New journalism program: Better late than never
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For the News Record's 100th anniversary last year, former editor Mary Linn DeBeck White visited the News Record's high-tech office in Swift Hall with media adviser Al Salvato. "The entire setup now is idyllic," she said, remembering her days as editor in '44 (pictured seated below). [Editor's note: Veteran journalist Salvato, once a runner-up for a Pulitzer Prize, died unexpectedly in February 2006 after advising the UC paper for five years.] |
"I've heard recruiters say that Cincinnati is not a recognized name in journalism," says current News Record editor-in-chief Julie Hollyday. "I want to graduate with that journalism degree. I'm staying no matter what it costs or how long it takes."
In 1972, Jon Hughes began teaching journalism courses at UC and soon began working to establish a writing-certificate program -- one good enough to launch the career of alumni such as Pulitzer Prize finalist Glenn Gamboa, A&S '89. "I'm a firm believer," Gamboa says, "that the education I got in the journalism-certificate program was as good as I could have gotten at a J-school. Jon is an amazing teacher."
On the other hand, Gamboa admits he never would have come to UC if he had aspired to become a writer. An engineering scholarship brought him here, and his first engineering co-op turned him around. It wasn't that he didn't like the job, but his evening job with a Cleveland magazine was so much better. Had he foreseen the future, he would have gone elsewhere, he confesses.
For 30 years, professor Hughes, now UC's journalism director, had periodically pushed for a journalism program. Yet response to its long-awaited arrival surprised even him. By spring quarter, approximately 100 students had entered the program, and that was without an incoming freshman class having had the option to declare it as a major because the state had approved it too late.
"The majority are transferring from other majors, coming from interdisciplinary programs or undecided," Hughes says. "We have no idea what will happen this fall."
The portfolio-based program, part of the English department, is interdisciplinary, giving students the opportunity to take courses from communications, electronic media and fine-arts photography. The BA requires a minor, two internships and two capstone courses, Hughes says.
Journalist Mary Linn DeBeck White, A&S '44, is jealous. "Frankly, I envy every student who will be privileged to come into the new journalism program. I wish I could be born again."
-- D. Rieselman
