White House veteran to support teen journalists

Thursday, Jan. 11, 2001 | 10:28 a.m.

For six decades -- 40 of those years from the White House -- the name Helen Thomas has stood for excellence in newspaper reporting.

The woman who has carried the baton of good journalism for so long will come to Las Vegas this week to speak to supporters of high school students who hope to one day carry on her tradition of fair and accurate reporting.

Thomas, who retired last year from United Press International and today is a Washington columnist for Hearst Newspapers, is speaking Friday at Mandalay Bay at "An Evening with Class!" -- a $200-a-plate fund-raiser for the CLASS! monthly newspaper that features stories written by local high school students.

"All I can tell the students is go for it -- read newspapers daily and get a leg up on history, for you will be living that history and writing its first draft," Thomas said.

"A reporter should always maintain a level of skepticism, but not cynicism. Fairness is the most important thing in journalism, and accuracy is more important than being first. And a touch of compassion also is important."

Thomas, still going strong as she enters her octogenarian years, said in a telephone interview that being a reporter is "a fine way to be educated every day. You can love the work and never regret making it your career."

Thomas said she will share some of her anecdotes of covering the presidency since 1960, when John Kennedy was president, and how things have changed -- and not always for the better.

"I definitely miss the access (to the president)," Thomas said. "We used to be able to talk to the president and walk with him on the south lawn (of the White House). But it's a different world today, and security around him is a lot tighter. That definitely has made the job more difficult."

As for the recent presidential election, muddled in recounts and court proceedings, she said, "It's a real crisis in terms of elections. I think maybe it would be better to go back to the old paper and pencil (ballots). I'm teasing, of course, but technology blew it this time. There is a need for a better format."

Thomas pioneered equal treatment for women journalists and served as the first female president of the White House Correspondents Association. For many years she has been a familiar face in the crowd when cameras panned the first rows of senior reporters at White House news conferences.

The nonprofit CLASS! organization hosts a journalism workshop in the fall and presents awards to student reporters in the spring.

A question and answer session will follow Thomas' speech.