DOCUMENT RESUME ED 396 100 CE 071 752 AUTHOR Blakely, Caroline; Laubach, Robert S. TITLE Literacy Journalism at Syracuse University. A Thirty-Year History: 1952-1981. PUB DATE 96 NOTE 192p.; Photographs may not reproduce clearly. AVAILABLE FROM Lit-J Alumni, Robert S. Laubach, 226 Stratford Street, Syracuse, NY 13210 ($20 including postage). PUB TYPE Historical Materials (060) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC08 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Adult Basic Educatio-:: *Adult Literacy; Graduate Study; Higher :aucation; *Instructional Materials; *Journalism Education; *Journalism History; *Literacy Education; *Material Development; Periodicals IDENTIFIERS *Literacy Journalism; Syracuse University NY ABSTRACT This history of literacy journalism may be summarized as follows. Conceived in the early 1950s through the enthusiasm of Frank C. Laubach, the world's only graduate program for literacy journalism was started when his son, Robert Laubach, came to Syracuse University to study journalism. He was the student/instructor of the first class in 1951 and stayed to get a doctorate and to direct and teach the literacy journalism sequence until it ended in 1981. Literacy journalism was particularly concerned with developing countries and their "new readers." The class of 1958-59 decided to prepare a weekly newspaper for adults with low reading skills in English, "News for You," which was published by New Readers Press, started by Bob Laubach. In 1967, it became officially the publishing division of Laubach Literacy International. By 1959, Bob Laubachwas teaching the original course, Writing for New Literates; another called Adult Literacy Techniques; and special classes of adult educators sent by governments of developing nations to learneasy writing techniques. From 1955-63, he taught a 6-week intensivecourse at Chautauqua Institution. The history of literacy journalism in part 1 is followed by four personal stories by alumni and teachers--Roland E. Wolseley, Elizabeth Mooney Kirk, Caroline Blakely, and Robert S. Laubach. Appendixes include the following: career summaries of alumni; a bibliography of selected works by alumni; quotes from alumni; course outline for Writing for New Literates; "Editorial Performance Standards" (Kay Freeman); and list of alumni. (YLB) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. **********************************************:.****************** acyjournalism. atti,PacuseVtoereztin A thirty-year history: 1952-1981 U.S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Cake et Eoucahona! Research and Improvement EDUC TIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) This document has been reproduced as received frorn the person or organization originating it El Minor changes nave been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE TIIIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY Caroline Blakely c TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES Robert S. Laubach INFORMATION CEN ER (ERIC) 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE Literacy J ournalism At Syracuse University A Thirty- yearHistory 1952-1981 by Caroline Blakely Robert S. Laubach Copyright 1996 by Robert S. Laubach Privately published by Lit-J Alumni: Robert S. Laubach, President 226 Stratford Street Syracuse, NY 13210 (315) 474-3869 Copies of this book, $20, including postage. Cover design and art by Kerry Ryan. The authors express gratitude to Chandra Keller, for her computer literacy which helped to enhance the pagelayouts. The authors' thanks to the several dozen photographers, many of whom worked so long ago as tobecome anonymous; their images add greatly to the memories in this book. Text and photos in this volume were scanned and the book reproduced by Morrow Graphics, Inc., Syracuse, NY 13202 Dedication This work is dedictated to Frances Ilene Brown Laubach, 19281988. In life, through 35 years of marriage, she stood behind me and urged me ever onwards. Her gracious southern hospitality was remembered by all who met her; many persons mentioned in this book have been guests in our home. Fran was wife and mother who handled all details of a growing family with radiant cheerfulness. In death, her memory inspires me to keep going ever onwards. As my tribute to her, I can do no less. thu In Gratitude by Robert S. Laubach Lest the reader, on first opening this report, imagine that it is an account of one man's mission, this is my statement of thanks to many: To William P. Tolley, former chancellor of Syracuse University, who met my father, Frank C. Laubach, in the late '40s. Chancellor Tolley, as other educators have eloquently stated, set the stage for international education, including adult literacy, to be fostered at Syracuse University. To M. Lyle Spencer, founding dean of the S.U. School of Journalism, who opened the doors of the old Yates Castle to Literacy Journalism. To Wesley C. Clark, dean of the School of Journalism and later of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications during