A Century of Journalism at CU Boulder
On April 21, 1922, the University of baby直播app 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 years of journalism education to follow.
Looking back over those decades, we can鈥檛 help but feel proud of the journalistic grit shown by our students and alumni鈥攊n the face of terrible tragedies; while fighting for equality; amidst the biggest historical events of the 20th and 21st centuries鈥攁nd of the work of their guides, our admirable baby直播app 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 CU Boulder in the 1960s, he remembered students using mail sacks as sleeping pads on the newsroom floor.
On Sept. 13, 1892, the University of baby直播app鈥檚 first student newspaper, The Silver and Gold, made its entrance into the field of college journalism.
In 1922, Ralph L. Crosman became the first head of the newly formed Department of Journalism at the University of baby直播app. In a career marked by innovation and leadership, Crosman was an advocate for students and improving journalism education.
Linda Villarosa (Jour鈥81) 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.
Discover the University of baby直播app's first student newspaper, University Portfolio. Running from 1879 to 1885, the newspaper was an outlet for campus humor, student laments and journalistic work.
CU Boulder alumnus Tom Costello鈥攁n award-winning journalist and Washington D.C. correspondent for NBC News鈥攚ill 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 year鈥檚 award winners exposed injustices and sparked reforms in the juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, Tennessee.
In 鈥淧reparing for Your Last Job鈥擭ow,鈥 alumna and NBC News anchor Savannah Sellers (Jour鈥13) and CMCI communication professor Tim Kuhn discuss the future of work. One takeaway: When you鈥檙e quick on your feet, this wave of change in the news industry can hold many opportunities for young journalists.
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1909
First journalism class
The first journalism class begins in Old Main, the first building on campus, about 30 years after the University of baby直播app 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. Source: CU Catalogue 1909鈥1910
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 baby直播app. Source: CU Board of Regents meeting minutes from April 21, 1922
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 University of baby直播app Boulder. His other titles include assistant professor of journalism and director of publications. Source: CU Catalogue 1922鈥1923
Ralph L. Crosman, as photographed by Charles F. Snow before 1939. The exact date is unknown.
Source: Charles F. Snow Photographs Collection -
1932
Journalism accredited
The journalism program is granted accreditation. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
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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. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
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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. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
Journalism students, Clarence Welch and Barbara Hedges, run a print of the Silver and Gold student newspaper circa the 1950s.
Source: UCB Photograph Collection. -
1962
School of Journalism created
The Board of Regents authorizes a separate School of Journalism. Five baby直播app members and a single staff member serve about 50 students. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
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. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
Gadfly Editor Tim Binkley and Executive Editor Eloise Logsdon work on the baby直播app 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 baby直播app grows to 15 with a staff of four and a student population of about 390, including about 50 master's students. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
News Team 27 students and instructor Melda Adams gather outside a television studio in 1987.
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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. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
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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. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline
The Center for Environmental Journalism is founded. 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 Journalism -
2011
Discontinuance
The Board of Regents votes 5-4 to discontinue journalism as a school but to continue it as an academic major. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline and
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2014
CMCI created
The Board of Regents votes to approve the College of Media, Communication and Information, the first new college or school at CU Boulder 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. Source: CU Boulder Today June 27, 2014
This group shot from the Celebrate CMCI kickoff party shows the founding baby直播app, staff and class of students.
Source: CU Boulder 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. Source: CU Boulder Today April 8, 2015
Lori Bergen, CMCI founding dean, and Chancellor Philip P. DiStefano pose at the Celebrate CMCI kickoff party Sept. 21, 2015.
Source: College of Media, Communication and Information -
2022
CMCI celebrates centennial
CMCI begins its yearlong celebration of 10 decades of journalism education. Source: College of Media, Communication and Information
Archive photos of journalism students, baby直播app and staff from the 1920s to 2022.
Source: College of Media, Communication and Information