On August 17, 2023 representatives from the Mass Media Arts Network met with Dean Julia Wilson and Assistant Dean Carol Crabbe to discuss an exciting new partnership between the alumni and the administration, faculty and staff of the Scripps Howard School. The Mass Media Alumni Network is comprised of graduates from Hampton University’s Mass Media Arts Department, a precedent of the Scripps Howard Program.

The goal of the meeting was to discuss how the Network might partner with Scripps Howard administration, faculty, and students in a way that would be equally beneficial to all. A driver of this engagement is to share with students and recognize the history of the Mass Media program at the University, while providing networking opportunities for students to meet and work with Mass Media and Scripps Howard alumni.

Ideas flowed throughout the meeting about ways alumni might play roles in career mentoring, internship opportunities, cultural advocacy, career workshops, philanthropy, and more. Additionally, Dean Wilson and AD Crabbe suggested Mass Media Network members might be able to provide advisory and curriculum development support, as well as potentially being a pipeline for future faculty positions. The more we talked the more excited we became about creating a partnership of which everyone can be proud. As a first step there will be a Meet and Greet on Tuesday, October 24 from 5:30 – 7:30 pm. This is a great opportunity for staff, students, faculty, and alumni (both in person and virtually) to gather for the first steps of this important endeavor.

The Mass Media Arts Department was established at Hampton Institute in 1967 under the leadership of Dr. William Kearney. The first of its kind among HBCUs, the curriculum introduced students to the disciplines of journalism, broadcasting, and other media. The department graduated hundreds of alumni who have pursued successful careers in journalism, broadcasting, public relations, advertising and more.