Indiana University School of Journalism

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1915 Arbutus

Here's how staffers put together the Indiana Daily Student in 1915. The school will celebrate 100 years of journalism history Sept. 16-18.

Related Visit the centennial website for details. Meet the Distinguished Alumni Award honorees. Law, wine bring St. Louis alumni together (May 15) New graduates celebrate with receptions, ceremonies (May 9) Fundraiser to support Ernie Pyle museum (April 30)

The School of Journalism will welcome more than 400 alumni and guests for a Centennial Weekend celebration Sept. 16-18 that includes the inaugural presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Awards.

Registrants include alumni from as early as the 1940s to more recent graduates. Among them are five Distinguished Alumni Award winners, who join 10 more from school history who will be honored at a banquet Sept. 16.

Other events include a welcome lunch co-sponsored by the Bloomington Press Club; nine sessions of discussions featuring alumni speakers and panelists; a brunch sponsored by the Student Publications Alumni; small group gatherings of various interest groups; and a closing brunch Sunday, Sept. 18, where Dean Brad Hamm will share thoughts on the future of IU journalism.

“We’ve been celebrating the centennial all year with events around the country and now we are thrilled to welcome so many alumni and friends of the School of Journalism back to campus,” said Beth Moellers, school communication director. “This is a fantastic way to celebrate IU journalism and the people who have built and continue to build our legacy.”

For current students, faculty and staff, the school will sponsor a birthday lunch at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 14, the first celebration of the week. At no charge, students also may attend any of the discussion groups and the showing of The Story of G.I. Joe, based on Ernie Pyle's World War II experiences, at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 15, at the IU Cinema.

Though a few reporting classes had been offered as early as 1893, journalism education at IU started in an organized way in 1911, when Joseph Piercy was hired to lead the new Department of Journalism.

Since then, IU has trained thousands of journalists, professionals who have helped shaped the industry through changes in technology, during war and global events, and amid today’s fast-paced digital revolution. The program has more than 10,000 alumni living around the world.

Learn more:

• All details about the weekend are on the centennial website.
• Learn about the program’s history and see a timeline of events.
• Meet the Distinguished Alumni Award winners, including Riley Endowed Chair in Journalism Tom French, BA’81, and retired placement director Marjorie (Smith) Blewett, BA’48.
• Check out the full list of discussions, which feature speakers such as Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post photographer Michel du Cille, leaders in public relations, entrepreneurs and women discussing their careers over several decades.

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