FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 10, 2001 CONTACT: Lisa Lacher, (515) 271-3119 LYTLE APPOINTED INTERIM DEAN OF DRAKE JOURNALISM SCHOOL John W. Lytle, professor of journalism and mass communication at Drake University, has been appointed interim dean of Drake's School of Journalism and Mass Communication, effective July 1. He will succeed Janet Keefer, who recently resigned after seven years as dean to return to the faculty as of June 30. In announcing the appointment, Drake Provost Ron Troyer said, "John Lytle enjoys the strong support and respect of the School of Journalism faculty members. Students, alumni and colleagues admire his fairness, high standards, integrity and thoughtfulness. John has served the University exceptionally well in a variety of roles. I am confident he is the person to lead the School of Journalism during this time of change." After he becomes interim dean, Lytle will appoint an associate dean of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication to succeed Henry Milam, who plans to retire and move to Texas at the end of the summer. Lytle joined the Drake faculty in 1977 as an assistant professor and coordinator of the broadcast news sequence after teaching journalism at South Dakota State University. He was promoted to tenured associate professor in 1982 and professor in 1990. In addition to his Drake activities, Lytle has served four terms as director of the Iowa Broadcast News Association and is active in the Radio-Television News Directors Association. Prior to his academic career, Lytle was a reporter, assignment editor and assistant news director at KTIV-TV in Sioux City. He previously served as news director at KMNS in Sioux City. He also has had broadcast experience with the Extension Service of Pennsylvania State University, the Armed Forces Network in Germany and several Iowa radio stations: KNIA in Knoxville as well as KASI and the WOI group in Ames. Lytle received his bachelor's degree in telecommunicative arts and his master's degree in journalism-mass communication from Iowa State University. At Drake, Lytle serves as a member of the Faculty Senate Budget and Business Affairs Committee and as the adviser of the Drake chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists. He is also a member of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication's Promotion and Tenure Committee. His classes include a capstone course in broadcast news in which students produce "DrakeLINE," a series of live, 15-minute programs for cable television in the Des Moines area. This course challenges the students to pull together all they have learned in the broadcast sequence and their classes throughout the University. The students run the show, gaining experience that makes them in demand as interns and helps them obtain professional positions once they graduate.