University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications

College of Journalism
and Communications
Established 1925
Type Journalism school
Academic affiliation University of Florida
Location Gainesville, Florida, United States
Dean Diane H. McFarlin
Students 3,000
Alumni 34,000+
Website www.jou.ufl.edu
Weimer Hall, home of the College of Journalism and Communications

The College of Journalism and Communications is an academic college of the University of Florida. It comprises four departments:

The college traces its origins to 1925, when the Department of Journalism was formed in Language Hall (now Anderson Hall). Orland K. "O.K." Armstrong was the first head of the department. The first three journalism degrees were awarded in 1928.

The department moved into Buckman Hall, a renovated dormitory, in 1937.[1]

Rae O. Weimer, former managing editor at the New York City daily newspaper PM, began teaching in the Department of Journalism in 1949. In 1950, the journalism program was accredited, although it still had only "one classroom, no equipment and only two teachers." In late 1953, broadcasting was transferred to journalism and the department became a school, the School of Journalism and Communications.

In the 1960s, the School of Journalism and Communications became the fastest-growing journalism program in the United States and the fastest-growing unit at UF. The growth was directly related to its national prominence as the college began dominating the annual Hearst Foundation's national collegiate writing competition.

In 1967, the school became a full-fledged college. Weimer was named the first dean. Weimer has been referred to as the "founding father" of journalism at UF; the current journalism building, Weimer Hall, is named for him.

The centerpiece of the journalism programs at UF is WUFT, which consists of both a WUFT (TV) Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) Public television and WUFT-FM NPR public radio station. The commercial broadcasting radio station, WRUF AM850, is also one of the oldest stations in the state.

ABC News at UF

ABC News opened a "mini-bureau" at the College of Journalism and Communications in September 2008. It was one of five universities chosen for the ABC News on Campus program, along with Arizona State University, Syracuse University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the University of Texas at Austin.[2][3]

Student Organizations

In October 2011, the University of Florida chapter of the Public Relations Student Society of America (PRSSA) was named Most Outstanding Chapter of the Year.[4]

Degrees

The College of Journalism and Communications offers several degrees:

List of deans

The following is a list of the deans at the College of Journalism and Communications and its predecessor units:

Years Dean
1925-1949 Orlando K. Armstrong
1949-1968 Rae O. Weimer
1968-1976 John Paul Jones Jr.
1976-1994 Ralph L. Lowenstein
1994-2006 Terry Hynes
2007-2013 John W. Wright II
2013–Present Diane H. McFarlin

See also

References

  1. ↑ "History of the College". Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  2. ↑ Weprin, Alex. "ABC News Opens "Digital Bureaus" on College Campuses." Broadcasting & Cable 7 May 2008.
  3. ↑ Wayne, Ron. "students to report for national ABC News." Inside UF (University of Florida press release). 8 May 2008.
  4. ↑ "Dr. F.H. Teahan Chapter Awards Program". PRSSA. Retrieved 29 July 2012.

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