Reynolds Journalism Institute plans
to rethink the way journalism is done

By MADOLINE MARKHAM

What is the Reynolds Journalism Institute?

The institute is the Missouri School of Journalism’s new center for study for the improvement of the practice and understanding of journalism. It was created in 2004 with a $31 million gift from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation and moved into its new building this summer. The center will be dedicated Sept. 12.

What is its mission?

The institute seeks to engage media professionals, scholars from journalism and related fields, students and citizens in discussion about the importance of journalism in a democracy. It also intends to use technology to improve journalistic methods to reach citizens worldwide.

"Technology creates many new opportunities, and we aim to manage it for the best purpose," said RJI Executive Director Pam Johnson. "We are here to make a difference in the quality of journalism."

Where can I find the RJI?

ALICIA SCHAMBURG/Missourian
Michael Hopkins walks through the Franklin Martin Journalism Library. The space-saving shelves are controlled electronically.
Click here for more photos of the institute.
It is in a 50,000-square-foot, new and newly remodeled complex on Francis Quadrangle of MU. The building is a modern four-story structure built inside an 1892 Victorian Gothic building. The newly renovated Walter Williams Hall and a building linking the two are also part of the complex.

The complex also houses the Frank Martin Journalism Library, Pictures of the Year International and the National Freedom of Information Center.

Who was Donald W. Reynolds?

A native of Oklahoma City, Reynolds was a 1927 graduate of the Missouri School of Journalism who became a successful media entrepreneur.

After working in a variety of newspaper positions, he purchased and sold his first newspaper and used the proceeds to buy the two papers that launched the Donrey Media Group.

The company would ultimately own more than 100 businesses in the newspaper, radio, television, cable television and outdoor advertising industries.

Donrey focused on media outlets in small but growth-oriented communities. After Reynolds died, Donrey Media Group was sold, creating the endowment for the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

Today the foundation supports a variety of causes, including capital grants, aging and quality of life, cardiovascular clinical research and journalism.

How will the institute involve scholars and professionals?

The Donald W. Reynolds fellows, who are leading journalists and scholars, will produce a major project intended to enhance the practice or understanding of journalism and advertising.

They will also conduct appropriate forums and other events and publish summaries of the work to expand the impact on real-world media.

This year's inaugural class of five fellows is embarking on groundbreaking research.

For instance, the former Web editor of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, Matt Thompson, is developing and prototyping a Wikipedia-inspired approach to local news. His work aims to answer the question, "What would news look like if it were organized around content rather than time?"

Also, Missouri School of Journalism strategic communication chair, Margaret Duffy, will research how to best connect 18-to 24-year-olds to news media.

Other fellows are Jane Stevens, Jennifer Reeves and Bill Densmore.

How will the institute use technology?

The one-of-a-kind Journalism Futures Lab and the Demonstration Center will enable professionals, students and researchers to experiment with ways to better serve the audiences of media around the world.

"The Futures Lab is the key to finding solutions in a rapidly changing technological environment," Johnson said.

How will it involve the public?

JONATHAN ARNER /Missourian
Students study in a lounge near the lobby of the Reynolds Journalism Institute. The institute was created with a $31 million grant from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.
The institute will hold periodic public-practitioner forums on important, timely journalistic issues.

Such forums will serve to both enable journalists to better understand public attitude toward the media and to aid citizen understanding of the work and reasoning of journalists and advertising professionals.

In addition to improving journalist-citizen communication, the institute will sponsor exhibits, research summaries, curriculum materials and workshops built on its research and activities.

"We cannot afford not to reach out to the multitude of public voices," Johnson said. "Columbia is an ideal place for us with its vigorous community, plethora of public activities and strong public leadership."

How does the institute use student technological innovation?

Last year the institute sponsored a student technology competition where teams of journalism, marketing and computer science students developed and pitched ideas to apply Adobe products for the use of journalism.

"This is yet another example of why we exist — to bring together students, professionals and academics to find solutions in the media world," Johnson said.

The institute will sponsor similar competitions in the coming year, one involving the iPhone and one about advertising.

Who benefits from the work at RJI?

The Donald W. Reynolds fellows will share their expertise with Missouri School of Journalism students and faculty, who will then take their understanding of emerging technology and improved understanding of journalism into ventures around the world.

The fellows will return to their organizations with an enhanced understanding of their field. Other organizations that are partnered with the institute will reach even more citizens with varying amounts of media exposure.

"We hope that media outlets will want what we produce and want to come to us with their ideas and challenges," Johnson said.