Photo of Jerry Nachman

Writing Program » Jerome A. Nachman Writing Awards

About the Jerome A. Nachman Writing Awards

Boston University is honored to present the Jerome A. Nachman Writing Awards at the College of Communication. Established in 2004 through the generosity of family and friends, the Jerome A. Nachman Writing Awards honor the legacy of Jerry Nachman, a distinguished journalist whose career spanned television, radio and print.

Mr. Nachman's career included stints at NBC, CBS and the New York Post, among others. At CBS he rose from radio and TV reporter for the owned New York stations to news director, WCBS-TV. At NBC he variously held positions as Vice President News for the owned television stations and Vice President General Manager for both WRC-TV and WRC-A.M., in Washington D.C. Jerry also was a columnist and then editor for the New York Post. He finished his remarkable career at MSNBC where he was editor in chief and the host of a daily news show, NACHMAN. Respected for his talent and versatility as a writer, editor, and broadcaster, Jerry Nachman also received prestigious industry awards including a Peabody Award, an Emmy Award and an Edward R. Murrow Award.

In the words of fellow media executive Bob Sherman, a close friend and founder of the Jerome A. Nachman Writing Awards:

Jerry's energy and passion for news was evident to all who watched, knew and admired him. His drive and success as a journalist, editor and media executive was in many ways a testament to his communication skills. His special way with words was extraordinary and inspirational and never more so when expressed through his writings. As a journalist friend of Jerry's wrote after his passing, “Jerry Nachman taught me that journalism cannot exist without humanity. First, do no harm - and then, write well.”

Jerry Nachman's career reflects the courage and ideals the College strives to instill in our students. The Jerome A. Nachman Writing Awards continue his legacy by inspiring new generations of writers, and are presented annually to undergraduate and graduate winners of the College's CO201 Writing Contest and The Comment Feature Writing and Creative Nonfiction Contests.

2006 Recipients

Katherine Geyer, '07 MS
Counting Crows: How Local Veterinarians are Protecting New England from a Public Health Crisis, The Comment Feature Writing Contest
Meghan Keaney, '07 MS
Sleeping Through Delaware, The Comment Creative Non-Fiction Contest
Kathryn Actis-Grande, '08
#71952, 1st Prize, CO 201 Writing Contest
Sara Hawley, '09
For Never Was There a Story of More Woe, Than This of Mr. Thomas A. Marcello, 2nd Prize, CO 201 Writing Contest
Andra Brosy, '08
Point/Counterpoint: Pei-Yeh Tsai Finds Harmony in Opposites at the Keyboard, 3rd Prize, CO 201 Writing Contest

The Writing Program

Under the direction of Professor Susan Blau, the College of Communication Writing Program focuses on fostering clear, professional writing skills among all of the College's students. The Program provides undergraduate coursework that builds a strong foundation in writing for communication industries, workshops for graduate students, and writing support for all BU students through the COM Writing Center.

The Writing Program celebrates the best student writing each year through two contests: the CO201 Writing Contest and The Comment Feature Writing and Creative Nonfiction Contests. The winning pieces receive Jerome A. Nachman Writing Awards, thereby reinforcing the importance of solid writing skills while encouraging passion and respect for the craft.

The writing contests complement the following courses:

CO201, Introduction to Communication Writing, teaches professional writing techniques to undergraduates. Students practice these skills in a variety of forms: nonfiction stories, features, film reviews and more.

CO570, The Comment Workshop, produces The Comment, a magazine organized around a central theme that demonstrates the insight and journalistic skills of COM graduate students. The award-winning magazine and the associated workshop enable students to explore issues of interest and publish thoughtful, substantive pieces examining our shared world and culture.

For more information about the Writing Program at the College of Communication, contact Professor Susan Blau at blaucom@bu.edu.