UNC School of Media and Journalism dean emeritus Jean Folkerts has won the 2016 Sidney Kobre Award for Lifetime Achievement in Journalism History.

Folkerts served as dean of the UNC MJ-school from 2005-11 and is currently a visiting professor and scholar at the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications at Kansas State University.

The Kobre Award is the American Journalism Historians highest honor that recognizes individuals with achievements in journalism history through research, teaching and professional activities.

David Nord, a professor emeritus of journalism at Indiana University said in a release that Folkerts book, “Voices of a Nation: A History of Mass Media in the United States” is highly influential.

Her book “has been perhaps the most popular and substantial textbook in the field for 25 years,” Nord said. “Thousands of students have learned the history of American journalism from it.”

Folkerts earned her undergraduate degree in journalism with concentrations in English and Sociology from Kansas State University.

She earned her Master’s Degree in journalism from Kansas State University, a Master’s in philosophy from University of Kansas and a doctorate degree in American Studies from University of Kansas.

Folkerts will receive the award at AJHA’s annual convention in October.

Related Stories
‹
UNC Journalism School Acknowledges Diversity Shortcomings Amid Review
The UNC Hussman School of Journalism acknowledged it “has not met its own ideals for creating an environment of diversity and inclusion” on Tuesday, in an email statement from interim dean Heidi Hennink-Kaminski. The statement is a response to the school being downgraded to provisional accreditation status by the Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism […]
$21 Million Gift Supporting New UNC Media School
A $21 million gift from the Curtis Foundation to UNC includes the largest ever contribution to the university’s School of Media and Journalism. From the gift, $8 million will go to the construction of the Curtis Media Center, a “flexible,” learning space that emphasizes collaboration between students and staff while making available the latest technology, […]
New UNC School of Nursing Dean
The UNC School of Nursing has named a new dean for the nationally recognized school. Nilda Peragallo Montano was approved by the UNC Board of Trustees to begin as dean of the School of Nursing beginning January of next year. “We are pleased to welcome Nena Peragallo Montano as the dean of the School of […]
UNC Students in Rio for the 2016 Olympic Games
Tar Heels are taking over the 2016 Rio Olympic Games. Seventeen former Tar Heels are competing in various sports in the Olympic Games in the next two weeks. Additionally, more than two dozen UNC students and recent graduates are currently in Rio professionally covering the games. Brendan Marks, a rising senior at UNC who is […]
Chansky's Notebook: New Dimension
Caleb Wilson is not only a spectacular talent, but he is serving a role that very few UNC players have taken on in their first year.
Chansky's Notebook: Sophomore Slippage
UNC's schedule for the 2026 football season is out, and Art Chansky says it is very, very bad news for Bill Belichick's second year.
UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts Named to College Football Playoff Board of Managers
Carolina will have a say in the College Football Playoff. But it’s not in the way hopeful Tar Heel fans may have anticipated. UNC Chancellor Lee Roberts was named to the CFP’s Board of Managers last week, replacing retired Clemson University President Jim Clements. The CFP Board of Managers is comprised of 11 university presidents […]
Schedule Set for UNC Football's 2026 Season
The UNC football program now has its complete schedule for the 2026 season. The ACC revealed all of the league members’ schedules Monday night. Your 2026 North Carolina Football Schedule. 🐏 🔗: https://t.co/VQdkI47r8n🎟️: https://t.co/XERIbvZEH8 pic.twitter.com/6Zb5uSn1y3 — Carolina Football (@UNCFootball) January 26, 2026 UNC will open the season in Dublin, Ireland against TCU as part of […]
UNC Men's Basketball Rises to No. 16 in Latest AP Poll
After a home win against Notre Dame and a road win at then-No. 14 Virginia, UNC rose six spots in the latest AP Top 25 poll to No. 16 this week. UNC’s six-spot jump is the largest of any team in the poll. After dropping to No. 22 following road losses at unranked Stanford and […]
UNC Cancels Class, Shuts Down Campus Through Tuesday Amid Winter Storm Fern
On Sunday, UNC announced it would extend its Condition 2 status for campus through 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 27 based on icy conditions.
›