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Merv Aubespin, veteran Kentucky journalist and frequent lecturer at MJW, coaches Jonathan Tucker, a Hillcrest High School student from Duncanville. |
Jannell McGrew Class of 1994 |
History of the Multicultural Journalism Program
It all began in 1982 as an idea by Professor Marian Huttenstine and then graduate student Marie Parsons to recruit and develop minority students for careers in journalism. The first Minority Journalism Workshop was conducted in 1984, beginning 25 years of one of the most successful programs of its kind in the nation.
1983
• Formal Minority Journalism Program begins with Ms. Marie Parsons as director.
1984
• First Minority Journalism Workshop conducted, eight students participating, six of them from Tuscaloosa.
• First ASNE Job Fair trip. The program continues to sponsor at least one job fair trip per year. More than 1,000 students have participated.
• Student support group, Minorities for Careers in Communication, begins, becomes Capstone Association of Black Journalists in 1993. CABJ is still going strong today.
1984-1993
• UA, Dow Jones Newspaper Fund, Freedom Forum, individual Alabama newspapers and broadcast stations, Alabama Press Association Journalism Foundation, Alabama Broadcasters Association Foundation, New York Times Foundation, John F. and James L. Knight Foundation, Scripps Howard Foundation, Gannett Foundation, Mercedes-Benz USA International, The Tuscaloosa News, Mobile Press-Register and others contribute to program.
• Endowed scholarships totaling $70,000 designated for minorities during University's capital campaign.
• Annual summer workshops attract average of 15 students. Professional journalists visit, teach, mentor students as they publish workshop newspaper.
• Minority percentage rises to 12% in the department and college
• Noted African-American journalist (New York Times) Paul Delaney becomes chairman of department in 1992. He had been frequent guest lecturer at workshops. Delaney resigned in 1996 to take a postion at Howard University.
• Department graduates 10 print journalism and 6 broadcast journalism majors in 1992, an all-time high. These numbers continue to rise at the Capstone.
• Department develops database of minority students going back to 1982, begins tracking them from the annual workshop, through college and throughout their career. This service is now a main feature of the program.
1994-95
• Program receives largest single contribution, $100,000, from John S. and James G. Knight Foundation, half for endowed scholarships, half for program expenses.
• Program support from Dow Jones, Scripps Howard, APA Journalism Foundation, Alabama Broadcasters Association and invididual Alabama newspapers and other groups rises to about $12,000 per year. Workshop attendance edges upward with increased support.
1996
• Minority Journalism Workshop attracts an all-time high of 28, coming from all over Alabama as well as a number of other states.
1997-Present
• Thirty students are recruited for 14th annual workshop.
1998-Present
• The 2001 MJW is the last workshop to be directed by Marie Parsons, who retired before the 2002 program.
• In 2004, the Minority Journalism Program becomes Multicultural Journalism Program, recognizing the fact that for several years, all races and ethnic groups have been invited to attend the workshop.
• In 2006, veteran journalist Merv Aubespin (make photo below clickable to his photo and story), the godfather of our MJW program, makes his 14th visit to the Capstone.