The journalism program at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis merged with the campus’ School of Liberal Arts.
The program officially became known as the IU Department of Journalism and Public Relations at IUPUI starting July 1.
As part of the change, the Indianapolis location of the Indiana University School of Journalism shifted management from IU Bloomington to the IU School of Liberal Arts at IUPUI.
The move comes as the IU School of Journalism at Bloomington merged July 1 with that campus’ Department of Telecommunications and Department of Communication and Culture to form The Media School.
The IUPUI journalism program’s name change – to include public relations – is a decision based on the evolving nature of the profession, said Jonas Bjork, the first chairman of the IUPUI department
“While journalists and public relations professionals are, in many places, treated as adversaries, many of the theories and practices we teach journalists and public relations professionals are, in fact, complementary,” Bjork said.