Columbia: Home of the World’s First School of Journalism

Columbia, Missouri, is the smallest town in the United States that still has two daily newspapers, both of which offer home delivery. One is the Columbia Daily Tribune, founded in September 1901 by former University of Missouri students Charles Monro Strong and Barratt O’Hara, who later became a congressman for Illinois. The other is the Columbia Missourian, a nonprofit publication owned by the Missourian Publishing Association and founded by Walter Williams in 1908 as a laboratory for the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Williams was the founding dean of the school, the first institution of its kind in the world.

In 1902, Earnest M. Mitchell joined the two Tribune founders. He bought out Strong in 1905 but succumbed to typhoid fever. In 1905, Edwin Moss Watson bought the newspaper, and the Watson and Waters families’ ownership lasted until 2016, when they sold the paper to GateHouse. It later merged with Gannett, and the combined company assumed the Gannett name.

There’s plenty of newspaper history to see in Columbia. The world’s first School of Journalism has two stone lion statues dating from China’s Ming dynasty (1368–1644) that were a gift from the Chinese government in 1931. They grace the arch between Neff and Walter Williams Halls. Nearby are stones from St. Paul’s Cathedral in London and a stone from the British Parliament building, gifts from the British government, and a stone lantern from Japan. All were given to recognize the birthplace of journalism education as a university discipline.

On weekdays, visitors can tour the School of Journalism and see a bust of Walter Williams in the lobby of his namesake building and his widely quoted “Journalist’s Creed,” memorialized in bronze on the first floor of Neff Hall, the original journalism building. The creed can also be found on the façade of the Missouri Press Association, one block north of the School of Journalism on Eighth Street. The creed is a definitive code of ethics for journalists, and a copy is posted inside the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

Williams started in the newspaper world as an apprentice at the Boonville Topic, making 75 cents a week. When the Topic merged with the Boonville Advertiser in 1884, he was hired as editor at 20 years old. Two years later, he became a part-owner of the newspaper and was elected president of the Missouri Press Association. He began editing the now-defunct Columbia Herald in 1889.

Williams started advocating for the establishment of a school of journalism about this time to improve the training of journalists and replace the typical route of apprenticeship. The Missouri General Assembly finally was swayed by his efforts in 1905 and approved the addition of the School of Journalism with Williams as dean.

When it opened in 1908, the school had 97 students and three faculty members. Its first graduate earned his bachelor’s degree in 1909. The school later granted the first master’s and doctoral degrees in journalism in the country.

Williams traveled extensively. He promoted the 1904 St. Louis World’s Fair and then traveled to colleges and universities throughout the world to promote journalism education. He even helped to establish a School of Journalism at China’s Yenching University in 1928. Williams was so admired that he was named president of the University of Missouri despite having no college degree.

The School of Journalism still teaches using the Missouri Method, which provides practical hands-on training in all aspects of journalism, from real- world news coverage to strategic communication (advertising and public relations). Students often win competitions against professionals, and as graduates, many have earned Pulitzer Prizes.

Also in Columbia is The State Historical Society of Missouri on Elm Street, which houses a microfilm collection, including almost all newspapers ever published in the state (appointments are advised).

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