Edward P. Bassett; Headed Top Journalism Schools

Edward P. Bassett, 72, a hands-on journalism educator who chaired schools at five major universities, including USC and Northwestern, and also helped direct newspaper organizations, including the Gannett chain, has died. He was 72.

Bassett, most recently chairman of the University of Washington school of communications, died Thursday at his home in Portland, Ore. He had suffered from liver disease.

Gerald Sass, former executive vice president of the Freedom Forum, which presented Bassett with its top award for the nation’s journalism school administrators, praised Bassett as “one of the most distinguished figures in journalism and mass communications during the last 30 years.”

Bassett presided over the USC school of journalism from 1975 to 1980, a period in which he worked with The Times to develop scholarships, tutoring and a job referral service to bring more minorities into mainstream journalism.

Known for working his way through all the tasks in a daily newspaper, Bassett saw many changes in the newspaper industry throughout his long career, including increasing control by corporate chains and business concerns. But he steadfastly taught what he practiced--insisting that good journalism relied on the principles of honesty, integrity and community.

Bassett left USC to become executive editor of the Gannett-owned Statesman Journal newspaper in Salem, Ore. He held that post until 1984, when he moved to suburban Chicago to head Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.

Bassett was also recruited by Gannett’s leaders as an advisor when the company established its national newspaper, USA Today, launched in December 1981.

Bassett joined Gannett’s board of directors, serving until 1986. During his tenure, he helped decide on several acquisitions of newspapers, including the Louisville Courier-Journal and Times, where he had once worked.

Nationally, Bassett served on the William Allen White Foundation and on a journalism excellence jury for the Knight Ridder chain, and was president of the American Assn. of Schools and Departments of Journalism and the Assn. for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication. He was also advisor to various programs in journalism studies and a member of the national journalism school accrediting council.

Born in Boston and raised in Decatur, Ill., Bassett earned a bachelor’s degree from Washington and Lee University, a master’s degree from the University of Michigan and a doctorate from the University of Iowa.

In addition to USC, Northwestern and Washington, Bassett headed the journalism department of the University of Michigan and was dean of the William Allen White School of Journalism at the University of Kansas. He retired in 1997 after eight years as director of the University of Washington School of Communications.

Bassett is survived by his wife of 47 years, the former Karen Jack; two daughters, Sarah Williams and Laura Bassett; one sister, Caroline Wilkinson, and four grandchildren.