Documentary Journalism
Inaugural Method M Film Fund grants go to 13 alumni of Murray Center for Documentary Journalism
Nearly $250,000 in grants supports film productions where alumni of the center serve in key roles By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (March 16, 2026) — Thirteen alumni of the Missouri School of Journalism’s Murray Center for Documentary Journalism have received grants for their film productions from the center’s revolutionary new Method M Film Fund. Powered … Continued
From Mizzou to the big screen: Alumnus debuts film at True/False Film Fest
Filmmakers discuss their film on stage at the Missouri Theater at the 2023 True/False Film Fest. Jj Measer adds his name to short list of Murray Center alumni to screen a film at the nation’s premier documentary festival By Cary Littlejohn Contact: Cary LittlejohnPhoto by Mizzou Visual Productions Through its Jonathan B. Murray Center for … Continued
Based on a True Story documentary film conference begins March 4
By Austin Fitzgerald Based on a True Story (BOATS), a three-day slate of documentary films, master classes, workshops and panel discussions leading into the True/False Film Fest, returns March 4-6. Hosted by the Murray Center for Documentary Journalism at the Missouri School of Journalism, the events will be free and open to the public and … Continued
Applications open for Method M Film Fund, with grants up to $100,000 for documentary projects from Murray Center graduates
By Austin Fitzgerald COLUMBIA, Mo. (Jan. 8, 2026) — The Murray Center for Documentary Journalism has launched the first-of-its-kind Method M Film Fund, which offers grants of as much as $100,000 to Murray Center alumni working in top-line roles on documentary film productions. Applications close on Jan. 21, and grant recipients will be announced in … Continued
Ninth annual Stronger Than Fiction Film Festival returns to the Missouri Theatre on May 17
The Missouri School of Journalism will present the ninth annual Stronger Than Fiction Film Festival on Saturday, May 17, at the historic Missouri Theatre, showcasing 10 original short documentary films produced by students in the School’s Jonathan B. Murray Center for Documentary Journalism program. Admission is free and open to the public, with no ticket required. All the films will also be available … Continued
Missouri School of Journalism student to graduate with film festival experience under his belt
By Benjamin Miller COLUMBIA, Mo. (May 8, 2025) — Out of the hundreds of J-school seniors who will be graduating from the Missouri School of Journalism this month, ten will be representing the Murray Center for Documentary Journalism. One of those students, J.J. Measer from Broomfield, Colorado, pledges to maintain his collaborative spirit by working … Continued
$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