Great Beginnings

Eight of the UO’s nine Pulitzer Prize winners have roots in the School of Journalism and Communication. With subject matter as diverse as the eruption of Mount St. Helens, violence against women, and immigration, these alumni carry badges of excellence for reporting, writing, and photography. Winners include Byron Acohido ’77, Rick Attig ’83, Steve Dykes ’82, Ted Natt ’63, Robert Porterfield ’67, Karen Stallwood ’86, Alex Tizon ’84, and Brent Walth ’84.

Since its inception, the school’s student-produced Flux magazine has been consistently heralded as the best in the nation. Made possible by the generous contributions of our alumni and friends as well as the efforts of many dedicated faculty members, Flux provides our students with a tremendous learning experience—and very impressive clips. Over the past decade, Flux has received more than ten national awards for excellence and more than one hundred individual awards for writing, editing, design, and photography.

From the very beginning, the School of Journalism and Communication has been known for its strong focus on ethics and responsibility. The Robert and Mabel Ruhl Endowment was established in 1973 to honor Mr. Ruhl, the former publisher of the Medford Mail Tribune. The Ruhl Symposium brings to campus distinguished American journalists who deliver public lectures on issues of significance for contemporary journalism. In addition to the annual symposium, the Ruhl Fellowship attracts accomplished journalists to the school to lecture, write, and meet with students and faculty.

Established in 1999 by broadcasting executive Ancil Payne, the Payne Awards for Ethics in Journalism reward performance that encourages public trust in the media. They are given annually to a working media professional, a student journalist, and a news organization demonstrating high ethical behavior.