David Kurpius, who just completed his second year as dean of the Missouri School of Journalism, is a true believer in the value and power of journalism and being a journalist.
“It is a very important role because we are not acting for ourselves as journalists; we are acting on the behalf of citizens,” he said in a live interview with BBC Radio 5 in March.
“We are trying to make sure that citizens receive good, trustworthy, accurate information on which they can make decisions about their government and about their lives within the society. I would agree that the technologies may change, the delivery systems may change, the way that governmental officials and the powerful and journalists interact may change, but at the end of the day, it is about just really good, hard journalistic efforts to get to the facts and share them appropriately with citizens.”
He also believes that newsroom diversity improves journalism and is leading efforts to the diversify the school at both faculty and student levels, recently hiring six new faculty of color and initiating new outreach efforts to prospective students in urban areas. His own research focuses on the intersection of journalism education, media and democracy.
The American asked Kurpius for an update on one of the nation’s premier schools of journalism and its diversity efforts.
The St. Louis American: What’s new at the Missouri School of Journalism?
David Kurpius: The end of the academic year at the J-School is always filled with many highlights. Most significantly, we were reaccredited by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications. What really pleases me is a comment in the report: “The School continues to be one of the best programs in the country.”
Our students, faculty and staff have won hundreds of awards this year. Our newsrooms compete against professionals around the country for some of these awards – and win! One example: KBIA-FM – a student-staffed NPR affiliate – just won 10 regional Edward R. Murrow awards, along with three won by KOMU-TV, mid-Missouri’s NBC affiliate. Our Mojo Ad agency, which focuses on the YAYA (youth and young adult) market just finished an impressive campaign presentation for client Ocean Spray Cranberry. What I’d like your readers to know is that St. Louis students don’t have to go far for the best training in journalism and strategic communication.
One more thing: We’ve spent the year on strategic planning and will begin to implement the plan in the near future. We’re being proactive in preparing students for the future.
The St. Louis American: You are completing your second year as a dean at Missouri. Reflect on your experiences during this time period.
David Kurpius: I arrived at the beginning of July in 2015. The hot, sticky, humid summer days made me feel like I had never left Baton Rouge, Louisiana. It was exciting to be the new dean on campus and begin connecting with people at the university and around the state. The events on campus that brought issues related to race, inclusivity and diversity on campus that fall did come as a surprise as universities across the country are facing the same issues. The Missouri School of Journalism responded to the protests by recognizing the First Amendment protection of journalists and the protesters. What we shared broadly is that the School of Journalism wants to be a welcoming environment for people from different backgrounds, races, religions and sexual orientations. Perhaps the best way to demonstrate this is to have all kinds of diversity in the classroom. We’ve been the most aggressive unit on campus in hiring faculty of color – six new professors so far (see sidebar).
We’re walking the talk in other ways. Our associate dean of graduate students is the first African American to hold this position. Our faculty authors recently updated what was the first college textbook on cross-cultural journalism, and we were the first to start teaching this course more than 20 years ago. One of our professors is working with citizens and others in Ferguson to develop a better understanding of the community’s structure and why the events there occurred.
I’ll end this question with something that made me feel like real progress is happening. I met with National Association of Black Journalists members – who have won the national “student chapter of the year” honor – the week before school got out. I asked them if they felt if they were being supported and appreciated by the school. Yes, yes, they responded. Then they turned the question on me and asked what they could do to help. We’re becoming a family that supports one another.
The St. Louis American: What efforts has the school made in connecting with students in St. Louis?
David Kurpius: We’d love to recruit more St. Louis students and would like your readers’ ideas on how we could do this. MU has recruitment events in the city so that’s one way to connect. We launched a new student development, diversity and recruitment program last fall and would love to have St. Louis students involved. We offer two summer journalism workshops in the summer. Both the Missouri Urban Journalism Workshop and MediaNow Mizzou give students a taste of media work and identify career options in this field. We’d love for you to visit us in Columbia – families, high school groups. And, invite us to events you’re hosting here.
The St. Louis American: How have the budget cuts affected the school?
David Kurpius: Budget cuts are tough, and no one ever wants to cut. We had 12 faculty and staff retire this year, and two are pursuing other opportunities. While these losses will hurt, the school has worked diligently to protect the student experience and the renowned Missouri Method of hands-on training in our professional newsroom and agencies. The school is able to deliver excellence with even more professors in core classes.
The St. Louis American: What career opportunities are there for students interested in journalism and strategic communication?
David Kurpius: The alumna who spoke at our May graduation ceremony – Marina Walker Guevara, one of the world’s top investigative reporters who won the Pulitzer Prize for the Panama Papers – started her comments by thanking students for studying journalism. In her closing words: “Graduates, you could not have chosen a better, more exciting time than now to be a journalist. We are at a crossroads as a society and as an industry. And while we face extraordinary challenges, we have opportunities that our colleagues just a generation ago couldn’t have dreamed of.”
Today’s opportunities look different than those familiar to older generations. Social media, mobile technology, digital offerings and much more create tons of great career opportunities. The media industry would love to hire a more inclusive and diverse workforce. What can I say except – come to Mizzou and the J-School!
The St. Louis American: Anything else?
David Kurpius: Thank you for this opportunity to visit with readers of The St. Louis American. Let’s keep the conversation going. High schools: Missouri wants to partner with your journalism programs, students and counselors. The American: Let’s create a targeted internship program. All: Let’s build on our good track record with the Emma Bowen Foundation and develop more internships in the state of Missouri.
To get in touch with Dean David Kurpius and connect with the Missouri School of Journalism, contact journalism@missouri.edu .
