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Lorraine Branham

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Lorraine Branham
Born
Lorraine Elizabeth Green

(1952-12-07)December 7, 1952[1]
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedApril 2, 2019(2019-04-02) (aged 66)[2][3]
Fayetteville, New York, U.S.
OccupationDean of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University
SpouseMel Williams
Academic background
Alma materTemple University
Stanford University
InfluencesEd Bradley[1]
Academic work
InstitutionsUniversity of Texas at Austin
Syracuse University

Lorraine Elizabeth Branham (December 7, 1952 – April 2, 2019) was an American newspaper editor and the Dean of the S. I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University.[1] She was considered one of the most important African American academics in journalism and was well known for her mentoring of young journalists.[4][5][6][7]

Early life and education

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Branham was born on December 7, 1952, in Philadelphia to Jesse Williams and Leona Green. After her parents split up early, she was raised by her mother and her stepfather, Henry Walls. She was the oldest of her 13 siblings.[1] She graduated from Overbrook High School in Philadelphia and majored in radio, television and film at the Klein College of Media and Communication of Temple University, graduating in 1976.[8][9]

Branham was married to Norris Branham, with whom she had a son before divorcing.[9] During her college years, she was a single mother.[10] She married Melvin Williams in 1997. She kept her surname when she married Williams.[1]

Branham was a John S. Knight Fellow at Stanford University in 1986.[11]

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Branham began her professional career in 1976 as a reporter with The Philadelphia Tribune.[12] She held reporting and editing jobs at Camden Courier-Post in New Jersey, The Philadelphia Bulletin, and The Baltimore Sun.

From 1987 to 1996, Branham worked for The Philadelphia Inquirer. She rose through the newspaper's management ranks, including stints as New Jersey editor and city desk in Philadelphia, before being named associate managing editor for features.[9]

In February 1996 Branham was hired as the executive editor of The Tallahassee Democrat in Tallahassee, Florida, where she was the first woman and first African-American in that position.[13] She was forced out for editorship at Democrat in October 1999 over declining readership.[14][15][16] She took a position as assistant to the publisher at The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, where she worked until 2002.[13]

Academic career

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During her newspaper days, Branham taught reporting and writing at Temple University.[9] She also taught in the summer program for minority journalists at the University of California, Berkeley. She was a Hearst Visiting Professional-in-Residence at the University of Missouri, the University of Florida, and the California Polytechnic State University in San Luis Obispo, California.[17]

After spending 25 years in professional ranks, Branham became the director of School of Journalism and the G.B. Dealey Regents Professor at the University of Texas at Austin from 2002 to 2008.[18][19][20][21]

Newhouse School

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Branham was chosen from a field of 300 applicants to be dean of the Newhouse School effective July 2008.[13][22] She replaced David Rubin, who had served in the same post for previous 18 years.[23]

During Branham's tenure, the school established the Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship[24] the Diane and Bob Miron Digital News Center, the Peter A. Horvitz Endowed Chair in Journalism Innovation,[25] and the W2O Group Center for Social Commerce.[26] Branham championed the development of the student-produced news website The NewsHouse.[27] Under her leadership, the Newhouse School created its sports communications emphasis and the Newhouse Sports Media Center.[28] She also helped establish satellite campus programs, Newhouse in New York and Syracuse University Los Angeles Semester.[2][13][29][30][31]

Branham oversaw an $18 million fundraising campaign for the renovation of Newhouse 2 and creation of multiple new facilities.[23][32][33] In September 2014, Oprah Winfrey was the guest of honor during dedication of the new Newhouse Studio and Innovation Center, featuring Dick Clark Studios and the Alan Gerry Center for Media Innovation.[34][35][36]

She was also determined to make the school more diverse. Amy Falkner, who succeeded Branham as the acting dean, said that during Branham's tenure the percentage of faculty members of color increased to 25 percent from 17 percent, and the percentage of women on the faculty increased to 45 percent from 35 percent. A quarter of the student body is now people of color, and two-thirds of the students are women.[1][4][23][37][38]

After her death, Amy Falkner served in the interim capacity until Mark J. Lodato was appointed to the position in March 2020.[39] Donald Newhouse, whose father founded the Newhouse school, was grateful for her service to the school and profession, and said that Branham had taken "a great school and with a monumental effort remolded it to keep it relevant to a world that is constantly in flux".[1][2]

Awards

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She served as a juror for the Pulitzer Prize journalism awards,[41] the Selden Ring Award for Investigative Journalism, the Scripps National Journalism Awards, and many other journalism award committees.[17]

Death and legacy

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Branham, who lived outside Syracuse, died of uterine cancer on April 2, 2019.[2]

