How the LJP Came to Be

Lopez

The first workshop was in February 2002. A year before, Northwest Arkansas educator Al “Papa Rap” Lopez and Katherine Shurlds, Lemke Journalism Project director, arranged a visit by local Latino high school students to the University of Arkansas Lemke Journalism Department where they heard from journalism students who encouraged them to consider journalism as a career.

What to do then?

Shurlds

Fortunately, Gerald Jordan, a journalism faculty member, had years of experience with similar programs in the Northeast. Interested faculty members came together and the LJP was born.

The UA Chancellor’s Office was the primary funding support as the project began in 2002.

Timeline

Jordan

2001

Latino students visit the journalism department.

2002

First Lemke Journalism Project

2004

Tanya Barrientos, Philadelphia Inquirer reporter, visits.

2005

Sergio Bustos, Gannett News Service reporter, and Gilbert Bailon, publisher and editor of Al Día, visit.

2006

Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation awards LJP two-year grant

Cynthia Rodriguez, a columnist for the Denver Post, visits.

2007

Macarena Rodriguez, The Dallas Morning News, visits

2010

Tyson Foods Inc. endows the future of LJP with a $250,000 gift to the University of Arkansas.