Michael Gartner
Encyclopedia
Michael Gartner is an American
journalist
and businessman. He was President of the Iowa Board of Regents. He is a graduate of Carleton College
and the New York University
School of Law.
His long career in journalism began in the sports department of the Des Moines Register
at the age of 15. Eventually, he became page one editor of The Wall Street Journal
(1960–1974), editor and president of the Des Moines Register (1974–1985), general news executive of the Gannett Company and USA Today
(1985–1986), editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal (1986–1987) -- during which time he served as president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors
-- and president of NBC News
(1988–1993).
He resigned from NBC in 1993 as a result of controversy over the show "Dateline NBC." The show reported on dangers of GM pickup trucks, but did not state that it had staged the explosion of a truck for broadcast. Years later Gartner said, "It happened on my watch. I took responsibility for it. I did what I thought you ought to do when you make a mistake. You say 'we made a mistake' and apologize to the viewers." (Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 23, 2005.)
As chairman and editor of The Daily Tribune in Ames, Iowa
, from 1993 to 1999, Gartner won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
for his editorials about community issues. He has also been a columnist for the op-ed
pages of The Wall Street Journal and of USA Today.
Gartner chaired the Vision Iowa fund, which provided communities money to fund projects such as the Iowa Events Center
in Des Moines, from 2000 to 2005. In May 2005, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack
named him president of the Iowa Board of Regents, which oversees the state's three public universities (the University of Iowa
, Iowa State University
, and the University of Northern Iowa
). Gartner is also chairman of Raccoon Baseball, Inc., which has owned the Iowa Cubs
baseball
team since 1999, and is co-owner of Big Green Umbrella Media, which publishes the Cityview
alternative weekly
newspaper in Des Moines.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and businessman. He was President of the Iowa Board of Regents. He is a graduate of Carleton College
Carleton College
Carleton College is an independent non-sectarian, coeducational, liberal arts college in Northfield, Minnesota, USA. The college enrolls 1,958 undergraduate students, and employs 198 full-time faculty members. In 2012 U.S...
and the New York University
New York University
New York University is a private, nonsectarian research university based in New York City. NYU's main campus is situated in the Greenwich Village section of Manhattan...
School of Law.
His long career in journalism began in the sports department of the Des Moines Register
Des Moines Register
The Des Moines Register is the daily morning newspaper of Des Moines, Iowa, in the United States. A separate edition of the Register is sold throughout much of Iowa.-History:...
at the age of 15. Eventually, he became page one editor of The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
(1960–1974), editor and president of the Des Moines Register (1974–1985), general news executive of the Gannett Company and USA Today
USA Today
USA Today is a national American daily newspaper published by the Gannett Company. It was founded by Al Neuharth. The newspaper vies with The Wall Street Journal for the position of having the widest circulation of any newspaper in the United States, something it previously held since 2003...
(1985–1986), editor of the Louisville Courier-Journal (1986–1987) -- during which time he served as president of the American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
-- and president of NBC News
NBC News
NBC News is the news division of American television network NBC. It first started broadcasting in February 21, 1940. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is...
(1988–1993).
He resigned from NBC in 1993 as a result of controversy over the show "Dateline NBC." The show reported on dangers of GM pickup trucks, but did not state that it had staged the explosion of a truck for broadcast. Years later Gartner said, "It happened on my watch. I took responsibility for it. I did what I thought you ought to do when you make a mistake. You say 'we made a mistake' and apologize to the viewers." (Iowa City Press-Citizen, April 23, 2005.)
As chairman and editor of The Daily Tribune in Ames, Iowa
Ames, Iowa
Ames is a city located in the central part of the U.S. state of Iowa in Story County, and approximately north of Des Moines. The U.S. Census Bureau designates that Ames, Iowa metropolitan statistical area as encompassing all of Story County, and which, when combined with the Boone, Iowa...
, from 1993 to 1999, Gartner won the Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing
The Pulitzer Prize for Editorial Writing has been awarded since 1917 for distinguished editorial writing, the test of excellence being clearness of style, moral purpose, sound reasoning, and power to influence public opinion in what the writer conceives to be the right direction...
for his editorials about community issues. He has also been a columnist for the op-ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
pages of The Wall Street Journal and of USA Today.
Gartner chaired the Vision Iowa fund, which provided communities money to fund projects such as the Iowa Events Center
Iowa Events Center
The Iowa Events Center is a public events complex located in downtown Des Moines, Iowa.-Overview:The Iowa Events Center consists of the existing Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the existing Polk County Convention Complex, the new Hy-Vee Hall, and the new Wells Fargo Arena...
in Des Moines, from 2000 to 2005. In May 2005, Iowa Gov. Tom Vilsack
Tom Vilsack
Thomas James "Tom" Vilsack is an American politician, a member of the Democratic Party, and presently the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. He served as the 40th Governor of the state of Iowa. He was first elected in 1998 and re-elected to a second four-year term in 2002...
named him president of the Iowa Board of Regents, which oversees the state's three public universities (the University of Iowa
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa is a public state-supported research university located in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. It is the oldest public university in the state. The university is organized into eleven colleges granting undergraduate, graduate, and professional degrees...
, Iowa State University
Iowa State University
Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University , is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Iowa State has produced astronauts, scientists, and Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners, along with a host of...
, and the University of Northern Iowa
University of Northern Iowa
The University of Northern Iowa is a college located in Cedar Falls, Iowa, United States. UNI offers more than 120 majors across the colleges of Business Administration, Education, Humanities and Fine Arts, Natural Sciences, and Social and Behavioral sciences, and graduate college.UNI has...
). Gartner is also chairman of Raccoon Baseball, Inc., which has owned the Iowa Cubs
Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
team since 1999, and is co-owner of Big Green Umbrella Media, which publishes the Cityview
Cityview
Cityview is a publication of Big Green Umbrella Media, Inc., an Iowa company owned by Shane Goodman and Michael Gartner. The company also publishes Iowa Living magazines, a group of 18 monthly lifestyle magazines in the Iowa communities of Johnston, Urbandale, Adel, West Des Moines, Clive, Norwalk,...
alternative weekly
Alternative weekly
An alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper, that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Their news coverage is more...
newspaper in Des Moines.