Top editors from the nations largest newspaper and one of the largest newspaper groups will present hands-on and interactive student-centered seminars to West Virginia University Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism students Sept. 16-18.

The former executive editor of USA Today and a current top editor from the paper as well as Gannett editors from Huntington and Michigan will visit the school for the first USA Today/Gannett Days.

“This three-day visit from USA Today and Gannett represents an extraordinary opportunity for students and for faculty. In the wake of Sept. 11, journalism has never been more important, and it has never been more important to train young journalists to do their jobs well,”Dean Christine Martin said.

Ed Dawson, executive editor for The Herald-Dispatch in Huntington, will speak to students at noon Sept. 16 in Room 205, Martin Hall, about”Best Management Practices: What To Look for in A Great Editor.”

Dawson joined The Herald-Dispatch in 2001. He previously had served as executive editor of the opinion page in Chambersburg, Pa.; as managing editor of the Asheville (N.C.) Citizen-Times; and in various other editing and reporting positions at the Greenville (S.C.) News-Piedmont, the Augusta (Ga.) Chronicle-Herald and the Chester (S.C.) News and Reporter.

Dawson, 53, has a bachelors degree from PresbyterianCollege and a masters degree from the University of South Carolina.

Robert A. Dubill, the former executive editor of USA Today, the nation’s largest daily newspaper, will discuss”Libel Law, Invasion of Privacy and Todays Media.”Dubill will speak at 2 p.m. Sept. 16 in Room 205, Martin Hall.

Dubill began his journalism career with The Associated Press. He worked first as statehouse correspondent in Trenton, N.J., and then became bureau chief of AP’s New Jersey operation. He was then named executive editor of the Courier-Post in Cherry Hill, N.J., before being named executive editor of Gannett News Service in Washington, D.C.

While under his direction, GNS won two dozen national awards for journalistic enterprise. In 1980 the news service won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for its investigation of financial improprieties committed by the Pauline Fathers, a small order of monks in eastern Pennsylvania. No other news service has earned the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.

Dubill was then assigned to USA Today in 1982 as a loaner from Gannett News Service. He became national editor, then managing editor of news and finally senior editor at the nation’s newspaper. The newspaper promoted him to executive editor in 1995.

He played a major role in USA Todays coverage of education, and has quarterbacked USA Todays academic excellence programsthe”All-USA”Academic Teams: For High School, Community College and College levelsand was instrumental in the development of the”All-USA”Teacher Team.

Dubill is also an attorney and a member of the New Jersey and District of Columbia bar associations. He attended the evening division of SetonHallUniversityLawSchool while working for AP.

Michael McCullough, executive editor of the Battle Creek (Mich.) Enquirer since 2001, will discuss”What To Know When Starting Out: A Guide for Your First Newsroom Job.”McCullough will speak to students at noon on Sept. 17 in Room 205, Martin Hall.

The executive editor began his career in 1987 at The Press of Atlantic City, N.J. He was a reporter there for three years before moving to the copy desk. McCullough was a copy editor in Norwich and Stamford, Conn., before becoming executive news editor at The Advocate in 1996. The 1988 WVU alumnus joined the Enquirer as managing editor in 1998.

McCullough earned a bachelor’s degree from WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism and has attended the Poynter Institute. A Robert R. McCormick Foundation fellow, he attended the Maynard Institute’s ManagementTrainingCenter at NorthwesternUniversity in August 2000.

Bob Barbrow, the new technology/support editor for USA Today, will present”Building A News Team.”He will give students real-life scenarios and ask them to assemble a group of reporters, photographers and editors to cover news events like the Afghanistan conflict.

The seminar will be held at noon Sept. 18 in Room 205, Martin Hall. Barbrow now is assigned the task of exploring, testing, managing, teaching and supporting all newsroom technology.

Barbrow joined the sports department at USA Today in July 1982. His jobs have included agate editor, night editor, operations editor and sports technology editor.

His journalism career began at the Gannett Westchester Newspapers in 1974 following his 1973 graduation from the WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.