The Reynolds School of Journalism and Center for Advanced Media Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno has announced a grant of nearly $8 million from the Donald W. Reynolds Foundation to prepare students to navigate the changing landscape of journalism.

The grant will be used to re-wire and re-cable the journalism building, install a robust server system, replace analog TV and radio facilities, and create a multimedia newsroom in which students will learn how to write and present information on multiple platforms. UNR has begun a campaign to raise $1.6 million for a restricted fund to maintain the technology that will be purchased with the grant. In addition, the grant will support the relocation of the Donald W. Reynolds National Center for Courts and Media from the UNR National Judicial College building to the journalism building.

The Reynolds Foundation has given more than $20 million to UNR, most of it to advance the study of journalism. Among other things, the foundation's journalism grants have supported the creation of four endowed chairs: the Donald W. Reynolds Chair in Business Journalism, the Reynolds Chair in Critical Thinking and Ethical Practices, the Reynolds Chair of Media Technology, and the Fred W. Smith Chair in Journalism.

"In a world that talks constantly about the decline of journalism, this gift lights the way for its future," said Reynolds School dean Jerry Ceppos. "[It] will permit us to deal with the continuing revolution in journalism, regardless of what it brings. Our entirely digital, multimedia technology will acquaint students — whether they are studying news or integrated marketing communications — with every situation they might find in the rapidly changing world of media."