The Newhouse School of Public Communications (formally S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications; also as the Newhouse School) is the communications and journalism school of Syracuse University in Syracuse, New York. The school was named after publishing magnate Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr., founder of Advance Publications, who provided the founding gift in 1964.
The school enrolls approximately 2,000 undergraduate students, 180 residential master’s degree students, 200 online master's degree students, and 15 doctoral degree candidates as of 2022. Undergraduate admissions are highly selective. The school has about 80 full-time faculty members and about 50 adjunct instructors. Mark J. Lodato has been the dean of the Newhouse School since July 2020.
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History
Early years
The Department of Journalism was established at Syracuse University in 1919 as a part of the College of Business Administration. The Theta Sigma Phi (ΘΣΦ) journalism sorority was established in 1920. SU produced a radio show over WSYR-FM in 1932 and the production studio was housed in the Crouse College.
Formation of the School of Journalism
The department became a separate School of Journalism in 1934, with Matthew Lyle Spencer serving as the founding dean. The new school was housed in the Yates Castle (Renwick Castle) from 1934 until the buildings demolition in 1954. The school was moved into the Old Gym from 1953 until that building was razed in 1965.
In 1932, Syracuse University became the first university in the nation to offer a college credit radio course. In 1947, SU launched WAER, one of the nation's first college radio stations. With the emergence of television, SU was the first to offer instruction in the field in 1956.
Construction of the Newhouse Complex
In 1964, supported by a $15 million gift from Samuel Irving Newhouse Sr., the Newhouse Communications Complex was officially inaugurated in Newhouse 1, an award-winning building designed by architect I. M. Pei, which housed the School of Journalism. The building was dedicated by President Lyndon B. Johnson, who delivered his famous "Gulf of Tonkin Speech" on the Newhouse Plaza.
In 1971, the School of Journalism merged with the Department of Television-Radio and was renamed the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications. A second building, Newhouse 2, was dedicated in 1974 with a keynote address by William S. Paley, chairman of the board of CBS. It cost $7.2 million to build.
In 2003, the Newhouse School received a $15 million gift from the S. I. Newhouse Foundation and the Newhouse family to fund the construction of the third building in the Newhouse Communications Complex. The $31.6 million 74,000-square-foot (6,900 m2) modern structure, designed by the former Polshek Partnership, features the First Amendment etched in six-foot-high letters on its curving glass windows. Newhouse 3 was dedicated on September 19, 2007, with a keynote address from the Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts.
In September 2014, the school completed an $18 million renovation of the Newhouse 2 building, creating the Newhouse Studio and Innovation Center, which features Dick Clark Studios, the Alan Gerry Center for Media Innovation and the Diane and Bob Miron Digital News Center. Oprah Winfrey attended and spoke at the dedication ceremony.
In January 2020, Donald E. Newhouse donated $75 million to the School through the Newhouse Foundation.
Deans of the Newhouse School of Public Communications
1934–1950 Matthew Lyle Spencer
1950–1972 Wesley Clark
1972–1980 Henry Schulte
1980–1989 Edward Stephens
1989–1990 Lawrence Myers Jr.
1990–2008 David Rubin
2008–2019 Lorraine Branham
2019–2020 Amy Falkner (interim)
2020– Mark J. Lodato
Notable Newhouse alumni
The Newhouse School is known for its notable alumni in sports broadcasting and other fields, including:
Marv Albert, sportscaster, CBS Sports, NBC Sports, TNT Sports, MSG Networks, YES Network
Lylah M. Alphonse, former managing editor, U.S. News & World Report; currently Editor of Globe Rhode Island and Globe New Hampshire at The Boston Globe.
Michael Barkann, host/reporter, Comcast SportsNet and USA Network
Richard Benedetto, retired White House Correspondent and Columnist, USA Today; Political Columnist, Gannett News Service
Jason Benetti, sportscaster, Fox Sports, FanDuel Sports Network Detroit, formerly ESPN and NBC Sports Chicago
Matthew Berkowitz, filmmaker
Len Berman, Former Sportcaster (NBC Sports)
Carter Blackburn, sportscaster, CBS Sports
Paul Bouche, Emmy Award-Winning TV Host and Producer A Oscuras Pero Encendidos
Contessa Brewer, journalist for MSNBC
Kevin Brown, sportscaster, ESPN, MASN
Steve Bunin, sportscaster, ESPN
Ryan Burr, sportscaster, ESPN
Tony Caridi, sportscaster
Craig Carton, sportscaster, WFAN