Series 1 - Founding documents

In the fall of 1945, journalism classes began at the University of King's College, Saint Mary's College (now Saint Mary's University) and Mount Saint Vincent College (now Mount Saint Vincent University), taught by editors from the Halifax Herald, the Halifax Chronicle, and Sister Maura of MSVC. The journalism programs were designed to give students a well-rounded education on various subjects; students, most of them just out of high school, could earn a diploma in journalism in three years.

By 1948, the curriculum required courses in history, French, English, economics, political science and sociology. Classes were concentrated in practical study, and over the next 10-15 years, classes related to public relations and communications were added.

King's Calendar of 1949-1950 included the "School of Journalism of the Universities of King's College, Saint Mary's College and Mount Saint Vincent College." The School was run by its own board of governors, which included the Presidents of King's, Saint Mary's and Mount Saint Vincent, as well as two journalists and Sister Maura. Halifax newspapers had representation on the board equal to that of any individual participating university.

Although the School operated under its own board and paid its own way, the University of King's College Board of Governors could instruct its representatives on the School's board regarding financial commitments and general policy. The School's regulations regarding admissions and teaching policy had no provision that prevented another Maritime university from joining the School.

By 1956, the School was self-sustaining and had received grants from Halifax Herald Ltd., the Maritime Broadcasting Co., and the Chronicle Co. Ltd.

In 1957, a committee was formed to review the curriculum, and the School's Director made efforts to arrange summer positions for students with local newspapers.

In 1961, a reorganization of the School began, including an initiative to give it a permanent home at King's. King's provided $3,000 in annual support for the School on the condition that Mount Saint Vincent and Saint Mary's match its contribution. The syllabus was revised and the diploma became a four-year program, with three years in arts and one in journalism.

In 1962, the new school, called the Atlantic School of Journalism and Communications, was operating, with a budget of $10,950. 10 A communications library was established, and plans for a degree program of four or five years' length were underway. King's agreed to rent space to the School for $6,000 annually, but had not considered journalism courses as part of any other arts degree. Some lectures were held at the CBC building on South Park and Sackville Streets in Halifax, and at the Imperial Oil Building (probably the 1926 brick building at 1860 Upper Water Street).

By 1963, however, the School was in dire financial straits. Saint Mary's withdrew its support and funding, and the Director, Glen Hancock, returned to his former position at Imperial Oil. Local newspapers offered little support and did not wish to underwrite the School. While enrolment remained around 30 students and many graduates were working in journalistic positions in the Maritimes and elsewhere, the future of the School was uncertain.

The Calendar of 1963-1964 listed "Other courses - Diploma in Journalism. This course is one of three years and leads to a Diploma in Journalism. The Academic subjects are given at the constituent Colleges. The Professional subjects are taken in common, and conducted by practical newspaper and radio people."

The Atlantic School of Journalism and Communications operated under its own board of governors, with King's President Dr. A. Stanley Walker serving as chairman. It had a Director of Studies and an academic staff of five lecturers. According to the 1963 Director's Report to the School of Journalism's Board of Governors, the original objectives were:

1) to provide career-training opportunities for young people interested in communications and to stimulate an interest in scientific research into the problems of media communications;
2) to create a reservoir of personnel for newspapers, magazines, radio and television stations, all now so much in need of new recruits with dedication and ability; and
3) to make some organized move to help improve the standards of Canadian journalism practice so that the almost unlimited freedom given to the Press by law and society will be justified by the performance of writers and editors who are aware of the tremendous responsibility placed upon them.

In 1964, the School proposed becoming part of King's to assure its continued operations, suggesting that it occupy space under the recently constructed Prince Hall; consideration was also given to locating the School in the space under the Chapel (now King's Theatrical Society's performance venue, the Pit), which had become available after Muir Gymnasium was built that year.

In 1965, the Atlantic School of Journalism and Communications closed due to lack of financial support. Bursaries were given to current students to continue their studies elsewhere. Glen Hancock, former director of the School, continued to teach a public relations extension course at King's. Supporters of the School hoped that funding could be found to reopen the School in future.

Extension courses in journalism kept the subject alive at King's following the closure of the Atlantic School of Journalism and Communications. The 1964-1965 Calendar stated: "Evening courses in public relations are offered each year to the general public. While these students are not required to meet university academic qualifications, they are expected to have a high standard of maturity and general knowledge established for the studies."

