‘Sound Opinions’ co-host to join Medill faculty

Jim DeRogatis will teach on arts, culture

EVANSTON, ILL. -- Jim DeRogatis will join the faculty of the Medill School Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications as a professor of practice this fall.

DeRogatis is the co-host of “Sound Opinions,” a wide-ranging talk show about popular music heard on more than 100 public radio stations and via podcast at soundopinions.org. The show will now originate from Medill.

As a professor of practice, DeRogatis will teach courses focused on criticism of and journalism about arts and culture.

“Jim is a legend in music and arts reporting,” said Medill Dean Charles Whitaker. “We are delighted he will be able to share his insights with Medill students and that we can host the premier music talk show right here on campus.”

DeRogatis has been serving as a professor at Columbia College in Chicago for 15 years. Before that, he spent 15 years as the pop music critic at The Chicago Sun-Times, and continues to cover news and culture as a freelance writer, contributing to various outlets including The New Yorker.

“Vibrant coverage of the arts and culture continue to be a vital window into our times, and I find teaching aspiring critics and journalists energizing and endlessly exciting,” said DeRogatis. “Doing that at Medill will be the honor and privilege of a lifetime.”

DeRogatis is the author of 10 books, among them Soulless: The Case Against R. Kelly; Let It Blurt: The Life and Times of Lester Bangs, America’s Greatest Rock Critic; Staring at Sound: The True Story of Oklahoma’s Fabulous Flaming Lips; and Milk It! Collected Musings on the Alternative Music Explosion of the ‘90s.

“Sound Opinions” is supported by a generous donation from the Walter and Karla Goldschmidt Foundation.