Professors branch out: more writing for popular publications
Mark Hensch
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: News
Hillsdale College professors are expanding their audiences by writing books and articles for various popular publications. Taking their classroom lessons and transferring them into other mediums, Hillsdale faculty members are reaching more people with the message of liberal education than ever before.
"Teaching I like, as it can be done one on one and you can see the light bulbs going on," said Burt Folsom, professor of history and Kline chair. "My articles are a chance to reach people I'll never meet personally. There is an urgent need for what we have here at Hillsdale."
Folsom lists publications like Hillsdale Magazine, American Spectator, The Freeman, The Detroit News, The Wall Street Journal and National Review Online as magazines which have featured his work. In addition, he has published two books, 1987's "The Myth of the Robber Barons" and 2008's "New Deal or Raw Deal?" He said he also maintains a blog at www.burtfolsom.com.
This abundance of work, he said, aims at educating the public about economic issues.
"I teach economic history so a lot of my articles deal with contemporary economics, especially in concern with historical ties," he said. "Anybody interested in constitutional issues should have some understanding of economics. There is so much economic silliness someone needs to write about fiscal responsibility and balancing budgets."
Assistant Professor of Political Science Will Morrisey said he also tries challenging readers' attitudes through writing. An editor and book critic for Interpretation Magazine, he has also published several books since the release of his first in 1983. Throughout his writing career, he said he has seen a marked difference between academic and journalistic publications.
"Academic publishing has a very small audience," he said. "You are addressing an audience which may be a long-term audience. Journalism has more immediate impact. You're trying to persuade people of an issue or opinion."
"Teaching I like, as it can be done one on one and you can see the light bulbs going on," said Burt Folsom, professor of history and Kline chair. "My articles are a chance to reach people I'll never meet personally. There is an urgent need for what we have here at Hillsdale."
Folsom lists publications like Hillsdale Magazine, American Spectator, The Freeman, The Detroit News, The Wall Street Journal and National Review Online as magazines which have featured his work. In addition, he has published two books, 1987's "The Myth of the Robber Barons" and 2008's "New Deal or Raw Deal?" He said he also maintains a blog at www.burtfolsom.com.
This abundance of work, he said, aims at educating the public about economic issues.
"I teach economic history so a lot of my articles deal with contemporary economics, especially in concern with historical ties," he said. "Anybody interested in constitutional issues should have some understanding of economics. There is so much economic silliness someone needs to write about fiscal responsibility and balancing budgets."
Assistant Professor of Political Science Will Morrisey said he also tries challenging readers' attitudes through writing. An editor and book critic for Interpretation Magazine, he has also published several books since the release of his first in 1983. Throughout his writing career, he said he has seen a marked difference between academic and journalistic publications.
"Academic publishing has a very small audience," he said. "You are addressing an audience which may be a long-term audience. Journalism has more immediate impact. You're trying to persuade people of an issue or opinion."
Be the first to comment on this story