Posted on August 26, 2009

Reynolds Journalism Institute Receives $15 Million From Donald W. Reynolds Foundation

The Donald W. Reynolds Journalism Institute at the Missouri School of Journalism has announced a five-year, $15 million gift from the Las Vegas-based Donald W. Reynolds Foundation.

The gift, the latest from the foundation that established the institute, will support the continued operation of RJI and help it develop and test journalism models and technologies for the twenty-first century. "In its first year of full operation, RJI has shown its potential for restoring the connection between citizens and journalists that is essential to political, economic, and personal freedoms," said Brady Deaton, chancellor of UM.

To that end, RJI works with corporate partners such as Apple, Adobe, and AT&T to create new products; conducts industry research; and incubates and provides seed funding for promising business start-ups. For example, CircLabs, a Silicon Valley-based start-up, grew from the work of the inaugural class of Donald W. Reynolds Fellows.

"We have a unique opportunity to bring together innovation, expertise, and entrepreneurial spirit," said RJI executive director Pam Johnson. "The new Reynolds Foundation gift revalidates our mission. Our incoming class of Donald W. Reynolds Fellows will focus on new media platforms, and we look forward to seeing them bring forth new important developments for journalism."