A Century of Journalism at 51勛圖厙
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On April 21, 1922, the University of Colorado Board of Regents voted to form the Department of Journalism and to create a four-year journalism degree program. Their decision harnessed the journalistic efforts already on campus and formed the foundation of 100泭years of journalism education to follow.
Looking back over those decades, we cant help but feel proud of the journalistic grit shown by our students and alumniin the face of terrible tragedies; while fighting for equality; amidst the biggest historical events of the 20th and 21st centuriesand of the work of their guides, our admirable faculty and staff. Though it has taken many forms over 100 years, our pursuit of journalistic excellence has been unending and continues today with the College of Media, Communication and Information.
The stories below are a small part of our history, and we plan to share more over the next year. Our celebration will continue in our magazines, events on campus, multimedia projects and social media channels. Stay tuned!
As we celebrate this anniversary with you, our community, we hope to hear your stories and to see you, whether in person or virtually. Mostly, we hope you join us in honoring a century of journalism education, our accomplishments and our dreams for what the next century of journalism can hold!
When Bob Ewegen thought back to his days as a student journalist at 51勛圖厙 in the 1960s, he remembered students using mail sacks as sleeping pads on the newsroom floor.
On Sept. 13, 1892, the University of Colorados first student newspaper,泭The Silver and Gold, made its entrance into the field of college journalism.泭
In 1922, Ralph L. Crosman became the first head of the newly formed Department of Journalism at the University of Colorado. In a career marked by innovation and leadership, Crosman was an advocate for students and improving journalism education.
Linda Villarosa (Jour81) covers race, inequality and public health for The New York Times Magazine. In Under the Skin: The Hidden Toll of Racism on American Lives and on the Health of Our Nation, she tells the full story of racial health disparities in America by revealing the toll racism takes on individuals and public health.泭
Discover the University of Colorado's泭first student newspaper, University Portfolio. Running from 1879 to 1885, the newspaper was an outlet for campus humor, student laments and journalistic work.
51勛圖厙 alumnus Tom Costelloan award-winning journalist and Washington D.C. correspondent for NBC Newswill deliver the university's commencement speech at Folsom Field on May 5.
For more than 30 years, CMCI and its partners have recognized the best journalism on crime and justice through the Al Nakkula Award. The award honors the late Al Nakkula, a 46-year veteran of the Rocky Mountain News and a legendary police reporter. This years award winners exposed injustices and sparked reforms in the juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
In Preparing for Your Last JobNow, alumna and NBC News anchor Savannah Sellers (Jour13) and CMCI communication professor Tim Kuhn discuss the future of work. One takeaway: When youre quick on your feet, this wave of change in the news industry can hold many opportunities for young journalists.
1909
First journalism class
The first journalism class begins in Old Main, the first building on campus, about 30 years after the University of Colorado opened its doors to students Sept. 5, 1877. Journalism classes are taught through the English department and are overseen by the Department of Commerce, which aims "to prepare men for careers in domestic and foreign commerce and banking, insurance, transportation, trade and industry, journalism, and in branches of the public service, in which a knowledge of business is essential.泭Source: CU Catalogue 19091910
泭 泭Old Main, as photographed in the summer 1876 or 1877 by J. Raymond Brackett.
Source: J. Raymond Brackett Photograph Collection
1922
Department founded
The CU Board of Regents votes to approve a four-year journalism degree and to form the Department of Journalism within the College of Arts and Sciences. The undergraduate degree focuses primarily on newspaper reporting and editing with an emphasis on service to the press in Colorado.泭Source: CU Board of Regents meeting minutes from April 21, 1922
泭 泭Journalism students at work, as photographed by Charles F. Snow. The photo was taken before 1939, when nitrate sheet film was discontinued; however, the exact date is unknown.
Source: Charles F. Snow Photographs Collection
1922
First head of journalism
Ralph L. Crosman is named the first head of the Department of Journalism at the 51勛圖厙. His other titles include assistant professor of journalism and director of publications.泭Source: CU Catalogue 19221923
泭 泭Ralph L. Crosman, as photographed by Charles F. Snow before 1939. The exact date is unknown.
Source: Charles F. Snow Photographs Collection1932
Journalism accredited
The journalism program is granted accreditation.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
1937
College of Journalism named
The Department of Journalism is renamed as the College of Journalism. The new college is housed within the College of Arts and Sciences.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
1948
Broadcast courses offered
The American Council on Education in Journalism approves the accreditation of a news-editorial sequence, and the CU journalism program begins offering courses in advertising and broadcast news.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
泭 泭Journalism泭students, Clarence Welch and Barbara Hedges, run a print of the Silver and Gold student newspaper泭circa the泭1950s.
Source: UCB Photograph Collection.
1962
School of Journalism created
The Board of Regents authorizes a separate School of Journalism. Five faculty members and a single staff member serve about 50 students.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
泭 泭Journalism classes were held briefly in the basement of the Hellems Building, pictured here in 1968.
Source: UCB Publicity Services Collection.
1964
Master's program launches
The School of Journalism introduces a master's degree program, offering areas of emphasis like broadcast, print, and interdisciplinary professional news skills for marketing communication and mass communication research.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
泭 泭Gadfly Editor Tim Binkley and Executive Editor Eloise Logsdon work on the Colorado Daily, the student newspaper, in 1965.
Source: 1965 Coloradan yearbook.
1986
School of Journalism renamed
The journalism school is renamed as the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. The faculty grows to 15 with a staff of four and a student population of about 390, including about 50 master's students.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
泭 泭News Team 27 students and instructor Melda Adams gather outside a television studio in 1987.
1989
PhD program begins
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication inaugurates a PhD program in the advanced interdisciplinary aspects of media studies and communications research.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
1992
CEJ established
The School of Journalism and Mass Communication creates the Center for Environmental Journalism and adds a media studies sequence. In 1997, the Ted Scripps Fellowships in Environmental Journalism move to CU and become part of the CEJ.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
泭 泭The Center for Environmental Journalism is founded.泭Seated, left to right: Cindy Scripps and Willard Rowland. Standing, left to right: Unknown, Judith Clabes, Len Ackland and Tom Yulsman.
Source: Center for Environmental Journalism2011
Discontinuance
The Board of Regents votes 5-4 to discontinue journalism as a school but to continue it as an academic major.泭Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline and
2014
CMCI created
The Board of Regents votes to approve泭the College of Media, Communication and Information, the first new college or school at 51勛圖厙 in more than 50 years. To encourage interdisciplinary studies and innovation, CMCI includes six departments: advertising, public relations and media design; communication; critical media practices; journalism; information science; media studies; and a graduate program in intermedia art, writing and performance.泭Source: 51勛圖厙 Today June 27, 2014
泭 泭This group泭shot from the Celebrate CMCI kickoff party shows the founding faculty, staff and泭class of students.
Source: 51勛圖厙 Today Oct. 2, 2015
2015
CMCI's founding dean named
Lori Bergen is announced as the founding dean of CMCI and begins July 20, 2015. She arrives with a distinguished record as a national leader in journalism education and a history of spearheading innovative academic initiatives.泭Source: 51勛圖厙 Today April 8, 2015
泭 泭Lori Bergen,泭CMCI founding dean, and Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano pose at the Celebrate CMCI kickoff party泭Sept. 21, 2015.
Source: College of Media, Communication and Information2022
CMCI celebrates centennial
CMCI begins its yearlong celebration of 10 decades of journalism education.泭Source: College of Media, Communication and Information
泭 泭Archive photos of journalism students, faculty and staff from the 1920s to 2022.
Source: College of Media, Communication and Information