Michael Jordan and Jordan Brand's investment of over $1 million in Morehouse College has led to the opening of the Morehouse Multimedia Center, a facility providing students with hands-on experience in journalism, filmmaking, podcasting, and digital storytelling. The center supports the college's expanded journalism curriculum focused on sports, culture, and social justice.
- The $1 million+ commitment was made in 2021 to support scholarships, technology, and academic programming at Morehouse College.
- The Morehouse Multimedia Center offers professional equipment and training for aspiring media professionals within the Journalism in Sports, Culture and Social Justice department.
- Content produced using the center's resources garnered over 1 million social media views in August and contributed to a student Emmy Award-winning interview.
- Morehouse launched its Journalism in Sports, Culture and Social Justice major in 2022, emphasizing storytelling with social impact.
- Nearly 120 Morehouse journalism alumni work in media and sports careers, with over 60 earning advanced degrees in the field.
Five Years After Michael Jordan And Jordan Brand Committed More Than $1 Million To Morehouse, Students Now Have A New Space For Journalism, Podcasting, Filmmaking And Digital Storytelling
Michael Jordan’s investment in the next generation of Black journalists and storytellers has taken on a new form at Morehouse College.
The historically Black college in Atlanta celebrated the opening of its new Morehouse Multimedia Center a state-of-the-art facility supported by a more than $1 million commitment Jordan and Jordan Brand made to the college in 2021.
The original investment was designated for scholarships, technology and academic programming for students studying journalism and sports-related fields. Five years later, that support has helped Morehouse expand its journalism curriculum and establish a dedicated space where students can gain hands-on experience producing professional media.
New Center Gives Students Hands-On Media Experience
Located within Morehouse’s Journalism in Sports, Culture and Social Justice department, the Multimedia Center is designed to serve aspiring reporters, editors, filmmakers, sports broadcasters, podcasters and digital content creators.
Students will have access to professional equipment and training in digital storytelling, filmmaking, podcasting, sports broadcasting and emerging media technologies. Award-winning content creators will also work with students as they develop skills for careers across the changing media industry.
“We’re pleased to support Morehouse College and its students as they prepare for the next chapter of their careers,” Shauncey Mashia Stelly, senior director of Global Purpose for Jordan Brand, said in a statement. “We hope this space provides students with valuable opportunities to learn, create, and grow.”
The investment has already produced results. Morehouse said content created with equipment purchased for the center generated more than 1 million social media views in August. Training connected to the center also contributed to an interview produced by The Maroon Tiger, Morehouse’s student newspaper, that received a student Emmy Award.
Building More Black Voices In Journalism
Morehouse launched its Journalism in Sports, Culture and Social Justice major in 2022, building on a journalism program whose history stretches back to 2007.
Mikki Harris, chair of the department and an associate professor, said the program was designed to teach students not only how to tell stories but to understand the larger purpose and social impact behind them.
“When we launched our journalism major in 2022, we envisioned a program grounded in the liberal arts where students engage the ‘why’ behind storytelling and social impact,” Harris said.
She said Jordan and Jordan Brand’s support allowed Morehouse to expand the curriculum and create a practical counterpart to what students learn in the classroom.
“The Center serves as the bridge between critical thinking and professional practice for our students,” Harris said.
Nearly 120 Morehouse journalism alumni are currently working in media and sports careers, while more than 60 graduates have gone on to earn advanced degrees in the field.