Syracuse University and the Newhouse School established two scholarship programs in her memory to recruit and support Newhouse students from socioeconomically disadvantaged populations and other underrepresented groups.[42][43]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g Seelye, Katharine Q. (11 April 2019). "Lorraine Branham, Journalism Dean and Mentor, Dies at 66". The New York Times. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d McMahon, Julie (2 April 2019). "Syracuse University Newhouse dean dies after battle with cancer". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  3. ^ "Lorraine Branham Obituary (2019)". Syracuse Post Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  4. ^ a b Walker, DeArbea (2019). "A 'Drum Major' for Excellence". National Association of Black Journalists: 20–22. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  5. ^ Darnell, Casey; Stern, Gabe; Muller, Jordan; Rose, Kennedy (2 April 2019). "Newhouse School Dean Lorraine Branham dies of cancer". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  6. ^ Allen, Jo; Gavle, Erin; Mason, Lawrence (3 April 2019). "Students, alum remember Newhouse dean's remarkable legacy". The NewsHouse. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  7. ^ Berry, Karin D. (3 April 2019). "Lorraine Branham showed me that a black woman could succeed in journalism". Andscape. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  8. ^ Rooney, Shannon (11 April 2019). "Remembering Lorraine Branham, KLN '76". Klein College of Media and Communication. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  9. ^ a b c d Cook, Bonnie L. (April 3, 2019). "Lorraine Branham, 66, respected editor and Syracuse journalism dean". The Philadelphia Inquirer. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  10. ^ Weissman, Sara (September 27, 2019). "Temple University Scholarship Honors Journalist Alumna". Diverse: Issues In Higher Education. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Class of 1986". Stanford JSK. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  12. ^ Jones, Ayana (April 2, 2019). "Lorraine Branham, 66, Philly native, Syracuse dean of communications". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  13. ^ a b c d Dobson, Byron (April 3, 2019). "Lorraine Branham, first female and African American editor at Tallahassee Democrat, dies at 66". Tallahassee Democrat. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  14. ^ Nicholson, Joe (23 October 1999). "Top Black Woman Editor Forced Out". Editor & Publisher. 132 (43). Duncan McIntosh: 6. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  15. ^ Inman-Crews, Dorothy (17 November 1999). "Editor's departure offends many in black community". Tallahassee Democrat. p. 19. Retrieved 7 February 2021 – via Newspapers.com. Open access icon
  16. ^ Prince, Richard (April 16, 2019). "When the Editor Is Black, It Can Get Complex". journal-isms.com. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  17. ^ a b c "Lorraine Branham". Lew Klein Awards. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  18. ^ Seale, Avrel (March 2008). "The Uncertain Times". The Alcalde. Austin, TX: Emmis Communications. p. 42. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Director of Journalism School Appointed Dean of Newhouse School at Syracuse". UT News (Press release). 12 March 2008. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  20. ^ Hanson Jr., John L; Branham, Lorraine E.; Sylvie, George (5 June 2019). "Remembering Dr. Lorraine E. Branham, Dean Of Communications School At Syracuse University". KUT. Austin, TX. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  21. ^ Golter, Graysen (April 21, 2019). "UT-Austin school of journalism remembers former director Lorraine Branham". The Daily Texan. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  22. ^ Mariani, John (15 January 2008). "Two candidates remain for Newhouse dean". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  23. ^ a b c Rubin, David M. (5 April 2019). "Commentary: Newhouse dean steered school through media turbulence". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  24. ^ Center for Digital Media Entrepreneurship
  25. ^ Loughlin, Wendy S. (June 28, 2012). "New endowed chair in Newhouse School will support journalism innovation". SU News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  26. ^ W2O Group Center for Social Commerce
  27. ^ The NewsHouse
  28. ^ Newhouse Sports Media Center
  29. ^ "Message from Chancellor Kent Syverud". SU News. April 2, 2019. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  30. ^ Zilcosky, Katie (April 2, 2019). "S.I. Newhouse School Dean Lorraine Branham Passes After Battle With Cancer". WAER. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  31. ^ Levin, Christina (May 10, 2011). "Face Time with Dean Lorraine Branham". Jerk Magazine. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  32. ^ Tobin, Dave (27 September 2014). "Syracuse University's Newhouse renovations bring Dick Clark legacy and Oprah together". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  33. ^ "Lorraine Branham, Syracuse University dean and former Baltimore Sun reporter, dies". Baltimore Sun. AP. April 11, 2019. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  34. ^ Appelo, Tim (9 October 2014). "Oprah Winfrey Cuts Ribbon at $18 Million Newhouse/Dick Clark Studios at Syracuse U." The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  35. ^ Brauder, David (6 June 2013). "Dick Clark to have Syracuse University studio named for him". Christian Science Monitor. Associated Press. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  36. ^ Eisenstadt, Marnie (29 September 2014). "Oprah Winfrey offers advice to a crowd of thousands at SU ribbon cutting". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  37. ^ Palmer, Annie (28 December 2012). ""Women of Distinction" featuring Gabrielle Union". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  38. ^ Stewart, Kanya (April 2, 2019). "NABJ Mourns the Loss of Distinguished Educator, Journalist Lorraine Branham". National Association of Black Journalists (Press release). Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  39. ^ Breidenbach, Michelle (23 March 2020). "Syracuse University's Newhouse journalism school appoints new dean". Syracuse Post-Standard. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  40. ^ Booker, Bobbi (14 June 2011). "Philadelphia Association of Black Journalists 6th Annual Awards Ceremony". Tribune / On Point Communications. Archived from the original on 14 February 2021. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  41. ^ "Finalist: Jane Healy of The Orlando Sentinel". www.pulitzer.org. 2007. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  42. ^ Loughlin, Wendy S. (October 23, 2020). "Newhouse School Establishes Scholarship Program in Memory of Late Dean Lorraine Branham". SU News. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
  43. ^ Alessandrini, Sarah (22 October 2020). "Newhouse establishes scholarship in honor of late dean Lorraine Branham". The Daily Orange. Retrieved 7 February 2021.
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