A Century of Journalism at CU Boulder

 

A Century of Journalism at CU Boulder

 

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 years of journalism education to follow.

Looking back over those decades, we can’t help but feel proud of the journalistic grit shown by our students and alumni—in the face of terrible tragedies; while fighting for equality; amidst the biggest historical events of the 20th and 21st centuries—and 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 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 Colorado’s 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 Colorado. In a career marked by innovation and leadership, Crosman was an advocate for students and improving journalism education.

Linda Villarosa (Jour’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 Colorado'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—an award-winning journalist and Washington D.C. correspondent for NBC News—will 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’s award winners exposed injustices and sparked reforms in the juvenile justice system in Rutherford County, Tennessee.

In “Preparing for Your Last Job—Now,” alumna and NBC News anchor Savannah Sellers (Jour’13) and CMCI communication professor Tim Kuhn discuss the future of work. One takeaway: When you’re quick on your feet, this wave of change in the news industry can hold many opportunities for young journalists.

  1. Old Main, photographed in 1876-1877.

    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. Source: CU Catalogue 1909–1910


       Old Main, as photographed in the summer 1876 or 1877 by J. Raymond Brackett.
    Source: J. Raymond Brackett Photograph Collection

  2. Journalism students sit in class, circa 1920s

    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. 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

  3. Ralph Crosman

    1922

    First head of journalism

    Ralph L. Crosman is named the first head of the Department of Journalism at the . His other titles include assistant professor of journalism and director of publications. Source: CU Catalogue 1922–1923


       Ralph L. Crosman, as photographed by Charles F. Snow before 1939. The exact date is unknown.
    Source: Charles F. Snow Photographs Collection

  4. 1932

    Journalism accredited

    The journalism program is granted accreditation. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline

  5. 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

  6. Journalism students work at newspaper, circa 1950s

    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.

  7. Hellems building exterior, 1968

    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. 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.

  8. Student editors at work, 1965

    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 Colorado Daily, the student newspaper, in 1965.
    Source: 1965 Coloradan yearbook.

  9. NewsTeam launches

    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. Source: School of Journalism and Mass Communication Timeline


       News Team 27 students and instructor Melda Adams gather outside a television studio in 1987.

  10. 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

  11. CEJ founded

    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

  12. 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

  13. CMCI Kickoff Group Shot

    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 faculty, staff and class of students.
    Source: CU Boulder Today Oct. 2, 2015

  14. Lori and Phil

    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

  15. 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, faculty and staff from the 1920s to 2022.
    Source: College of Media, Communication and Information

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CMCI is inviting all students, alumni, faculty, staff, and family or friends of alumni to submit their stories for the 100 years of journalism project. These memories could be featured on our website, in multimedia projects, on our social media channels, at events or in other ways over the next year. Have a story to share? Simply send us a note below. We hope you join us in celebrating this centennial anniversary!

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