Ohio University College of Communication to Administer Annual Award 
ATHENS, Ohio -- The finest examples of investigative reporting in the print media will be recognized by the newly established Ursula and Gilbert Farfel Prize for Excellence in Investigative Reporting. The establishment of the $25,000 award, funded by a $500,000 gift to Ohio University's Bicentennial Campaign by Ursula and Dr. Gilbert Farfel and administered by the university's College of Communication, was announced Tuesday, Jan. 13, in Columbus, Ohio.
"We are honored to work with the Farfels to establish this prestigious national award because it shares our focus on commitment to journalistic excellence," said Ohio University College of Communication Dean Kathy Krendl. "It will bring a great deal of prestige to this institution as well as to the field of investigative journalism."
Frank Deaner, executive director of the Ohio Newspaper Association, said. "It is appropriate that this national award is being announced in Ohio, which has always been a leading newspaper state."
Single journalists or teams from print media who cover a story completely and raise public consciousness and/or awareness about a topic are eligible for the award. The recipient(s) will be invited to serve as a visiting professional in Ohio University's College of Communication.
"As important as this award is to fuel ongoing initiative in investigative reporting, it also provides for the recipient to share their knowledge, their expertise and their curiosity with our students by inviting them to join us at Ohio University as a visiting professional in our College of Communication," said Ohio University President Robert Glidden.
The Ohio University College of Communication consistently ranks as one of the nation's best communications programs, with graduates, faculty and students who have been awarded or involved with at least 24 Pulitzer Prizes. In addition, Writers Digest Magazine ranks the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism among the top five journalism schools nationally. "Investigative journalists do an important job, bringing to light things that we wouldn't know," said Ursula Farfel. "Gilbert and I admire their courage and tenacity, and we wanted to do something to award them for that."
"This prize emphasizes the timeless, enduring qualities of curiosity, tenacity, perseverance and ethics," said Thomas Hodson, director of the E.W. Scripps School of Journalism. "This emphasizes to students the important role of journalism as a watchdog in society."
In accordance with criteria of the award, Krendl will appoint a committee to review applications and nominations and make the final selection. The committee will include at least one Scripps School of Journalism faculty member, a reporter from the state of Ohio and three reporters or industry professionals from outside of the state. Judging and presenting of the Farfel Prize will be done in conjunction with the Scripps Howard Foundation.
The initial Award recipient(s) will be announced at the National Journalism Awards presented by the Scripps Howard Foundation at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., on Friday, April 23, and at the College of Communication Awards Banquet on Sunday, April 25, on the Ohio University campus in Athens, Ohio. Information on the award, including the entry form, is available online at www.ohio.edu/farfelprize.
The Farfels, who now reside in San Jose, Calif., married in 1960. The former Ursula Beatrice Feer earned her bachelor's degree from Ohio University and a master's degree from Rice University in Houston. She taught at a Houston high school and worked in The Cleveland Museum of Art's library. She was born in Maine, and her family moved to Switzerland when she was 9 years old before settling in Cleveland.
Gilbert S. Farfel, who grew up in Mount Vernon, N.Y., was a member of the Department of Internal Medicine at Permanente Medical Group of Northern California from 1964 until his retirement in 1992. He earned his bachelor's degree from Antioch College in Yellow Springs, Ohio, and his medical degree from Jefferson Medical College of Philadelphia.
The College of Communication provides both specialized training and a broad liberal education in all 44 programs offered by its five schools. It also provides experiential training through internships at 1,000 businesses and organizations and hands-on campus opportunities at six radio stations, two television stations, an award-winning regional magazine, a video production company, a cable news show, a public relations company and an independent student newspaper.
The Bicentennial Campaign - which has raised more than $190 million toward its goal of $200 million to celebrate Ohio University's bicentennial in 2004 - will provide money for scholarships, endowed professorships, technological enhancements, innovative programs and selected capital improvements.
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Related Link: http://www.ohio.edu/farfelprize/
Media Contact: Media Specialist Jack Jeffery, (740) 597-1793 or jefferyj@ohio.edu
Editors: Photos of the event are available online at:
