Merrill College of Journalism

Merrill College of Journalism. The Philip Merrill College of Journalism is a premier institution for journalistic education, part of the University of Maryland, College Park. Founded in the 1980s, it is named for Philip Merrill, a prominent publisher and diplomat who provided significant philanthropic support. The college is widely recognized for its rigorous curriculum, emphasis on hands-on reporting, and its influential faculty of working professionals and scholars.

History

The college was formally established in 1983 following a transformative gift from philanthropist and newspaper owner Philip Merrill and his wife Eleanor Merrill. Its creation was championed by then-university president John S. Toll and built upon the existing journalism program within the College of Arts and Humanities. A key early leader was Reese Cleghorn, who served as the founding dean and previously worked at The Detroit Free Press and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The college's mission was solidified with the 1989 launch of its Capital News Service, a statehouse bureau in Annapolis, Maryland that provides student-reported coverage to media outlets across the Mid-Atlantic states. In 2001, the college was renamed in honor of its principal benefactor following an additional major donation. Under subsequent deans like Thomas Kunkel and Lucy Dalglish, it has expanded its focus to include investigative reporting, data journalism, and media entrepreneurship.

Academics

The college offers undergraduate and graduate degrees, including a Bachelor of Arts, Master of Journalism, and Master of Arts in journalism. Its core curriculum emphasizes foundational skills in reporting, writing, ethics, and media law, with all students completing a professional internship. Specialized programs include the Howard Center for Investigative Journalism, founded with support from the Scripps Howard Foundation, and the Shirley Povich Center for Sports Journalism, named for the legendary Washington Post columnist. Students frequently publish work through the Capital News Service, The Diamondback student newspaper, and WMUC-FM campus radio. The college also hosts the annual Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalism Symposium and partners with major news organizations like The Washington Post, CNN, and the Associated Press for workshops and fellowships.

Facilities

The college is housed in Knight Hall, a modern facility named for a grant from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. The building features state-of-the-art television studios, digital editing suites, a converged newsroom, and the Eunice Kennedy Shriver Library. Key resources include the Audrey and James L. Bready Television Studio and the Michele and David D. Laird III Digital Newsroom. The building also contains the National Public Radio-affiliated bureau for WAMU and offices for the American Journalism Review before its closure. Adjacent to Stamp Student Union, the location facilitates collaboration with other units like the College of Information Studies and the Department of Communication.

Notable people

Distinguished faculty have included Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Dana Priest of The Washington Post, former White House correspondent Judith Miller of The New York Times, and media critic and author Carl Sessions Stepp. Renowned ombudsman and columnist Geneva Overholser served as director of the University of Southern California's journalism school after teaching here. Notable alumni include CNN anchor and chief medical correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta, PBS NewsHour co-anchor Judy Woodruff, and Pulitzer Prize-winning The Baltimore Sun reporter Jean Marbella. Other graduates are ESPN reporter Michele Steele, NBC News digital editor Megan McGrath, and politician John Kerry's former press secretary David Wade.

See also

* University of Maryland, College Park * Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism * Medill School of Journalism * Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication * Poynter Institute * Society of Professional Journalists

Category:University of Maryland, College Park Category:Journalism schools in the United States