SOJC honored as one of 10 founding members of ASJMC

ASJMC founding membersStory by Eric Schucht

The UO School of Journalism and Communication will receive an award in recognition of the University of Oregon being one of 10 founding schools of the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication. The award will be presented as part of the ASJMC’s Centennial Celebration at the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication conference.

 

"This award recognizes the University of Oregon's important role in the origin and evolution of journalism education in the United States," said Maryanne Reed, ASJMC president. "As one of the 10 founding schools of the national organization of journalism administrators (now ASJMC), Oregon's journalism program stands out as a leader, both then and now, of quality journalism education that prepares students for careers in the profession and academy."

 

The SOJC's new Associate Dean for Graduate Affairs and Research Seungahn Nah and Associate Dean for Undergraduate Affairs Pat Curtin will accept the award on behalf of the SOJCAug. 11 at the conference in Chicago.

 

“The SOJC journalism program is one of the oldest in the United States and the world,” saidSOJC Edwin L. Artzt Dean Juan-Carlos Molleda. “This recognition ratifies the historical importance and the current contributions of our programs. We have been supporters of our national and international academic organizations and leaders in innovative journalism and communication education. In receiving this acknowledgment, we reaffirm our commitment to maintain our leadership.”

 

The ASJMC has a long history of helping journalism programs as early as the 1900s. Around that time, Willard Bleyer of the University of Wisconsin Madison decided to start an organization to support and encourage journalism faculty. Dean Walter Williams of the University of Missouri, a key supporter of this idea, presented at the first meeting of American Association of Teachers of Journalism in 1912.

 

In 1916, Williams wanted to start an organization of his own with journalism programs that he felt had distinguished themselves as more professional. He contacted administrators from within the AATJ and invited them to join a separate organization of journalism schools. The University of Oregon’s School of Journalism was one of 10 journalism programs that joined. Thus, in 1917, the American Association of Schools and Departments of Journalism was founded.

 

By 1944, schools that were not part of the AASDJ formed the American Society of Journalism School Administrators. Its intended purpose would be to provide a place for journalists to learn from each other and share information and issues. Many schools were members of both organizations. In 1982, the two organization merged to become ASJMC.

 

Today the nonprofit organization is comprised of some 190 journalism and communication programs at the college level and continues to provide resources for schools and administrators.

 

 


 

 

Eric Schucht is a senior pursuing a bachelor's degree in journalism from the SOJC as well as a minor in multimedia and a certificate in film studies. He has worked for the Daily Emerald as a research and sustainability reporter, columnist and videographer. His focus is on electronic media and web-based reporting.