SoJ Web Report | Sept. 17, 2011
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| Photo by Rick Wood, BA'87 |
| Distinguished Alumni Award recipients, from left, are James Polk, Marge Blewett, Tom French, Michel du Cille and Paul Tash. Ten other alumni from the school's past also were named to the inaugural class. |
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Alumni, friends and family gathered at the Bloomington Convention Center to celebrate 100 years of journalism education at IU, a weekend of events that were a year in the planning.
In his remarks, Dean Brad Hamm talked about journalism’s beginning. Though journalism classes were on the course list as early as 1893, the department was formed in 1911 with the hiring of Joseph Piercy, who developed many of the principles of solid skills blended with broad education that guide the program today.
Attendees saw a slideshow at the beginning of the program that depicted the program though 10 decades, and some applauded when they saw photos from their time as journalism students.
Hamm brought the festivities around to more recent news from the school as he and IU Provost Karen Hanson presented Hearst National Writing Championship winner Danielle Paquette with her award. Hamm said he was impressed when students won the overall writing competition in 2010, so Paquette’s win and Caitlin Johnston’s second place at the national level was something he’d only hoped for. He said the Hearst awards often are regarded as collegiate Pulitzer Prizes.
When he took the stage, IU President Michael McRobbie told the audience that he has a close connection to the School of Journalism: his daughter, Josephine, was in the Class of 2007. He talked about the program's legacy and listed names of alumni Pultizer Prize winners from early years, such as Don Mellett, ’14, to Michel du Cille, BA’85, director of photography at the Washington Post, whose staff won a Pulitzer earlier this year.
"We are tremendously proud of their accomplishments—and the accomplishments of all of our graduates," he said. "Your achievements not only reflect on Indiana University but they are an inspiration to the aspiring journalist at IU and beyond."
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| Photo by Ann Schertz |
| Danielle Paquette, right, receives her award for winning the national Hearst National Writing Championship from Dean Brad Hamm and IU Provost Karen Hanson. |
- Florence Myrick Ahl, BA 1899, first female editor of the student newspaper
- Don Mellett, '14, who was slain as a result of his expose of police corruption
- Ernie Pyle, LHD'44, Pulitzer Prize-winning World War II correspondent
- Nelson Poynter, BA’24, LLD’76, founder of the Poynter Institute for Media Studies, a school for journalists
- Kent Cooper, LHD’41, of The Associated Press, who used technology to propel the wire service into a global leader
- Madelyn Pugh Davis, BA’42, co-writer of the I Love Lucy television show
- Gene Miller, BA’50, LLD’77, who won two Pulitzer Prizes for his reporting
- John E. Stempel, BA’23, who led the journalism program for 30 years
- John W. Hill, LHD’71, founder of Hill & Knowlton public relations agency
- I. Wilmer Counts, MS’54, EdD’67, noted photojournalist who taught at the school for more than 30 years
- Paul Tash, BA’76, CEO of Times Publishing Co.
- James Polk, BA’64 (Government), Pulitzer Prize winner and documentary producer at CNN
- Marjorie (Smith) Blewett, BA’48, retired placement director
- Thomas French, BA'81, Pulitzer Prize winner and current Riley Endowed Chair at the school
- Michel du Cille, BA’85, Pulitzer Prize winner and director of photography at the Washington Post
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| Photo by Ann Schertz |
| Alumni of several decades gathered at the registration table, often stopping to greet old friends or meet new people. They also pored over the program, which listed the evening's Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. |
Earlier this year, the school took its centennial celebration on the road to Chicago, New York City, Washington, D.C., and St. Petersburg, Fla. The year also featured the gathering of program history, resulting in a timeline installed on a wall in Ernie Pyle Hall and a book published last week that captures many of the highlights of more than 100 years of journalism at IU.
Vignettes from the evening:
During the reception and dinner, student reporters chatted with alumni about everything from alumni memories to advice to current students. Here are some snapshots of those conversations.
Senior MJ Slaby talked to Kathryn Knapp, BAJ’99
In 1998, when the men’s soccer team won the national championship, Kathryn Knapp, BAJ’99, was there.
At the time, she was the IDS men’s soccer columnist. She had been at the national championship game the year before and remembered IU’s loss in triple overtime. But this time, IU won the championship.
Soccer was Knapp’s niche in journalism. She still remembers the scores of the games she covered. She’s author of a book, The Kickin’ Hoosiers. Knapp also was sports editor, then editor of the Arbutus.
She and her staff discussed ideas, and everything was a chance to learn. Like many editors, Knapp said she spent her nights in the journalism school.
“Every day was a new adventure,” she said. “We did everything as a group.”
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| Photo by Ann Schertz |
| From left, Bob Daugherty, Mace Broide, BA'47, and James Polk, BA'64 (government), who was one of the Distinguished Alumni Award recipients. |
The focus of Carolyn Green’s public relations career is based on lessons she learned during her time at Indiana University. Green, MA’93, operates her own consulting agency in St. Louis, providing public relations for medical, government and construction companies.
Green recalled professor Dave Boeyink’s editorial writing class, which required her to research a topic, adapt her findings as a magazine article and then as a one-page editorial.
“That exercise made me able to do what I do today,” she said of her work, which requires her to turn complicated concepts into simpler messages. “It makes me better than my competition.”
Green also recalled working on an in-depth project with Middle Way House, analyzing domestic violence arrests in 1990 and how the cases were subsequently handled, based on statistics and interviews with the women. Her project, which ran in the IDS, pointed out major flaws in how the courts dealt with violence.
Before she heads home, Green wants to walk around the streets of downtown Bloomington one more time.
“I can’t believe the changes here in 16 years,” she says. “My two kids were born here, and now my daughter is in college.”
Senior Danielle Rindler talked to a group of 1960s alumni
A group of men who more than 40 years ago were journalism students have changed a bit: They’ve gotten married, had children, gone down different career paths. But there’s still a bond that is common to those who have bonded during late nights in a newsroom.
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| Photo by Ann Schertz |
| From left, Liz (Hardsaw) Brown, BA'64, Nancy Burton and Myrna Oliver, BA'64, caught up with one another during the reception. |
Joining him were Don Snider and Marc Carmichael, both class of 1966. After graduation, Carmichael went to Vietnam and returned to IU for law school. He eventually made his way into a newsletter publishing company, where he continues his work.
“There’s always a way to use your journalism education, and you simply have to look for opportunities and know there’s a way to take advantage of what you know,” Carmichael said. “It’s wonderful training for a vast realm of career possibilities. And you should always be glad for that education.”
Senior Claire Wiseman with Richard Balough, BA’69
For Richard C. Balough, BA’69, Friday night’s celebration was a chance to see old friends.
“It’s always good to come back to IU. It’s just an opportunity to reconnect,” Balough said.
Balough is an attorney at the Balough Law Offices, LLC in Chicago. Although he doesn’t work in the field of journalism, Balough said his IU education has given him a “solid background.”
“What makes it so nice now is understanding all the changes that are taking place in journalism,” Balough said.
Balough was seated at a table that included recently named distinguished alumnus Michel du Cille, BA ’85, director of photography at the Washington Post, and IU President Michael A. McRobbie.
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