CNN Honors Richard Davis With Journalism Fellowship
The news network committed $300,000 to the fellowship as tribute to retiring executive vice president of news standards and practices.
As longtime CNN exec Richard Davis retired last month, he was honored with a journalism fellowship in his name at the University of Maryland Philip Merrill College of Journalism. CNN and Merrill College established the CNN Richard Davis Endowed Distinguished Graduate Fellowship in Journalism.
Davis, who retired at the end of January as CNN’s executive vice president of news standards and practices since 1998, is a 1984 graduate of Merrill College and a member of its Board of Visitors.
CNN committed $300,000 to fund the fellowship, which benefits Merrill graduate students.
“Rick Davis is a CNN original. CNN would not be what it is without him,” said Jeff Zucker, chairman of WarnerMedia News and Sports, and president of CNN Worldwide. “This fellowship will have a goal of supporting diversity in the newsroom as well as provide training for newsroom leadership. We can think of no better way to show our appreciation for Rick than the well-trained journalists of the future.”
Of the honor, Davis said, “It’s hard to express my appreciation and joy since it combines three of my great passions: CNN, the University of Maryland and helping to grow diversity in America’s newsrooms.
“I look forward to meeting and, yes, mentoring the recipients of the fellowship who will have the benefit of working with my remarkable colleagues at CNN’s Washington bureau. My connection to Maryland extends to my daughter Sarah, and son-in-law Jonathan Michaels, both Maryland grads. For me, this is a real family affair.”
Davis earned his master’s degree in television production/communications from the University of Maryland in 1984 and established two Davis Scholarships in Journalism at Merrill College. He also has met and mentored scholarship recipients.
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