Remembering Gary Hanson
Gary Hanson, beloved emeritus professor in the School of Journalism and Mass Communication (JMC) at Kent State University, died on May 18, almost seven years after being diagnosed with cancer. Gary retired from Kent State in 2016 and was a favorite of students and alumni during his 18-year tenure in JMC. He taught Broadcast Beat Reporting – a make-it-or-break-it class for broadcast journalism majors that he fondly called, “the class you came to Kent State to take” – Reporting Public Affairs; Media, Power and Culture; and more.
He cherished the time he spent with students inside and outside of the classroom. As adviser of TV2, the student-run television station, from 1999 to 2008 and from 2015 until his retirement, he spent many late nights working with students in the newsroom, editing suites, studio and control room, as he molded them into professionals.