Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication
Encyclopedia
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
unit of the University of Oklahoma
University of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
in Norman
Norman, Oklahoma
Norman is a city in Cleveland County, Oklahoma, United States, and is located south of downtown Oklahoma City. It is part of the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. As of the 2010 census, Norman was to have 110,925 full-time residents, making it the third-largest city in Oklahoma and the...
. It is located in Norman, a quaint town located 40 miles south of Oklahoma City. As of Fall 2009, the college has an enrollment of 1,208 undergraduates and 81 graduate
Graduate school
A graduate school is a school that awards advanced academic degrees with the general requirement that students must have earned a previous undergraduate degree...
students.
History
In 1897, five years after the University of OklahomaUniversity of Oklahoma
The University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
opened its doors, the first student ran newspaper, The Umpire, made its debut. In 1903 it became a semiweekly news publication called the University Oklahoman. Subsequently, by 1916 the paper had taken on the name that it still carries today, The Oklahoma Daily
The Oklahoma Daily
The Oklahoma Daily is the student-run newspaper at the University of Oklahoma. Though it maintains its connections with OU's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the newspaper is not a part of required learning for journalism students at OU, but some classes are offered at The...
.
Sensing the need for professional training, some of The Umpire staff asked for a class in newspaper fundamentals. This first journalism course was placed within the English department as a one-semester two-credit course entitled English 33. Jerome Dowd, a Sociology/Economics professor and Theodore Brewer, head of the English Department, taught it. Since both had worked in the newspaper business before becoming professors, Dowd as an editor and Brewer as a staff member, they were well able to teach the first class of eight students. By 1910, Mr. Brewer had become the only teacher.
By 1912, as demand for more classes grew, Professor Brewer realized the need for a complete school of journalism. This need was also recognized by then OU President Stratton D. Brooks
Stratton D. Brooks
Stratton Duluth Brooks was the third president of the University of Oklahoma and eleventh president of the University of Missouri.-Early life:...
, who applied to the State Board of Education for a separate journalism school.
On May 24, 1913, the Board approved President Brooks' request, and the School of Journalism, located within the College of Arts and Sciences, was born. The school was to officially began in the fall semester on September 1, 1913.
Professor Theodore Brewer was appointed as the first director of the new School of Journalism, and along with Jerome Dowd, became the first two professors.
The first permanent building specifically for journalism was Copeland Hall, built in 1958. It remained in Copeland Hall until the opening of Gaylord Hall in 2004. Currently, journalism classes are held in both buildings. Introductory courses such as Introduction to Mass Communication (JMC 1013) and Writing for Mass Media (JMC 2033) are held in Dale Hall.
Formerly known as the H.H. Herbert School of Journalism and Mass Communication, in 2000 the Gaylord family (owners of The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman
The Oklahoman is the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma and is the only daily newspaper that covers the entire Oklahoma City area.-Ownership:...
newspaper), gave $22 million dollars to the university. As such, the school was elevated to college status, and both the college and facility were renamed for the Gaylord family in return.
Designed by Oklahoma City-based architecture firm Rees Associates, Inc., the 107850 square feet (10,019.6 m²) facility was completed in two phases and anchors the University of Oklahoma’s South Oval. Exterior architecture draws from the Cherokee Gothic vernacular prevalent on the historic Norman campus’ academic core, yet sleek glass and a large outdoor news ticker meld traditionalism with more modern elements and convey the facility’s purpose.
The College's new facility includes multimedia computer labs, classrooms, lecture halls, a library, broadcast production and technical facilities, sound stage, auditorium, and faculty offices. These functions support the various education sequences such as professional writing, journalism, public relations, broadcast, production and advertising, and reflect the trend of media convergence prevalent in today’s communications industries.
Additionally, the Phase II expansion completed in 2009 added a unique feature: a simulated public relations and advertising agency where students can experience the industries they are studying first-hand. This area includes computer labs and offices, as well as presentation and conference rooms for collaborative efforts. The expansion is also home to additional classrooms and dedicated graduate offices and workrooms. Also, there is a secret editing bay - kept secure from students so a nefarious professor can carry out his evil deeds.
The two-phase design embraces an exterior courtyard which serves as a gathering area for alumni and multimedia events. Commons Areas and a Hall of Fame offer interior event venues, and a roof terrace provides views of the courtyard during outdoor events.
Historical facts
- The Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication is one of the largest colleges at the University of OklahomaUniversity of OklahomaThe University of Oklahoma is a coeducational public research university located in Norman, Oklahoma. Founded in 1890, it existed in Oklahoma Territory near Indian Territory for 17 years before the two became the state of Oklahoma. the university had 29,931 students enrolled, most located at its...
. - Achieved college status in July 2000 after 85 years with a $22 million gift from the Gaylord family
- Founding member of the Accrediting Council for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (ACEJMC)
- Home of the Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)
- Accredited by the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communications (ASJMC)
- Gaylord Hall is the headquarters for the Oklahoma Scholastic Media/OIPA, the oldest continuing secondary school press organization in the world
- Home of Lindsey+Asp, the only student-run advertising and public relations agency with a whole wing of the journalism facility dedicated to it.
Curriculum
The new curriculum consisted of 24 hours of journalism and ten weeks of fieldwork at a newspaper. Classes included newspaper work fundamentals, organization of the city room, and the duties of the reporter. In 1915, the first two graduates received a minor in Journalism and a Certificate of completion.Over the past 90 years, many new classes were added and students now have a wide variety to choose from.
Academic programs
- AdvertisingAdvertisingAdvertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
- Broadcasting & Electronic MediaBroadcastingBroadcasting is the distribution of audio and video content to a dispersed audience via any audio visual medium. Receiving parties may include the general public or a relatively large subset of thereof...
- JournalismJournalismJournalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
- Professional WritingProfessional writingProfessional writing involves the use of clear language to convey information in a way that is easily understood by the intended audience. Individuals who can use language well may be employed as full-time professional writers in a variety of communications-related occupations, such as journalist,...
- Public RelationsPublic relationsPublic relations is the actions of a corporation, store, government, individual, etc., in promoting goodwill between itself and the public, the community, employees, customers, etc....
Student Media
Students are able to participate in hands-on media training:- The campus TV station, OUTV, features student produced programming five nights a week and is available on local cable (COX channel 4).
- The campus student radio station, the WIREThe WIREthe WIRE is the student-run College radio station at the University of Oklahoma, broadcasting in a freeform format. The WIRE serves the University of Oklahoma and surrounding communities, and is staffed by student DJs. The WIRE broadcasts at 1710 kHz AM in Norman, Oklahoma...
, 1710 AM is staffed by student DJs. - The campus newspaper, The Oklahoma DailyThe Oklahoma DailyThe Oklahoma Daily is the student-run newspaper at the University of Oklahoma. Though it maintains its connections with OU's Gaylord College of Journalism and Mass Communication, the newspaper is not a part of required learning for journalism students at OU, but some classes are offered at The...
, is an independently run entity, and is produced by a student staff of editors, reporters, photographers, designers and other personnel. The paper is produced daily during the fall and spring semesters and weekly during the summer semester.
Experiential Learning Opportunities=
The Gaylord College specializes in experiential learning opportunities in order to prepare its students for their future journalism and mass communication careers. Its innovative teaching style allows students the opportunity to experience the technology, brainstorming, implementation and evaluation practices they will need. Because Gaylord prepares students to this extent, the students are often first pick for many employers.
Some of the program opportunities Gaylord offers its students are Afghan 101 (afghan101.ou.edu), Lindsey+Asp (lindseyandasp.com), SoonerVision (Sonnervision.net).
Administration and faculty
- Dean, Joe Foote
- Assistant Dean of Student Affairs & Administration, John Hockett
- Associate Dean of Academic Affairs & Graduate Studies, David Craig
- Founding Dean, Charles C. Self
The college has several endowed positions, including:
Joe Foote (Gaylord Chair),
Charles Self (Edward L. Gaylord Endowed Chair),
Maureen Taylor (Gaylord Family Endowed Chair),
Meta Carstarphen (Gaylord Family Endowed Professor),
Peter Gade (Gaylord Family Endowed Professor),
24 tenure-track faculty,
7 full professors,
5 associate professors,
12 assistant professors,
21 practitioner and visiting professors,
13 part-time adjunct professors,
8 full-time visiting professors