Scripps Howard Foundation has announced $6 million investment to establish two centers that will boost investigative journalism and bridge the gap between classrooms and newsrooms.
One Howard Center for Investigative Journalism will be created at Arizona State University and another at the University of Maryland. Both the universities will receive $3 million each from the foundation.
The multidisciplinary centers established to honor the legacy of foundation’s former chairman, Roy W. Howard, will offer graduate level programs that will focus on giving training to next generation investigative reporters and exposure of working with news organizations across the country.
“Roy Howard was an entrepreneur whose relentless pursuit of news took him around the world, sourcing his education directly from the lessons of the newsroom,” Liz Carter, president, and CEO of the Scripps Howard Foundation said.
“That same pursuit led us to establish the Howard Centers – bridging the classroom and the newsroom to ensure tomorrow’s journalists are prepared with the mastery of dogged reporting they need in a world that increasingly demands it,” Carter added.
Both the universities were shortlisted by the foundation considering the proposals submitted by them.
“Both Arizona State University and the University of Maryland are well-positioned to challenge their students to become ethical, entrepreneurial and courageous investigative journalists,” Battinto Batts, director of the journalism fund for the foundation said.
The centers will launch a search for directors later this year while the operations will start in 2019.
