Journalism Professor Keeps Job After Endorsing Clinton

By: Carole Simpson, a former ABC news anchor who is now a journalism professor at Emerson College in Boston, is in the hot seat after endorsing Hillary Clinton for president at a Salem political rally.

Simpson said she immediately regretted her actions and offered her resignation the day after the rally last month, but Emerson officials refused to accept it.

"I know I made a mistake. It was definitely the wrong venue for my first foray into free speech," Simpson told the Boston Globe. "But I'd really like to see her win. After being a reporter for so many years, where you wish you could do more than you can, it would be nice to make a difference."

Simpson, 66, is considering an offer from the Clinton campaign to stump for the candidate. Simpson, who is black, was outspoken as a journalist about her belief that the broadcasting industry should hire more women and minorities. She and university officials have agreed she will not teach political journalism courses if she campaigns for Clinton.

Simpson did not immediately return a call from the Associated Press yesterday. A message was left at Emerson for her.

Clinton quickly issued a press release on Simpson's endorsement, and conservative bloggers have seized on it as proof of liberal bias in the news media.

Simpson's endorsement came when she took her 14-student journalism class, named Road to the White House, to the rally to show students how to cover a political event.

As Clinton was fielding questions from the audience, Simpson tried several times to get her attention in the crowded room. When she finally caught Clinton's eye, she gave an impromptu endorsement.

"I want to tell you tonight, because I happen to be here with my students, that I endorse you for president of the United States," she said. "It's very freeing now that I'm not a journalist and I can speak my mind, and I wanted you to know I think you are the woman, and I think this is the time."

Simpson began teaching at Emerson last year after leaving ABC, where she anchored ABC World News Tonight Sunday from 1988 to 2003.

Jerry Lanson, an Emerson journalism professor who co-teaches the course with Simpson, said he immediately told Simpson her remarks were inappropriate.