History of the Missouri School of Journalism
Journalism class, ca. 1913
The School of Journalism has the distinction of being the first journalism school in the world. It opened its doors on Sept. 14, 1908. And, students went to work right away. The first day's class prepared the first issue of the University Missourian newspaper, later renamed the Columbia Missourian.
There was intense opposition across the nation to the development of journalism curriculum within any university. Opposing forces argued that journalism could not be taught in an academic setting. Successful newspapermen required talent and a long apprenticeship under conditions that could not be matched in any university hall. The Missouri state Senate defeated a bill in 1895 that requested that a chair of journalism be established at the University. The Senate also disallowed the University to grant degrees in journalism. The Missouri Press Association threw its support to the idea in 1896. A chair was once again requested by the Curators. However, no funds were granted.
Walter Williams, the editor of the Columbia Missouri Herald, and a University Curator influenced opinion to establish the School. Ten years passed before the proposal was commonly accepted. Walter Williams was named the first dean. In the midst of the Depression in 1930, the Board of Curators chose Williams to lead the university through the economic crisis. Williams had turned down an offer of the presidency in 1921, but this time he could not refuse. He remained president until his death in 1935.
Lee Hills Hall
In May 1910, the School held the first annual Journalism Week celebration. Several nationally well-known and successful news media professionals and faculty lectured throughout the week in an open forum. In 1930 the first Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism was awarded. Since then more than 500 outstanding journalists and leading journalism organizations have received one of the industry's highest and most prestigious awards.
The first journalism building was built in 1919 from funds donated by Ward A. Neff in honor of his father, Jay H. Neff. Today, the School of Journalism encompasses five, soon to be seven, buildings. They are Neff, Neff Annex, Walter Williams, Gannett and Lee Hills Halls. The complex will include two more buildings when the Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute is completed in late 2007. The Institute will focus on advanced studies of journalism and its role in democratic societies. The Donald W. Reynolds Foundation awarded the Missouri School of Journalism $31 million for the creation of the Institute in February 2004, the largest private donation ever to the University of Missouri.
A broadcast student adjusts
a television camera at KOMU,
ca. 1954.
Originally, studies focused predominately on editorial writing and news management for newspapers. In 1936, the School offered the first course in radio broadcasting in cooperation with KFRU, the local studio for the St. Louis Star-Times. Radio journalism is now taught in conjunction with KBIA, the local NPR-affiliate station. In 1953, the School began television broadcasting training with KOMU-TV, the first and only commercial affiliate television station used as a training lab for students. The School also offers emphases in photojournalism, magazine journalism, strategic communication and convergence journalism, the most recent emphasis established in 2005. Students in these areas receive practical training by working for VOX magazine, an arts and culture city weekly; Mojo Ad, a student-staffed advertising and public relations agency; Adelante, a Spanish-bilingual publication; MyMissourian, an online citizen journalism forum; IPI Global Journalist, an international magazine; and the Missouri Digital News, a state government reporting program.
Myths, Legends and Traditions
The University of Missouri presented the world with the first ever School of Journalism, and has maintained recognition as one of the top journalism schools ever since.
Years ago, two students were under the J-School archway, bragging about having cheated on an exam. The dean of the school heard from his office above and failed both students. Legend has it now that when walking under the archway, students should always speak in a whisper. If they don’t, they risk failing their next exam!
