To our fellow journalism teachers:

 

Welcome to Washington and Lee’s Department of Journalism and Mass Communications, the nation’s first program in journalism education. We are delighted to have you with us for the next two weeks to join in our shared mission – to show students the importance of empowering audiences in a democratic society.  Your selection for the Donald W. Reynolds High School Journalism Institute reflects your commitment to this vital undertaking.

Our program was established in 1867 by Robert E. Lee, when he was president of the university. His goal was to train printers as journalists in an attempt to unite and rebuild the nation. The program disappeared after several years, but it was re-established in the 1920s. Today, we are among the most technologically advanced and highly converged programs in the nation.

During the next two weeks you will work with award-winning faculty from our department and journalists from Virginia and around the nation. As rewarding as we believe you will find our formal sessions, I urge you to take advantage of informal opportunities – lunches, dinners, late-night sessions wherever they might be -- to share experiences and knowledge with all of us. 

I know you will make the most of this opportunity to challenge yourselves and your instructors. We are here to help you in any way we can. I look forward to getting to know you all.

Brian Richardson
Department Head