Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism

The Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism is one of the sixteen colleges and schools at West Virginia University, located in Morgantown, West Virginia. It is currently housed in Martin Hall.

History

The School of Journalism was created by Dr. Perley Isaac Reed. Dr. Reed arrived at West Virginia University in 1920 and was assigned to teach English and Journalism courses at the College of the Arts and Sciences. Soon, Reed made it his personal mission to expand the course load, which also included journalism history, editing, advertisement writing and trade and industrial journalism, in just a few years.

To gain further momentum, Reed used his involvement in the West Virginia State Newspaper Council to improve the press and its profitability. Using their political power they applied pressure and in the year 1927, Journalism became a department and later became a school in 1939.

The school have a building to call its home until 1953 when Martin Hall was given to the Journalism school. Prior to that, it had occupied only several rooms nearby in Woodburn Hall.

Location

West Virginia University’s School of Journalism, founded by Dr. Perley Isaac Reed, has been located in Martin Hall since 1954. Although the School of Journalism only began its stay at Martin Hall fifty four years ago, Martin Hall has been part of Woodburn Circle for decades longer.

On June 16, 1869, an assembly of people gathered on the property that would ultimately be used to build West Virginia University’s first new building. It took only $16,000 that was raised through the sale of the Monongalia Academy building, to build Martin Hall.

In 1870, Martin Hall was erected by West Virginia University specifically for the use of students and faculty. It holds the distinction of being the oldest academic building on the West Virginia University campus. Martin was modeled after French architecture. The roof slopes down at the sides and is flattened at the top which comes from the idea of a “Mansford roof” which is a style that originated in Paris, France.

The original hall built in 1870 looks much like it does today with only minor rehabilitation to improve the inside. In 1911, the clock that was located in a tower at the top of Martin was removed and placed on top of Woodburn hall, where it has remained the focal point of Woodburn Circle for almost one hundred years.

Throughout 1977-1978, Martin Hall underwent rehabilitation and a large addition was built onto the side of the building. Recently though, Martin Hall has been with going cleaning and has been revamped to make it more modern. Thanks to the school of Journalism Facilities Management and the Office of the Provost, Martin has undergone almost $1.5 million in repairs and upgrades.

Academic Programs

The Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism offers four distinct undergraduate majors, three graduate programs and many different clubs and organizations. Internships at regional and national news stations, public relations firms and advertising agencies are common for WVU Journalism students. [ [http://www.wvu.edu West Virginia University] Official school site]

Undergraduate

Advertising: The P.I. Reed Advertising program enables students to learn the techniques needed to create and “produce persuasive advertising campaigns." [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/UndergraduatePrograms/major_advertising.htm Advertising Sequence] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism] ] Through writing and research courses, advertising students will gain the ability to graphically and strategically plan media campaigns and marketing programs.

Broadcast News: The P.I. Reed Broadcast News program gives students a well-rounded education in reporting, writing and producing news stories. Their “state-of-the-art digital equipment and technology” provides these students with the opportunity to produce their own bi-weekly news program, “WVU News." [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/UndergraduatePrograms/major_broadcast.htm Broadcast News Sequence] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.] Classes and university sponsored programs—like the student-run radio station U-92—give broadcast students hands-on experience with news writing and reporting through radio and television broadcasts.WVU Broadcast students won an Emmy for their documentary “Cancer Stories: Lessons in Love, Loss and Hope”.

News Editorial: The P.I. Reed News-Editorial program focuses on the print aspect of journalism, giving students the knowledge and skills needed in the news world today. In the senior capstone class, students write for a state or regional news publication, gaining experience and “clips” to add to their portfolios. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/UndergraduatePrograms/major_news-editorial.htm News-Editorial Sequence] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. ]

Public Relations: The P.I. Reed Public Relations program teaches students how to create media campaigns and plan events for different types of organizations and firms. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/UndergraduatePrograms/major_public-relations.htm Public Relations Sequence] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism] Students are given the opportunity to work with different companies on public relations issues and tasks through campus activities or internships. In addition, they will learn the essential journalism skills of writing, research and interviewing.

Graduate Programs

“The P.I. Reed School of Journalism offers two distinct Master’s degree programs— Journalism and the totally online Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC), as well as a IMC Graduate Certificate program." [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/GraduatePrograms/graduate_programs.htm Graduate Programs] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.]

