CONTACT: John Maxwell Hamilton, Dean • T: 225.578.2002 • E: jhamilt@lsu.edu
Mich Sineath, Public Relations • T: 803.798.8581 • E: AEJMCpr@aol.com

The Manship School of Mass Communication at Louisiana State University has been selected as the inaugural recipient of the national Equity & Diversity Award from the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC).

The AEJMC Equity & Diversity Award recognizes academic units for outstanding progress and innovation in racial, gender, and ethnic equity and diversity. Nominations outline a program’s efforts during the previous three years in hiring and recruitment, status of current faculty, academic climate and institutionally embedded support.

“LSU’s Manship School of Mass Communication has made diversity and equity its mission,” says Linda Aldoory, Chair of the award selection committee. “The school has initiated a variety of programs, strategies, and communication tools that have assisted with department climate for faculty, institutional support for faculty research on diversity, and recruitment and hiring of diverse faculty. The Manship School’s undergraduate population is nearly 15% students of color, and the full time faculty are comparably 16% people of color. Half the full-time faculty are female.”

John Maxwell Hamilton, Dean of the Manship School, believes the program is strong because its student body and faculty are more diverse and because mutual respect is an essential part of the classes and programs. “Those throughout our program have dedicated themselves to an ambitious effort to make our school representative of the state it serves, to develop a curriculum that helps our students understand and appreciate the value of diversity, and to stimulate meaningful dialogue across the country.”

Among its many activities and achievements, the Manship School of Mass Communication was nominated for its efforts in fund-raising, recruitment, and extensive research and public service in arenas including a dedicated online forum on media diversity comprising more than 2,000 journal articles and books; a research database of syllabi of diversity courses from approximately 40 universities and colleges around the country; a directory of state ethnic media; and publications like the recent report, “Diversity That Works,” a book of discussions offering recommendations for building diversity and equity within journalism and mass communication that was distributed to universities across the country.

Dori J. Maynard, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Robert C. Maynard Institute for Journalism Education, adds: “It is impressive to me that a university journalism program has taken upon itself the responsibility of providing leadership by stimulating dialogue, providing resources and encouraging others to join the efforts to expand the representation of their faculties, students and their programs.”

William T. Slater, Professor and Former Dean at Texas Christian University, says, “At the Manship School, diversity is not simply a subject on the agenda of faculty meetings. It is a style of life.”

There will be two recognition forums. The first will take place during the AEJMC Boston Convention where the award will be formally presented. LSU will also present a special session on the best practices in equity and diversity on Wednesday, August 5, at 5 p.m.

A second presentation will follow later in 2009 when the AEJMC President will travel to Louisiana State University to present the award to John Maxwell Hamilton as Dean of the Manship School, and University Chancellor, Mike Martin, in a ceremony honoring the school’s outstanding achievements in equity and diversity.

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About the Manship School of Mass Communication, Louisiana State University
The Manship School of Mass Communication is committed to the education of renaissance communicators who can function within a multi-media environment through the cultivation of communication skills, critical thinking skills, and ethical practice. The school’s mission is to produce highly competent communicators with broad training in liberal arts and the media. Overall, and especially in the graduate program, the school is committed to leading the study and practice of media and public affairs. Believing that media should reflect society, the school seeks diversity in its outlook, student body and faculty. For more information about the Manship School of Mass Communication visit www.manship.lsu.edu.

About the Equity & Diversity Award
The AEJMC Equity & Diversity Award recognizes journalism and mass communication academic units working toward increasing equity and diversity among their faculty. Specifically, units are awarded for progress and innovation in racial, gender, and ethnic equity and diversity. Criteria includes efforts during the previous three years in hiring and recruitment, status of current faculty, academic climate and institutionally embedded support. For more about the Equity & Diversity Award visit www.AEJMC.org.

About AEJMC
AEJMC is a nonprofit, educational association of some 3,700 journalism and mass communication educators, students, and media professionals from across the globe. The Association’s mission is to advance education in journalism and mass communication to the end of achieving better professional practice, a better informed public, and wider human understanding.  For more about AEJMC visit www.AEJMC.org.