. "That is one of the delicate things about being a community journalist. You are covering people that you see - often."
He said a small town reporter could not cover news from a detached or dispassionate viewpoint that might be appropriate for a journalist at the national level. A reporter at a small town paper is very much part of the community, he said. But a reporter still has a responsibility to report honestly and truthfully.
Chatelain spoke to one class, Mike Stricklin's news-editorial introductory course, on Thursday during his visit to Lincoln. Stricklin said, "Steve has literally done everything in a newspaper. He has broad experience about what it takes to put out a newspaper. He is also in a position to be held accountable, obviously, for what he does."
Stricklin said because Chatelain had done so many things, he could provide students in the intro class with a basis of experience they could really appreciate.
Chatelain told students to be optimistic about the future of journalism. "The skills, the basics, the fundamentals that are behind good journalism will still be in demand 10 years from now, 50 years from now," he said.
