Presented by the Povich Journalism Program
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KAREN HELLER is a columnist for the Philadelphia Inquirer, where she has been a staff writer since 1986. Her column, which appears on page A2 Wednesday and Sunday, is known for its arch and incisive analysis. She frequently reports on the circus that passes for Pennsylvania politics, the ongoing fiscal crisis in the city and region, and the consequences of diminishing funding for social programs. Prior to becoming a columnist, Heller reported on politics, popular culture and social issues, while contributing many profiles of celebrities and the unsung. Her articles have appeared in several national magazines, including Gentlemans Quarterly, American Photo, Self, Mademoiselle, and Vogue. Born and raised in Washington, D.C., she graduated from the University of Chicago with a degree in history, a decision that may have seemed foolhardy at the time but turned out to be of considerable use in her career. Heller has won national, national, state and local awards in criticism, feature writing and investigative reporting, and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in commentary. In this lunch talk, Heller began with a few "inspirational quotes" that illustrated some of the more trying aspects of modern journalism, a common theme throughout the conversation - tidbits about mean readers, angry government officials, and poor business practices were in no short supply. Nevertheless, Heller was quick to encourage young journalists, asserting that "the queasiest times" are behind us, and detailed the perks of her job, including "getting paid to be nosy" (asking Brian Wilson about his medications) and tackling big issues (literacy and poverty in Philadelphia). During a question and answer session Heller touched upon "empathy overload," her daughter's texting overages, Occupy, CNN's shortcomings, and getting paid, and even addressed a sincerely grumpy audience critic.
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