Posted Thursday 21 January 2010
As editor of the Guardian for the past 14 years, Mr Rusbridger led in the development and launch of the Guardian's Weekend section and then its G2 section, both of which quickly established themselves as media industry leaders. He has distinguished himself as an innovator and stout defender of serious journalism, enhancing his newspaper's reputation both at home and abroad and winning many awards along the way.
Mr Rusbridger, one of the longest-serving editors currently in post, said he was proud to pick up his Honorary Doctorate of Letters for services to journalism. "This is recognition of the importance of serious news organisations in a world which, more than ever, needs reliable, verifiable and open sources of information," he said. "News organisations are under threat - from governments, from changing funding models, from technological revolution. Universities play an important role in debating and shaping the future of news - and also in training future generations of journalists."
A former senior economist at the World Bank, Mr Wolf was made Commander of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000 for services to financial journalism and is a published author. He picked up his Honorary Doctorate of Letters from Kingston University for his contribution to the public commentary and analysis of significant events in the economic and financial environment.
Mr Wolf said he was immensely pleased to receive an honorary degree from Kingston University for his lifetime's work. "I feel particularly pleased because it is also recognition of the role of serious journalism at a difficult time for the press," he said. "I am delighted that the Financial Times came through the crisis - both the wider financial and economic situation and the newspaper industry crisis - with flying colours, commercially and editorially." He told graduates: "Journalism, even at its best, is imperfect. There are few of us and many stories to cover. Often we miss things. Often we get too close to our sources. But consider what the world would look like without serious and professional journalism which continues to be the bedrock of democracy. Long may it survive."
Professor Martin McQuillan, Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, said it was a privilege to award honorary degrees to two of the UK's most distinguished journalists. "Both Martin Wolf and Alan Rusbridger have done much to raise the tone of public debate through their acute analysis, professional integrity and dedication to speaking the truth," Professor McQuillan said. "It is often thought that the complexity of academic thought and the needs of journalism are incompatible with one another. However, in reality there is an ever closer tie in today's cultural sphere between quality journalism and the work of the university. As stakeholders in knowledge, both have much to learn from each other. I hope that our graduating students will aspire to the achievements of Rusbridger and Wolf."
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