Gary Heller
Adjunct Faculty in Communications
Contact Information
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Email Addressheller@susqu.edu
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Phone Number570-372-4418
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Office LocationApfelbaum Hall - Rm 131
I’m an award-winning journalist and page designer who has been teaching Introduction to Journalism part-time at Susquehanna for 24 years and enjoying every minute of it.
The students are great. The facilities are first-rate. The setting is beautiful, and there are many opportunities to learn as well as teach.
In addition, small class sizes provide ample opportunities for individual instruction.
As a journalist with 40 years of experience, I have studied the workings of many institutions. I can’t think of one that functions as well as the university.
During my career at The Daily Item, the primary newspaper in the region, I have won state awards for a series about the sexual abuse of children and have shared honors for designing prize-winning photo pages. I also have shared several national honors for front page headlines and design.
While most of my reporting focused on politics, government, crime and courts, a car review that I wrote in 2005 has garnered a lot of recent attention. That review, written about the Chevrolet Cobalt, was apparently the first to mention ignition problems that led to unplanned engine shutdowns, a flaw that is being blamed for more than 20 deaths. All or parts of that review have been reproduced in The New York Times, Automotive News, Bloomberg and a number of other publications.
Professional recognition is gratifying, but even more pleasing is seeing the success of former students in journalism and other endeavors. And, at Susquehanna, that happens frequently. I feel fortunate to have this opportunity.
- COMM-131: Introduction to Journalism
About Me
I’m an award-winning journalist and page designer who has been teaching Introduction to Journalism part-time at Susquehanna for 24 years and enjoying every minute of it.
The students are great. The facilities are first-rate. The setting is beautiful, and there are many opportunities to learn as well as teach.
In addition, small class sizes provide ample opportunities for individual instruction.
As a journalist with 40 years of experience, I have studied the workings of many institutions. I can’t think of one that functions as well as the university.
During my career at The Daily Item, the primary newspaper in the region, I have won state awards for a series about the sexual abuse of children and have shared honors for designing prize-winning photo pages. I also have shared several national honors for front page headlines and design.
While most of my reporting focused on politics, government, crime and courts, a car review that I wrote in 2005 has garnered a lot of recent attention. That review, written about the Chevrolet Cobalt, was apparently the first to mention ignition problems that led to unplanned engine shutdowns, a flaw that is being blamed for more than 20 deaths. All or parts of that review have been reproduced in The New York Times, Automotive News, Bloomberg and a number of other publications.
Professional recognition is gratifying, but even more pleasing is seeing the success of former students in journalism and other endeavors. And, at Susquehanna, that happens frequently. I feel fortunate to have this opportunity.