Admittance

In order to get into the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism, students are required to take the Journalism Qualifying Exam. It is a 100-point multiple choice test that is administered twice per semester, and once during the summer. The components of the exam include: Vocabulary, Reading Comprehension, Spelling, Language Mechanics and Language Expressions. Along with prerequisites, students must pass this exam to be admitted into any of the Journalism sequences. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/FutureStudents/jqe.htm Journalism Qualifying Exam (JQE] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism]

Clubs

The P.I. Reed School of Journalism offers a variety of clubs for its students, depending on interests and majors. Each club is student-run and is sponsored by a faculty member from the school of journalism.

Advertising Club: The Advertising Club at WVU provides a resume builder for students and can be vital in the networking process. The WVU Ad Club’s mission is to “bring insight and experience in the advertising business as well as connections with other advertising students.” [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Clubs/adclub.htm Advertising Club] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.] This club is a local chapter of the American Advertising Federation and WVU students compete in the regional AAF competitions. Ad Club Awards 1997—WVU Ad Club 1st Place in 5th district of the AAF National Student Advertising Competition2004—WVU Ad Club 2nd Place in 5th district of the AAF National Student Advertising Competition

Diversity in Media Association (DIMA): DIMA (Diversity in Media Association)is a student organization that stands as an advocate for the understanding of cultural, religious, and racial differences. DIMA is devoted to utilizing media outlets in order to highlight issues of diversity in local and world news. This club has an ongoing challenge as a service group to both educate the college community and help those in need of a voice. [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Clubs/dima.htm Diversity in Media Association (DIMA)] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. ]

All Things Magazine: Ed On Campus: This is the School of Journalism’s newest installment. Following the design of the national organization, Ed 2010, this club offers aspiring magazine journalists information on how to make it in the magazine world. Resume workshops, guest speakers and networking opportunities are among many of Ed on Campus’ programs. [ [http://www.ed2010.com/about What is Ed2010?] ] Ed 2010’s founder and president, Chandra Czape Turner, came to speak at the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism in the fall of 2007—the first semester of the Ed on Campus’ WVU chapter.

Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA): The WVU chapter of PRSSA participates every year in the national conference and the Bateman Case Study Competition where they coordinate affairs for a student-run organization and design public relations campaigns. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Clubs/prssa.htm Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA)] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism]

Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ): WVU’s chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists follows the national organization’s mission of providing the truth in journalism, the “flow of information” and protection of the first amendment. The WVU chapter will soon be starting a nationwide petition to get other SPJ’s to join them in urging Congress to adopt a federal shield law—which would protect journalists from jail time if they refuse to give up their sources. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Clubs/spj.htm The Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ)] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.]

Alumni Association Awards

The P.I. Reed Achievement Award is the most prestigious award given to alumnus; recognizing “outstanding achievements in the field of journalism." The award was created in 1966. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Alumni/annual_awards.htm Alumni Association Awards] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.]

The Friend of the School acknowledges alumnus for their “support and commitment to the School of Journalism.” Candidates for this award do not have to be school of journalism graduates. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Alumni/annual_awards.htm Alumni Association Awards] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.]

The Martin Hall Cornerstone Award, established in 2003, recognizes graduates that are active in volunteering for the alumni association. [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Alumni/annual_awards.htm Alumni Association Awards] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.]

The P.I. Reed Young Alum Award, established in 2004, honors graduates from the past ten years that have excelled in their field or profession (Alumni Association). [ [http://www.journalism.wvu.edu/Alumni/annual_awards.htm Alumni Association Awards] West Virginia University: Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism.]

External links

* [http://www.da.wvu.edu/ "The Daily Athenaeum"] student paper
* http://u92.wvu.edu/
* http://wvudownloads.wvu.edu/podcasts

ources

* [http://www.wvu.edu West Virginia University] Official school site
*Atkins, Paul A. "The First 50 Years: Journalism at WVU". Morgantown: , 1977.
*Struyk, Tara. "Martin Hall."
*Ravesloot, Todd. "Campus' Oldest Academic Building to Receive Major Upgrades this Summer." Facilities Management News: Spring, 2008.
*"WVU Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism". Ed. Kimberly Brown, Morgantown, 2007.

References