most of my thirty years of teaching. His keen support was friendly and unflagging. To my close colleagues in the Graduate Division of the School of Journalism, and the Magazine Department, where Literacy Journalism was housed: Prof. Roland E. Wolseley, who had already started the Religious Journalism program when I arrived, and who contributes a chapter in this report. Prof. George, L. Bird, whom the dean charged with helping to organize the curriculum for the M.A. Degree in Literacy Journalism. Prof. Robert Root, a close friend and mentor in the department, beginning with Dr. Wolseley's teaching abroad in India. Prof. Burton L. Marvin, the last of my close colleagues in the School of Journalism. To other professors in the School of Journalism, who taught me as a graduate student in journalism: Prof. Larry Siegfried, chairman of Graphic Arts, who helped me build upon the rudimentary training I had received as a teenager in the Philippines. Prof. Wesley Brewster, who nurtured my love of photography and helped me hone picture-taking and darkroom skills. To persons in the School of Education, in which I worked for my Ph.D. in Reading Education: Prof. William D. Sheldon, director of reading education, who challenged me to look beyond phonics, and who guided me through my dissertation. [iv] Margaret Early, professor of reading, who helped broaden my concepts of reading, and encouraged me to prepare materials for persons with limited reading abilities. Ray Kuhlen, professor of adult psychology, with whom I began to study adult motivations to learn. Alexander Charters, professor of adult education, who helped me see where literacy fits into the concept of lifelong learning, and who later was a member of the Board of Trustees of Laubach Literacy International. To A ifred D. Moore, executive secretary of the Committee on World Literacy and Christian Literature of the National Council of Churches, who provided a scholarship for my studies at Syracuse University. To John Ryder, a New York City advertising executive and recovered alcoholic, who took me.under his wing in the late 1940s and inspired me to fair play, hard work and a tolerance and understanding for others. To Tataro Macaindeg, the head printer at the mission press for the Maranaos in the first days of literacy in the Philippines in the 1930s. Tataro taught me at age 13 how to set type, unknowingly setting me on the course that would lead eventually to my career in literacy journalism. And to my parents, Effa Seely and Frank Charles Laubach, who gave their son a world of geography and of understanding that everyone is deserving of the service of love that literacy and writing for new literates can provide. [v] Table of Contents Dedication iii In Gratitude, by Robert S. Laubach iv Table of Contents vi Table. of Illustrations viii Introduction, by Alexander N. Charters Forword, by Caroline Blakely xiii Part 1 The History of Literacy Journalism Chapter 1 The First Class 1 Chapter 2 First Ca- le the Word 7 Chapter 3 The Class Starts a Newspaper 11 Chapter 4 Some Students in the '60s 19 Chapter 5 Teaching Techniques 27 Chapter 6 Dr. Bob as Teacher and Publisher 37 Chapter 7 Contributions of New Readers Press 49 Chapter 8 After the Fact: The S.U. Program Ends 58 Part 2 Four Personal Stories by Alumni and Teachers Chapter 9 Roland E. Wolseley 69 Genesis of Two Programs Chapter 13 Elizabeth Mooney Kirk 75 My Adventures in Literacy Journalism Chapter 11 Caroline Blakely 86 Literacy Journalism Changed my Life Chapter 12 Robert S. Laubach 91 A Lifetime with Literacy Journalism Appendices Appendix A Career Summaries of Alumni 105 Appendix B Bibliography: Selected Works by Alumni 133 Appendix C Quotes from Alumni 151 Appendix D Course Outline, Writing for New Literates 159 Appendix E Editorial Performance Standards by Kay Koschnick Freeman 163 Appendix F List of Alumni 167 Illustrations Literacy Journalism display in Syracuse Public Library, 1960s xii (Top) Frank C. Laubach, Dean and Mrs. Wesley C. Clark and students xvii Elizabeth Mooney (Kirk), Sally Cunningham, Pat McCoppin (Win) (Bottom) Fred Rex, Pat McCoppin (Win), Thaung Win Dr. Robert Root, Bob Laubach 2 People long to read in Asia and Africa 5 Dean M. Lyle Spencer, Dr. Frank Laubach 6 Dean Wesley C. Clark, Dr. Roland E. Wolseley 8 Yates Castle, 1951, home of the School of Journalism 10 News for You, First Issue 12 Ton-Shun (Tom) Chang, Earl 0. Roe, Graham Leonard 14 George Wanyee, Richard Katongole, John Stauffer 15 George and Charlotte Gillespie, Samuel Habib, Prof. Wesley Brewster 16 "The People" and Nhom Nheong 18 Nan (Larry) Lin, Thomas Hanson, Felix Konu, Samuel Otoo 20 Marjorie Shelley, Marjorie Buck, Nir Marden Basnyat, 23 U Tha Nyunt, Luckson Ejofodomi, The Bajekals Genevieve Jones, Willie Mae Watson, Fred Morris, Dorothy Ayers 25 International social life 26 Bob Laubach, Elizabeth Showalter, Michaeline del Gatto (Kenyon); Bob's class in 1954 28 News for You, Issue of August 21, 1968 30 Bob's Literacy Journalism class in 1960 34 Bob (right) and the first class in 1952 35 (Top) "Dr.