Full-Color, Hardbound Commemorative Book to Document Missouri Journalism History and Legacy
Sponsor Generosity Allows Centennial/Dedication Registrants to Receive Book for Free
Columbia, Mo. (Sept. 8, 2008) — Thanks to the generosity of two major sponsors, the history, pride and influence of the world’s first school of journalism and its alumni will be brought to life in a new keepsake book to be published at the end of the year.
The full-color, hardbound book, which commemorates the centennial celebration of the Missouri School of Journalism and dedication of the new Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI), will be produced under the creative direction of digital agency VML of Kansas City, Mo., and publisher Walsworth Publishing Company of Marceline, Mo.
“We’re delighted that two key supporters of the school chose to honor our centennial and dedication in this way,” said Dean Mills, dean of the School. “Thanks to their creativity as well as their generosity, we have a book that splendidly reflects the innovative spirit of the School.”
Walsworth Publishing Company is a world-renowned for its work in yearbooks and specialty publications. Don Walsworth, BSEd ’57, and his wife, Audrey, BJ ’56, own the company, which has sales offices throughout the world. VML is a worldwide interactive digital agency co-founded by Craig Ligibel, BJ ’70. Jon Cook, BJ ’93, now serves as president of the company.
The legendary history of the School will be told throughout the book, interwoven with stories about the impact of the more than 20,000 Missouri Journalism alumni over the course of the past 100 years. Also included are:
- more than 500 photos, advertisements and other visuals from the University Archives, Savitar and private collections;
- the commissioned poem, The Lead Honorarium, written by Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko; and
- a special section dedicated to coverage of the centennial/dedication celebration and the launch of the Reynolds Journalism Institute.
The commemorative book will be packaged in its own box, with the “Jaunty J,” the official special mark of the centennial/dedication celebration, gracing the presentation cover. It will have square shape, approximately 12 x 12 inches, and there will be approximately 120-132 pages.
The Missouri School of Journalism, the world’s first founded in 1908, is celebrating its centennial Sept. 10-12 with the dedication of RJI. For 100 years, the School has been a pioneer in journalism education, offering the first bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the field as well as developing groundbreaking curricula in the fields of print, broadcast and convergence media. Leading the way into the next century is RJI, a world-class center for research and demonstration of new technologies and processes for journalism. It was founded with an initial $31 million gift in 2004 from the Las Vegas-based Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
Registered guests of the centennial/dedication celebration will receive the book for free, with only the $10 shipping and handling fee to continental destinations being applied. Copies of the book may also be purchased separately. To order, please send a $60 check to Commemorative Book, 344 Hearnes, Columbia, MO 65211, by Sept. 30.
The Sept. 10-12 centennial/dedication celebration features more than 35 Futures Forum sessions, 27 Technology Summit sessions, 11 exhibits and displays, four musical and theatrical performances and two evening meal events. Alumni, students, citizens, journalists, communicators and academics from all over the world have registered for the three-day event.
About the Missouri School of Journalism and Reynolds Journalism Institute:
Since publishing the student-staffed University Missourian on Sept. 14, 1908, the Missouri School of Journalism has been the international leader in hands-on journalism education, also known as the “Missouri Method.” The first to offer bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees in the field, the School is also the distinguished home of several national journalism organizations, mid-career professional programs and a thriving research agenda. Its advanced curriculum takes advantage of new technologies and practices, a tradition of innovation that will be intensified with the opening of the Reynolds Journalism Institute (RJI). This 50,000 square-foot facility, created with an initial $31 million gift from the Las Vegas-based Donald W. Reynolds Foundation, will house state-of-the-art resources to test and demonstrate new technologies, experiment with convergence news production and delivery systems, and conduct real-time and virtual seminars and conferences.
Updated: April 29, 2020