Launched in 2006, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York stands as a beacon for aspiring journalists. It is the only public graduate journalism school in the northeastern United States. But how did this institution come to be?
In May 2004 the CUNY Board of Trustees approved the Graduate School of Journalism’s creation. Chancellor Matthew Goldstein proposed the school. He wanted to focus on teaching reporting skills and news values. This was at a time when other journalism schools emphasized academic disciplines. Political science and statistics were among them.
Stephen B. Shepard became the school’s first dean. He was the former editor-in-chief of BusinessWeek. Shepard and Judith Watson devised a three-semester program. They combined traditional journalism values with digital practices. The curriculum included a unique paid summer internship.
Initially known as the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, it received a new name in June 2018. Craigslist founder Craig Newmark donated $20 million to the school’s foundation. It then became the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism.
Located in Midtown Manhattan near Times Square, the Newmark J-School occupies the former headquarters of the New York Herald Tribune. CUNY purchased the building in August 2004 for $60 million. Renovations cost $10.7 million. The New York Times was constructing its new headquarters next door during this time.
Inside, you will find a newsroom with 130 seats. There is also a broadcast studio. Multimedia editing suites are available too. A digital library houses 1500 books on journalism. Numerous classrooms complete the learning environment.
The Newmark Graduate School of Journalism grants two Master of Arts degrees. One is a Master of Arts in Journalism. This includes a bilingual subject concentration in English and Spanish. The other is a Master of Arts in Engagement Journalism.
The school requires its MA students to complete a summer internship at a news organization. This is a graduation requirement. Students receive at least $4000 in compensation for their work.
Graciela Mochkofsky is the third Dean of the Newmark Graduate School of Journalism. She launched the nation’s first bilingual master’s journalism concentration in English and Spanish. Mochkofsky also leads initiatives focused on Latino media. She helped community media outlets receive $25 million in city advertising during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multimedia projects and spot news stories appear on the school’s NYCity News Service. Students write these stories. The school also produces a student-run TV news magazine show. It is called 219West. This airs on CUNY TV. A podcast called AudioFiles is also produced.
Several student organizations thrive here. The Asian American Journalists Club is one. There is also the Association of Black Journalists. Other clubs include the Audiovisual Club, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Also, the Photojournalism Club, Queer Club, and Women in Media.
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism continues to evolve. It adapts to the ever-changing media landscape. It equips future journalists with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed.