The Washington State Association of Broadcasters is pledging $100,000 to the new addition of the Edward R. Murrow School of Communication at Washington State University.
“The WSAB donation is tremendously important, not only because of the significant amount but also because of its symbolic value,” said Alex Tan, Director of the Murrow school. “This donation signals to the media and business community in the Northwest and the nation that the Murrow school has the support of the organization representing broadcasters in the state of Washington.”
The WSAB money, Tan said, will be used to help equip the digital broadcasting studio in the new building.
WSAB has been a staunch supporter of WSU’s broadcasting program for almost 50 years with scholarship donations by the group totaling nearly $100,000. WSAB members lecture in classrooms, participate in job fairs and symposia, and provide internships to students. WSU’s broadcasting program is the only one in Washington state currently supported by WSAB and the secretary/treasurer position of WSAB is held by a WSU broadcast faculty member Glenn Johnson.
The new addition will open in spring 2004. “The Murrow Addition will allow the Murrow School to strengthen its position as one of the elite communication programs in the world,” said Alex Tan. The addition is a $12.7 million project, which will provide students and faculty with the latest in digital broadcasting, research and computer technology. The addition will house research and teaching labs, a digital TV news studio, faculty offices and a 172-seat classroom auditorium.
WSAB will pay the $100,000 donation in four, annual $25,000 contributions.
