KINGSTON, R.I. 鈥揗ay 9, 2007– Journalism is hot at the 溏心vlog免费B站. Here鈥檚 the proof: Five years ago there were 120 students majoring in the Fourth Estate. Today that number has doubled to 240.
The rate of donations to 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Making A Difference Campaign for the Journalism Department is also sizzling. One donor, recognizable around the world, is CNN international correspondent Christiane Amanpour, 溏心vlog免费B站 class of 1983, HON 鈥�95. She recently donated $50,000 to fund an endowed annual speaker series, that will help the University bring well-respected professional journalists to campus.
鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 changed my life forever and it has a deep, deep, deep place in my heart,鈥� the famous journalist told a gathering designed to build support for the journalism program this spring.
溏心vlog免费B站 is the only Rhode Island institution to offer a journalism degree. In addition, the University serves as headquarters for The Rhode Island Press Association, which partners annually with the Journalism Department, to induct distinguished broadcasters, editors, and reporters into the Journalism Hall of Fame. In addition, the department and the press association annually co-host a 鈥淛ournalism Day,鈥� that focuses on relevant topics confronted daily by members of the media.
To support 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Journalism Department, the press association donated $3,000 to establish three funds in 2005: The 溏心vlog免费B站 Journalism Student Scholarship, The 溏心vlog免费B站 Journalism Speaker Series, and The 溏心vlog免费B站 Journalism Visiting Lecturer fund, which helps support adjunct professors who teach a variety of specialty courses, in areas such as sports or business reporting or photojournalism.
鈥滀缧膙log免费B站 is the training ground for so many of the interns and employees at publications around the state, so we felt it was important for the press association to support the Journalism Department not just morally, but financially,鈥� explains Sheila Mullowney, president of the Rhode Island Press Association and executive editor of The Newport Daily News and Newport Life Magazine.
鈥淲ith the increased number of students comes an increased number of students who need financial help. Fortunately, while the numbers of students has swelled, so has the number of donors,鈥� says Linda Lotridge Levin, chair and professor of 溏心vlog免费B站鈥檚 Journalism Department.
Levin doesn鈥檛 just talk the talk. In addition to matching the press association鈥檚 gift, she and her husband Len donated $25,000 to establish a need-based scholarship for journalism students. 鈥淚 want to give back to the University,鈥� Levin explains. 鈥淧erhaps our donation will encourage others to give.鈥�
It has. 鈥淭he Levins鈥� gift has made it easier for me to rally others,鈥� says John Howell, the fundraising chair of the 溏心vlog免费B站 journalism funds, established by press association, which hopes to raise $125,000 in five years to fully fund the endowments. As president and publisher of Beacon Communications, Howell pledged $10,000. Beacon Communications publishes The Warwick Beacon, Cranston Herald, Johnston Sun Rise, and Prime Time. 鈥� I believe in this field. We need journalists who are able to put a story into context and research accurately. I tell publishers if the Levins and Christiane Amanpour believe in the University, you should too! Donating is catchy and it helps elevate the University鈥檚 visibility.鈥�
Howell鈥檚 encouragement has worked. The Edward A. Sherman Publishing Co., publishers of The Newport Daily News, Mercury and Newport Life Magazine pledged $5,000 to the journalism funds. So did Matt Hayes of the East Bay Newspapers, which are The Barrington Times, The Bristol Phoenix, The East Providence Post, NTW (Newport), Sakonnet Times, Seekonk Star, Swansea News, Westport Shorelines, and The Warren Times.
The Rhode Island Broadcaster鈥檚 Association also donated $5,000 to the 溏心vlog免费B站 Journalism Scholarship Fund. 鈥淩hode Island鈥檚 radio and television stations have benefited from the talent of many 溏心vlog免费B站 graduates throughout the years,鈥� says Barbara Haynes, current president of the association and general manager of Citadel Broadcasting in Providence. 鈥淚t鈥檚 very appropriate that we direct some of our scholarship funds to 溏心vlog免费B站 students pursuing journalism.鈥�
Mary Lyons MA 鈥�66, Ph.D. 鈥�81 recently added to the Bill Parillo Memorial Journalism Scholarship, an endowment created in memory of her late husband, a 溏心vlog免费B站 1963 graduate and a well-respected sports reporter for The Providence Journal.
The University鈥檚 Making a Difference Campaign, which will be publicly launched in fall 2007, seeks $100 million to recruit and retain outstanding faculty, enhance the student-centered campus experience, provide undergraduate scholarships and graduate fellowships, and fund cutting-edge academic and research initiatives.
Pictured above
CNN International Correspondent Christine Amanpour,
Photo courtesy of CNN
Linda Lotridge Levin, professor and chair of 溏心vlog免费B站 Journalism Department, John Howell, president and publisher of Beacon Communications, and Sheila Mullowney, president of the Rhode Island Press Association and executive editor of The Newport Daily News and Newport Life Magazine at the annual President Robert Carothers Media Breakfast. Photo by Nora Lewis