Missouri School of Journalism
The Missouri School of Journalism's historic lions — a gift from the Chinese government — are right around the corner from RJI.
Since its founding by Walter Williams in 1908 as the world’s first school of journalism, the Missouri School of Journalism has been producing well-educated and well-practiced graduates and research that examines the industry and pushes it forward. National rankings reflect those strengths. The Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI) will make use of them and offer its own strengths in return.
One key component sets the Missouri School of Journalism apart: the Missouri Method. Students don’t just learn in classrooms. They get their first taste of life as working journalists in the school’s real-world media outlets — a network affiliate television station, a professional daily community newspaper, a weekly magazine, a public radio station, an ad agency, several new media outlets and many more. In addition to allowing future journalists to learn by doing, these outlets provide the perfect place for RJI to test future products and processes.
Thanks to collaboration with the industry, the school also has a valuable concentration of resources for working professionals. They provide natural in-house partners for both training and research projects. They include:
- National Conference of Editorial Writers
- Associated Press Managing Editors
- Society of American Business Editors and Writers
- Investigative Reporters and Editors
- National Institute for Computer-Assisted Reporting
- National Newspaper Association
- Journalism and Women Symposium
- National Freedom of Information Coalition
- Association of Health Care Journalists
- City and Regional Magazine Association
- The Center on Religion and the Professions
In addition, the school has nine endowed chairs, all of which have as part of their charge service to the journalism industry and to society:
- Harte Chair in Journalism
Judy Bolch - Society of American Business Editors and Writers Chair in Business Journalism
Martha Steffens - Curtis B. Hurley Chair in Public Affairs Journalism
Geneva Overholser - Maxine Wilson Gregory Chair in Journalism Research
Glen Cameron - Meredith Chair in Service Journalism
John Fennell - Missouri Community Newspaper Management Chair
James Sterling - Knight Chair in Editing
Jacqui Banaszynski - Lee Hills Chair in Free-Press Studies
Stuart Loory - Goldenson Chair in Community Broadcasting (currently unfilled)