Documentary Journalism
$10 million gift ushers Murray Center for Documentary Journalism into new era at start of second decade
Jonathan B. Murray By Austin FitzgeraldPhotos by Nate Brown COLUMBIA, Mo. (Feb. 25, 2025) — Just over a decade after funding the creation of the Murray Center for Documentary Journalism with a $6.7 million gift, Jonathan Murray, BJ ’77, has given another $10.3 million to the unique documentary film program at the Missouri School of … Continued
Missouri School of Journalism’s documentary film program receives transformative $10 million gift
Jonathan Murray, center, with University of Missouri and Missouri School of Journalism leaders. The gift will strengthen the School of Journalism’s role as the Midwest’s hub for documentary storytelling By Austin FitzgeraldPhotos by Nate Brown Contact: Sara Diedrich, diedrichs@missouri.edu Leaders from the University of Missouri and Missouri School of Journalism’s Jonathan B. Murray Center for … Continued
Based on a True Story documentary film conference kicks off Feb. 26
Based on a True Story (BOATS), a three-day lineup of documentary film master classes and workshops organized by the Murray Center for Documentary Journalism, returns Feb. 26-28. Based at the Missouri School of Journalism, the Murray Center’s programming will offer opportunities for students and the public alike to be immersed in documentary film conversations and … Continued
Nonprofit organization plans to turn pitches from PR students into real promotional campaigns
By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (Oct. 11, 2024) — During the 2024 spring semester, students in Professor Jon Stemmle’s public relations course took advantage of a hallmark of the Missouri School of Journalism’s strategic communication curriculum: the opportunity to work on a promotional campaign for a real client. The students — four seniors and a … Continued
Documentary seeks to heal rift between public and news industry with trauma-informed approach to gun violence
Jessica Beard and Oronde McClain “The Second Trauma” hopes to bring an end to sensationalized, episodic coverage of America’s signature brand of violent crime By Austin FitzgeraldPhotos by Nate Brown This week, a panel of educators, journalists and experts in public health and trauma visited the Missouri School of Journalism to present “The Second Trauma,” … Continued
Missouri School of Journalism students screen award-winning short film at Tribeca Film Festival
(L-R) Sam Brusven, Sofia Petrov and Eric Kiekeben at the Tribeca Film Festival By Benjamin Miller COLUMBIA, Mo. (Aug. 6, 2024) — Three Missouri School of Journalism students were invited to this summer’s Tribeca Film Festival after winning the collegiate section of the Robert F. Kennedy Speak Truth to Power Contest. The contest encourages K-12 … Continued
Stacey Woelfel wins 2024 Bliss Award, capping 35-year career at Missouri School of Journalism
By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (May 15, 2024) — Stacey Woelfel, a professor emeritus and former news director at KOMU-TV — the Missouri News Network’s NBC affiliated TV station — has received the highly prestigious Edward L. Bliss Award for Distinguished Broadcast Journalism Education. The award is presented by the Association for Education in Journalism … Continued
Stronger than Fiction Film Festival to showcase 13 student documentary films on May 11
By Austin Fitzgerald The Stronger than Fiction Film Festival, now in its eighth year, will be held on Saturday, May 11, at the Missouri Theatre. The festival will present 13 short documentary films created by students at the Missouri School of Journalism’s Murray Center for Documentary Journalism. Admission is free and open to the public. … Continued
Jonathan Murray, ‘father of reality television,’ still finding new ways to tell stories half a century into illustrious career
By Austin Fitzgerald When MTV’s “The Real World” featured Pedro Zamora in its third season, the result was a watershed moment. As an openly gay man who was also HIV positive, his presence brought attention to seminal cultural issues, and former president Bill Clinton credited Zamora with putting “a human face” on the AIDS epidemic. … Continued
Murray Center student film to feature at True/False Film Fest, alums continue to find success
The Missouri School of Journalism’s documentary journalism program is off to a roaring start this year The Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism has had its share of success stories in its first decade at the Missouri School of Journalism, but 2024 has seen another milestone reached: for the first time, a capstone film … Continued