While scholarships and paid internships remain the School’s highest priority, Dean Steve Shepard is leading the effort to raise support for a number of program enhancements. The School is currently seeking $3 million in matching funds to meet the requirements of a $3 million challenge grant from the Tow Foundation. The money will be used to establish the Tow Center for Journalistic Innovation, which will study new business models for journalism, create an incubator to develop new journalistic products and services using Internet technologies, and conduct an array of activities designed to help the journalism profession negotiate the difficult transition to a digital future.

Other projects worthy of funding include endowed chairs; the NYCity News Service; the January Academy; visiting journalist fellowships; merit awards; endowment programs to build the urban, business/economic, health/medical, arts/culture, and international specialty reporting areas; and a student services support fund.