The extension courses were taught in 25 two-hour evening classes from October through April in the Haliburton Room on the second floor of the main building. Students who completed an extension course received a certificate at a ceremony in the classroom, to which guests were invited and at which sherry was served. Glen Hancock taught the extension courses from 1974-1985, offering journalism and public relations in alternating years. Public relations ceased being offered after 1979, with only journalism taught from 1980-1984. Extension courses were not listed in Calendars after 1984-1985.

The University of King's College School of Journalism was established in 1978. In 1974, President Graham Morgan began exploring the possibility of offering journalism classes in a more comprehensive program, and had a feasibility study done by Thomas, Giffen, Seaton Associates, Ltd., to explore the possibility of initiating a journalism program. A survey to determine the degree of interest was conducted in the spring of 1975, and the consultants' report was submitted to the Board of Governors in October. The study determined that the outlook was favourable, so the Board established an advisory council, engaged an academic consultant, and presented a proposal to the Maritime Provinces Higher Education Commission (MPHEC) on 1 Dec 1975, with a suggested date offall 1978 to commence operations. The President invited representatives from the local media and the Board of Governors to join the Advisory Planning Committee. The academic consultant's report was tabled in May 1976.

In 1976, King's applied to the MPHEC to institute degree-granting programs in the field of journalism. The MPHEC granted permission, and King's established two new programs in 1978: the four-year Bachelor of Journalism (Honours) (B.J.H.) degree for students with a high school diploma; and the one-year Bachelor of Journalism (B.J.) for students who already had an undergraduate degree.

The new school of journalism was to be an integral part of King's. Students would be obligated to enrol in the Foundation Year Programme and a French course. The school would be small and have rigorous entrance requirements. It would be housed in Classroom 1 in the basement of the main building. The promise of approximately $2,000 per student from the MPHEC in addition to student fees, the need for only three professors initially, the probability of help from the Government of Canada State Department, the Canada Department of Regional Economic Expansion (DREE) and the Nova Scotia Minister of Education, and increased renovation grants all combined to make the financial commitment less intimidating than the Board of Governors had originally calculated.

The school went through growing pains in its early years; there were issues with the lack of television and radio facilities and instruction, and its first director resigned in June 1979. George Bain, a renowned Canadian journalist, took on the directorship that October, and the school saw significantly increased enrolment. From 1980 to 1984, applications increased, with enrolment remaining at 20 to 30 students in each program, assuring quality of education through low teacher – student ratio. A radio room was installed in 1980-1981, although the School continued to use Dalhousie's facilities for television production. Writing for the School's student publication, The Monitor, and editing it and laying it out for printing became mandatory for fourth-year B.J.H. and one-year B.J. students.

After five years of existence, a review of the School showed generally positive results. Overall, it was perceived that applications were steady or rising, which allowed the School to enroll high caliber students.

In 1984, Walter Stewart, another noted Canadian journalist, became director, while George Bain, the former director, continued to teach at the School. All Directors' Reports to the President up to 1986 reported that a majority of graduates found placements at reputable media outlets. By 1986, the School had established internships with the Toronto Star and the chain of South Shore community newspapers operated by Lighthouse Publishing.

The University of King's College was the first university in Canada to offer a course in online journalism, and has continued as a leader in that field, with one of the few tenure-track faculties in Canada to specialize specifically in online journalism. Professors Tim Currie and Kim Kierans are co-editors (with Paul Benedetti) of Canada's definitive textbook for teaching online journalism, The New Journalist: Roles, Skills and Critical Thinking (Emond Montgomery, 2010).

In 2011, the School became the first university in Atlantic Canada to offer a Master of Journalism program. The M.J. is a "unique, new interdisciplinary program" emphasizing the importance of new technology in modem professional journalism: all graduates will be skilled in delivering multimedia content through websites, social media and mobile devices.30 The program has two streams: Investigative, concerned primarily with research and reporting methods, both traditional and emerging; and New Ventures, which equips students with "skills to develop a new journalism enterprise." The M.J. is a one-year degree (10 months of courses) aimed at students who already have a background in journalism. It offers skills transferable to public relations, marketing and other areas, but is billed as being "of maximal use to those who want to work in the news industry."