21
Sep
2023 – Wallace House Celebrates
Wallace House recognizes 50 years of journalism fellowships at the University of Michigan and welcomes its 50th class of fellows.
FOSTERING EXCELLENCE
IN JOURNALISM
SINCE 1973
2023
2022
1
Sep
2022 – Wallace House Center for Journalists
A new name reflects our support for the careers of journalists, press freedom issues and informed civic engagement.
2020
1
Sep
2020 – Knight-Wallace Reporting Fellowships
Wallace House adapts our fellowship model to address the remote needs of Covid-19.
More about the Reporting Fellowship experience »
2019
1
Sep
2019 – First Trip to Puerto Rico
Organized by former Fellow Luis Trelles ‘19, the fellowship class of 2020 travels to Puerto Rico for an immersion into national identity, community empowerment, politics and culture.
2017
1
Sep
2017 – Wallace House Presents Is Launched
This event series invites journalists whose work is at the forefront of national conversation to engage with the U-M community and the public.
2016
1
Sep
2016 – First Trip to South Korea
The Knight-Wallace Fellows travel to Asia for the first time since expanding international news tours beyond North America in 2000.
1
Sep
2016 – Lynette Clemetson Is Named the Charles R. Eisendrath Director of Wallace House
Lynette Clemetson succeeds Eisendrath as director of Wallace House. A 2010 Fellow, she was a reporter for The New York Times and Newsweek and Senior Director of Strategy and Content Initiatives at NPR.
2015
1
Sep
2015 – Knight-Wallace Fellowships and the Livingston Awards Rebrand
Our two major programs, the Knight-Wallace Fellowships and the Livingston Awards, are rebranded under Wallace House.
2009
1
Sep
2009 – First Trip to Russia
Organized by former fellow Matthias Schepp ’05 and Knight-Wallace Fellowship assistant director Birgit Rieck, the class of 2009 spent eight days in Moscow, including a visit with former Soviet president Mikhail Gorbachev.
2005
1
Sep
2005 – First Fellowship Trip to Turkey
Ferhat Boratav of CNN Türk, Istanbul, hosts the Fellows in the first of ten trips to Turkey.
2002
1
Sep
2002 – A New Era: Knight-Wallace Fellows at Michigan
A $5 million dollar challenge grant from the Knight Foundation and a $1 million dollar gift from Mike Wallace launched a new era for the program and a new name: Knight-Wallace Fellows at Michigan.
2000
1
Sep
2000 – First Trip to Argentina
Fellowship launches international travel to Argentina. These annual trips include meetings with government officials and leading newspaper editors.
1992
1
Sep
1992 – The Fellowship and Livingston Awards Find a Permanent Home on Oxford Road
The programs move to a new home when Wallace House is purchased with a $500,000 gift from Mike and Mary Wallace.
1987
8
Sep
1987 – Michigan Journalism Fellows
The program is renamed Michigan Journalism Fellows.
1986
8
Sep
1986 – The Annual Graham Hovey Lecture Is Established
Created by Charles Eisendrath, the annual event recognizes a Knight-Wallace alum whose career exemplifies the benefits of a fellowship at the University of Michigan and whose ensuing work is at the forefront of our national conversation.
8
Sep
1986 – Charles R. Eisendrath Becomes Director
Charles R. Eisendrath becomes director of the Michigan Journalism Fellows program. A Time magazine correspondent in Washington, London and Paris and bureau chief in Buenos Aires, he was a Fellow in 1974 and joined the University of Michigan faculty in 1975.
1985
8
Sep
1985 – $750,000 Gift From the Knight Foundation
A $750,000 gift from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation ensures the continuation of the program when the end of federal support threatens its existence.
1984
1
Sep
1984 – Journalists in Residence
The NEH Fellowships program is renamed Journalists in Residence.
1981
7
Jun
1981 – Inaugural Livingston Awards
Mollie Parnis Livingston establishes the Livingston Awards for Young Journalists to spotlight journalists under the age of 35. Richard Clurman, Chief of Correspondents for Time-Life News Service, conceives of the awards with Mollie and brings aboard Charles Eisendrath to design and implement the prize.
1980
1
Sep
1980 – Graham Hovey Becomes Director
Graham Hovey (1916–2010) succeeds Ben Yablonky as the director of the fellowship program.
1973
4
Sep
1973 – First Class of Fellows (1973–1974)
Among the journalists in the inaugural class is Charles Gibson, a reporter and anchor at WMAL TV in Washington, D.C.. Gisbon went on to become the anchor of “Good Morning America” and “World News Tonight,” both at ABC News.
1972
1
Nov
1972 – National Endowment for the Humanities Journalism Fellowships Established by Ben Yablonky
Ben Yablonky (1910–1991), U-M journalism professor and former Nieman fellow (1946), receives funding from the National Endowment for the Humanities for a mid-career journalism fellowship program at the University of Michigan.