M. Lyle (Matthew Lyle) Spencer

Born in 1881 and dying in 1969, Matthew Lyle Spencer was an American minister, writer, and educator whose career bridged religion, literature, and journalism. He is remembered not only as an author but also as a university leader, serving as president of the University of Washington and later becoming the founding dean of Syracuse University's School of Journalism.

As a writer, Spencer published under the name M. Lyle Spencer. His best-known surviving title is News Writing: The Gathering, Handling and Writing of News Stories, a clear, practical guide that shows his interest in teaching the craft of reporting rather than simply talking about it in theory.

That mix of public service and hands-on instruction gives his work a grounded feel even now. For listeners and readers coming to him through older nonfiction, he stands out as a figure who helped shape journalism education in the first half of the twentieth century.