A timeline
Roy Ockert, then editor of The Jonesboro Sun, and Dr. Joel Gambill, head of the ASU Department of Journalism and Printing, pose in 2010 with the new plaque recognizing L.W. “Tex” Plunkett as the father of journalism at A-State.
The following is my compilation of a timeline for Arkansas State University’s communications programs from various sources. Additions and corrections are welcome.
Roy Ockert
1933 — Arkansas State College bought some used printing equipment and began establishing a degree-granting program in both journalism and printing. The first journalism course was taught by Dr. F.W. Plunkett, head of the English Department.
Spring 1934 — First printing classes were taught.
Fall 1934 — Bachelor of Science in journalism was added to the college catalog.
November 1934 — “Herald on the Air” was first broadcast on local radio station KBTM.
1935 — A substation of KBTM was established in Wilson Hall so broadcasts could be made directly from campus.
Fall 1938 — L.W. “Tex” Plunkett, foster son of Dr. F.W. Plunkett, became sponsor of the Herald and taught news writing and editing classes, as well as four English classes
By 1950 — ASC radio network had expanded to eight stations.
Sept. 25, 1950 — ASC’s football game against Mississippi State was broadcast live from Starkville.
1953 — John Cramer was hired to start a radio journalism and broadcasting curriculum.
May 17, 1957 — KASU-FM began broadcasting.
1957 — The Department of Radio, Journalism and Printing was established. As A-State moved toward university status the Department designation was changed to Division. When television courses were added, the name became the Division of Radio-TV, Journalism and Printing,
Fall 1966 — Dr. Joel Gambill was hired to be Herald sponsor and teach journalism classes, doubling the journalism faculty.
1973 — The College of Communications was founded in 1973 with Dr. Robert Hoskins as its first dean. Dr. Gambill became chair of the Division and Journalism and Printing; Charles Rasberry was chairman of the Division of Radio-TV.
1998 — The administration proposed combining the colleges and Fine Arts and Communications. Opposition was organized, and the proposal was dropped., but the Department of Speech was moved to the College of Communications.
1999 — Professional advisory boards were established for the two major programs, journalism-printing and radio-TV.
2010 — Joel Gambill retired as head of the journalism and printing program, and Russ Shain as dean of the college. Dr. Gil Fowler became chairman of the Department of Journalism.
June 2012 — Dr. Brad Rawlins became dean of the College of Communications.
March 6, 2013 — Dr. Rawlins announced in an email to alumni that a proposal would be presented to the ASU trustees three days later to restructure the College of Communications. Journalism would not be a part of name of the college or any department. Advisory board members and others were incensed, and many sent messages to Rawlins and Chancellor Tim Hutson. Rawlins decided not to present the proposal at that board meeting and called for an open meeting of faculty, alumni and other interested persons.
May 2013 — The restructuring went ahead as planned, changing the name to the College of Media and Communication. The Department of Media would house degree programs in Multimedia Journalism and Media Production. The Department of Communication would house degree programs in Strategic Communication and Communication Studies. The previous advisory boards were disbanded in favor of a college board. A College of Communications newsletter for alumni was also abandoned.
2013 — Osa Amienyi, having chaired the old Department of Radio-TV, became chair of the new Department of Media. He had no background in journalism.
2015 — Chancellor Tim Hudson proposed a new college restructuring that would effectively bury the remains of the journalism program. The colleges of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Media and Communication were merged into one college. The name eventually became the College of Liberal Arts and Communication. Rawlins was interim dean for less than a year, then took a position at Campus Queretaro.
December 2018 — Dr. Carl Cates, dean of the College of Liberal Arts and Communication, proposed establishing a School of Media and Journalism within the college. His resolution, approved by the Board of Trustees, said, “The dissolution of this college has resulted in challenges with program identity and program growth. …”
June 2019 — Dr. Rawlins became director of the newly formed School of Media and Journalism.
April 28, 2023 — The Arkansas Higher Education Coordinating Board voted unanimously and without comment in favor of a staff recommendation to delete A-State’s degree program in multi-media journalism, along with 16 other academic programs determined to be non-viable.
