Private Giving
Penn State Intercom......October 17, 2002

Alumnus provides $1 million
gift to College of Communications

Alumnus James Jimirro, a 1958 graduate of Penn State, has provided a $1 million gift to the College of Communications -- one of the largest gifts in the history of the college -- to create the Jimirro Center for the Study of Media Influence.

Jimirro, a member of the Board of Visitors for the College of Communications, was named a Distinguished Alumnus by Penn State in 1985. He serves as president and chief executive officer of J2 Communications, a broad-based media company in Los Angeles. The company owns the National Lampoon trademark for home video, motion pictures, publishing, television and other entertainment media.

"The center will be built around faculty members and staff who collectively possess a blend of methodological expertise and media experience, thus ensuring that its studies will be done properly and that media nuances are not overlooked," said Doug Anderson, dean of the College of Communications.

The center is designed not simply to study what the media do and how they do it, but how they actually affect attitudes and thinking. The center will conduct research on everything from voting patterns to consumer buying habits, and attempt to establish causal relationships between media and behavior.

Prior to founding J2 Communications, Jimirro served as president of Walt Disney Telecommunications Co. from 1980 to 1985, and was the founding president of The Disney Channel. At that same time he was also president of Walt Disney Home Video, the largest producer and distributor of family home video programming. From 1973 to 1980, he was director of international sales and then executive vice president of Walt Disney Educational Media Co. Before 1973, Jimirro directed international sales for CBS Inc., and later for Viacom International.

$250,000 gift establishes scholarship
for sportswriting honoring Ridge Riley

Center for Sports Journalism established

A $250,000 gift from Richard D. and Arlene Small has endowed the Ridge Riley Journalism Scholarship for Sports Writing in the College of Communications.

The scholarship will provide financial assistance and recognition to outstanding full-time junior or senior students with an established financial need. Students must be enrolled in the College of Communications, majoring in journalism and planning to pursue a career in sports information or sportswriting. In addition, preference will be given to students who have achieved superior academic records and who have completed an internship in sports media.

The scholarship also provides a strong base for the Center for Sports Journalism that has been established within the College of Communications. With initial funding from an anonymous donor, the center will explore issues and trends in sports journalism through instruction, programming and research.

The Smalls created the scholarship in memory of Riley, whom they first met nearly 40 years ago in their role as owners of Alumni Holidays Inc., a travel company based in Rosemont, Ill. The gift represents another manner in which the Smalls have elected to honor Riley's memory. For years they have provided support for the Ridge Riley Award, presented annually to a senior member of the University football team who displays "sportsmanship, scholarship, leadership and friendship."

A 1932 graduate of Penn State who majored in journalism and served as editor of The Daily Collegian while an undergraduate, Riley was employed by the University as sports information director from 1935 to 1943 and as executive director of the Alumni Association from 1947 to 1970. He served as a member of the University's Board of Trustees from 1971 to 1976.

In 1938, Riley established The Football Letter and served as its author until his death in 1976. He also wrote one of the definitive books about Penn State football and its history. His Road to Number One was published in 1977.

Center for Sports Journalism established

A Center for Sports Journalism has been established in the College of Communications. Through instruction, programming and research the center will explore issues and trends in sports journalism.

Initial operating funds will be provided by an anonymous donor.

John Curley, professor of communications and former president, chairman and CEO of the Gannett Co., and Dean Doug Anderson will serve as co-directors for the center, which will consist of several parts. An area of curricular emphasis will include courses in sportswriting and sports information, as well as required off-campus sports internships at newspapers, magazines or electronic media and on-campus cocurricular work at The Daily Collegian, the sports information office or campus radio.

Sponsored programming will include panels, workshops and lectures on sports journalism topics.

The newly established Ridge Riley Journalism Scholarship in Sports Writing and the George E. Paterno Memorial Scholarship Fund will provide support for the top students who choose to specialize in sports journalism.

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