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Jill Geisler

Bill Plante Chair in Leadership and Media Integrity

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.

Education

Master of Arts in Leadership and Liberal Studies from Duquesne University, Pittsburgh

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Madison

Research Interests

  • Business and Interpersonal Communication Skills
  • Change Management
  • Diversity
  • Editing
  • Ethics
  • Leadership
  • Management
  • Organizational Development
  • Staff Development
  • Women in Leadership
  • Writing

Professional/Community Affiliations

  • Journalism & Women Symposium, Advisory Board Member
  • Radio-TV Digital News Association, Member (recipient of the Oldfield Award for service)
  • American Society of News Editors Minority Leadership Institute, Lead Trainer and Advisor
  • Various Journalism and Media Conferences, Regular Presenter

Courses Taught

Master Class for Media Managers

Publications/Research Listings

Here’s the organized version:

BOOKS

  • Work Happy: What Great Bosses Know – Center Street, 2012 (paperback release in 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” – Coming soon to iTunesU
  • “What Great Bosses Know” – 145 podcasts with 13+ million downloads on iTunesU

Awards

  • Knights of the Golden Quill (2018)
  • Milwaukee Media Hall of Fame (2012)
  • Radio Television Digital News Association (RTDNA) Oldfield Award
  • Silver Circle of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences
  • Wisconsin Broadcasters Association (WBA) Hall of Fame
  • Recognized for her work in writing, editing, and service to both her community and the journalism profession.