Former WHAS-TV newsman Mark Hebert was considered the top investigative reporter in the state before he joined the University of Louisville staff a couple of years ago. He was, in fact, feared by many politicians.
Given the seriousness of the subjects he dealt with, it was amusing to observe him standing in line for popcorn at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium, sitting high in the bleachers at a U of L baseball game, or standing on his toes to catch the action at Freedom Hall.
Hebert could have used his media credentials and enjoyed front row seats and free food like many of his media colleagues. But I think he enjoyed attending the games as a common fan. He didn’t want to be on press row pretending to be neutral. He wanted to enjoy the fan experience, have some fun, get involved emotionally with his teams.
U of L is fortunate to have him as Director of Communications and Marketing. He remains objective and professional in his approach, recognizing the university has many challenges. A year ago I noticed that U of L was no longer listed as a Tier Three university in the annual ratings provided by U. S. News & World Report, thinking Louisville had improved its standing. Hebert quickly corrected me, indicating that the magazine had changed its rating system and that U of L had actually lost ground.
Ask a question, he provides straight answers. Need info, no problem. Quick turnarounds, too, responding to e-mails on weekends. And when Hebert develops a report showing how far the University has advanced in so many areas in recent years, he brings a lot of credibility, as in this video produced several months ago: