The Graduate School of Journalism of The City University of New York today received a $4 million endowment gift from the sisters of retired New York Times publisher Arthur Ochs “Punch” Sulzberger to provide scholarships in his name to talented students with limited financial resources.

The gift was announced by Marian Heiskell, Ruth Holmberg and Dr. Judith Sulzberger to honor their brother. Mr. Sulzberger was publisher of The Times from 1963 to 1992, a period in which the paper gained significantly in management strength, financial success and editorial breadth.

The gift was one of two awarded by the Sulzberger sisters to advance journalism education in New York. A parallel gift was made to the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism to create an advanced management training program for news organization executives.

“We make this double gift in gratitude for all that Punch has done for his family, for The New York Times and for American journalism over three decades,” Ms. Heiskell, Ms. Holmberg and Dr. Sulzberger said. “In his modest way, he would never admit to having achieved anything special but anyone who knows this business understands how much he accomplished. In journalism, professional quality and business success are all too often in conflict. Punch has set a courageous example of success on both sides.

“Columbia has always been one of his true loves. For its Graduate School of Journalism to create this training program will offer his enduring example to future leaders of the field. For City University to create this scholarship program will enrich journalism with the talents of students who would otherwise be deterred by the cost of private graduate education.

“These grants are a tangible way for us to demonstrate our feelings for Punch and we do so with affection, admiration and applause.”

The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism will open in September 2006 and will offer a three-semester program leading to an M.A. degree. As the only publicly supported graduate school of journalism in the northeast, one of its key goals is to attract to the profession more minorities, immigrants and other under-represented individuals of high talent.

Up to 20 students per year will be designated Punch Sulzberger Scholars and will receive varying levels of assistance to cover tuition and living expenses, based on financial need. Proceeds from the endowment gift will also support select students in summer internships with local and national community news outlets.

CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein said it was a great honor to have the Sulzberger sisters create the founding endowment to the new journalism school. “Punch Sulzberger is a renowned leader in the field of journalism. This significant gift inspires us as we prepare new journalists to understand and report on our ever-changing world.”

The Graduate School of Journalism will have an initial class of 50 and grow to 150 students per class within five years. It will be located near Times Square in space formerly occupied by the legendary New York Herald Tribune. The new headquarters of The New York Times will be right next door.

Stephen B. Shepard, founding dean of the School, said, “This generous gift will, over the years, allow many dozens of students whose finances do not match their great talents to enter the journalism profession. It is a marvelous way to honor the legacy of Punch Sulzberger, and its impact will be felt by our students, our university, our profession and our city for decades to come.”

The CUNY Graduate School of Journalism will prepare students in print, broadcast and online journalism, with particular emphasis on the increasing convergence of all media formats. Other features of the new School include preparation for reporting in three broad content areas, paid summer internships, a student-run Community News Service, and student access to CUNY TV, a 24-hour cable television station located nearby. For more information on the School of Journalism, go to www.cuny.edu/journalism.

Contact information:

CUNY Graduate School of Journalism
Dean Stephen B. Shepard
917-697-8959, 212-794-5617

For the Sulzberger sisters
Andrea Markezin
212-556-7715

Columbia Graduate School of Journalism
Robert Hornsby
212-854-9752