Shipman, Marlin 1946-

views updated

SHIPMAN, Marlin 1946-

PERSONAL: Born August 29, 1946, in Memphis, TN; son of John and Mary (Wellman) Shipman; married August 24, 1968; wife's name, Donna (a teacher); children: Sarah. Ethnicity: "White/European." Education: Arkansas State University, B.S., 1968; Pennsylvania State University, M.A., 1980; University of Missouri at Columbia, Ph.D., 1988. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Presbyterian.

ADDRESSES: Home—2607 Greenbriar, Jonesboro, AR 72401. Office—Department of Journalism, Arkansas State University, State University, AR 72467. E-mail—[email protected].

CAREER: Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, professor of journalism, 1981–. Also worked as a newspaper journalist.

AWARDS, HONORS: Award for outstanding research about journalism, Sigma Delta Chi: Society of Professional Journalists, 2002, for "The Penalty Is Death": U.S. Newspaper Coverage of Women's Executions.

WRITINGS:

"The Penalty Is Death": U.S. Newspaper Coverage of Women's Executions, University of Missouri Press (Columbia, MO), 2002.

Contributor to periodicals.

WORK IN PROGRESS: Research on the press and capital punishment.

SIDELIGHTS: Marlin Shipman told CA: "I love the process of putting words on paper, playing with the words. I also love the research, especially reading old newspaper stories and then trying to transform them into contemporary stories. I don't know if anyone has influenced my work, although I am fond of Mark Twain, and I also read a lot of history.

"My writing process seems to me to be tedious. I am not one who can pour out words in rapid fire. I put them on paper, then have to ponder what I have written, and then rewrite. It is a lengthy process.

"I was inspired to write on the subject of the press and capital punishment because my entire working life has been devoted to working for newspapers or teaching about the press. I was drawn to the press and capital punishment because I am intrigued by social issues and how the press reports on them. Capital punishment has many facets, and the press, I believe, plays an important role in the debate."