Want to earn one credit?

• Be a deejay
• Announce sporting events
• Anchor TV news
• Write for the newspaper
• Write for the magazine
• Make a movie
• Work on the yearbook
• Be a talkshow host
• Produce a TV show
• Create a Web site

Jim Cox Jr. Foundation Grant for Community Journalism

The Cox Foundation has provided a significant annual grant to the Mass Communications department to support The Community Journalism Project at Piedmont College.

As a result of this grant, the James M. Cox Jr. Community Journalism Laboratory was dedicated in 2002 and has provided an instructional facility for print journalism, a service and out-reach facility for mid-career journalists, and a primary location for the staff of the student newspaper. The laboratory provides technology instruction for a variety of software applications related to journalism and communications.

The Cox Lab has made it possible to host several seminars from the Georgia Press Association aimed at upgrading the skills of community journalists from throughout Georgia.

The grant provided a Macintosh laboratory for students to gain instruction in graphics and other Mac platform software.

The grant has also provided funding for the establishment of a newsroom with appropriate technology in support of community journalism activities for newspaper, radio and television.

The grant also funds the participation of students and staff at various educational conferences and seminars throughout the country.

The grant also partially funds scholarships for the editor in chief and section editors of the student newspaper.

In addition, the grant provided funding for Dr. Blakeslee to attend 14 technology training seminars to upgrade technology training for mass communications students.

Finally, a course is taught every other semester in community journalism. Experienced journalists from the field are brought in to meet with students.
Phil Hudgins, Senior Vice President at CNI Newspapers, was funded by the Cox Foundation to teach a course in community journalism as an adjunct.

Dedicating the Jim Cox Jr. Media Lab

Larry Hooks, Head of the Jim Cox Jr. Foundation, accepts a gift of thanks on behalf of Mrs. Holland for her generosity in funding new media labs at Piedmont College in the name of her husband. Carole Hooks (left) looks on as Betsey Blakeslee, Mass Communications Department Chair, presents a gift to Larry Hooks.

President Ray Cleere (right) also expressed his gratitude to the foundation for the "extraordinary contribution to the mass communciations program."