{"id":41775,"date":"2025-03-19T15:16:00","date_gmt":"2025-03-19T19:16:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/?post_type=bu-article&#038;p=41775"},"modified":"2026-03-25T13:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T17:30:18","slug":"james-brann-life-changing-journalism-chair-91","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/james-brann-life-changing-journalism-chair-91\/","title":{"rendered":"James Brann, life-changing journalism chair, 91"},"content":{"rendered":"\t<div class=\"wp-block-editorial-leadin bu-blocks-block-editorial-leadin is-style-side-by-side has-media has-wider has-flip has-box has-media-focus-center-middle\">\n\t\t<div class=\"container-lockup\">\n\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-block-leadin-media\">\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<img width=\"900\" height=\"1260\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/james-brann-vert.jpg\" class=\"\" alt=\"\" loading=\"lazy\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/james-brann-vert.jpg 900w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/james-brann-vert-454x636.jpg 454w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/james-brann-vert-731x1024.jpg 731w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/james-brann-vert-768x1075.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/james-brann-vert-714x1000.jpg 714w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 900px) 100vw, 900px\" \/>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-outer\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"container-words-inner\">\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h1 class=\"head\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJames Brann, life-changing journalism chair, 91\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-categories\">\n\t\t\t<ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<a\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\thref=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/category\/journalism\/\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tJournalism\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-date\">March 19, 2025<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-credits\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul data-credit-type=\"By\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/authors\/com-staff\/\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tCOM Staff\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-metabar-share js-bu-prepress-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-twitter\"><span>Twitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-facebook\"><span>Facebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<span class=\"icon-action\"><\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div style=\"display:none;\">\n\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-inner js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t<h4>Share<\/h4>\n\t\t<p class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-title\">James Brann, life-changing journalism chair, 91<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"wp-prepress-component-share-tools-article-link\">\n\t\t\t<div>\n\t\t\t\t<input type=\"text\" value=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/articles\/james-brann-life-changing-journalism-chair-91\/\" readonly>\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t<label>\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Copy URL:<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<button class=\"js-prepress-component-share-tools\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>Copy<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\t\t\t<\/label>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/burkefamilyfuneralhomes.com\/book-of-memories\/5565923\/Brann-James\/index.php\">James Brann<\/a>, who served as chair of the Department of Journalism at Boston University&#8217;s College of Communication and deeply inspired both students and reporters alike, died last week of a combination of pneumonia and heart related issues. He was 91.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brann landed his first job in journalism with the Harrisburg Patriot News, where he covered John F. Kennedy\u2019s presidential campaign and conducted an in-depth interview of the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. He later worked for several news agencies, and his articles were published in the New York Times, The Washington Post, The Boston Globe, The Atlantic, Columbia Journalism Review, The Nation and other high-profile periodicals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brann began teaching at Boston University in 1972, and served as chair of the journalism department from 1973 to 1980. He continued teaching until 1998.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He served as a U.S. Marine and earned his bachelor\u2019s degree at Pennsylvania State University.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>COM <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/profile\/mariette-dichristina\/\">Dean Mariette DiChristina<\/a> first learned the craft of journalism from Brann, she recalls. She says he changed the trajectory of her life \u2014 twice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>For his Introduction to Journalism course, Brann created a kind of \u201cchoose-your-own-adventure\u201d exercise, DiChristina recalled, \u201cwhere he would describe a news event and then ask students what their next phone call would be as reporters. For each tactic we suggested, he would give us a piece of information,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cOnce we got all the facts out of him in this way, he would give us five minutes to bang out five paragraphs. You got a minute or two to proof it, and he would put an \u201cF\u201d on your paper if you didn\u2019t catch all the spelling or grammar errors,\u201d she said. \u201cI found it exhilarating to figure out how to find information and share such important information to readers on a deadline.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>One day, Brann asked to see DiChristina after class. \u201cI figured I must be failing\u2014after all, how could I be doing well in a class that is both hard and really fun?\u201d she said. \u201cWhat he said floored 19-year-old insecure me: \u2018What are you majoring in?\u2019 I didn\u2019t know. He pointed, like Uncle Sam, and said, \u2018You should go into journalism. You are good at this.\u2019 I took his advice, and spent the next 30-plus years as a science journalist, the last 10 of which I was editor in chief of Scientific American.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Years later, Brann had a new career demand for her: to apply to serve as dean of Boston University\u2019s College of Communication. \u201cNobody was more surprised than I was when BU wanted to interview me,\u201d she said. \u201cJim, as usual, knew it all along.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brann made an impact few students forgot. \u201cYou could say I majored in journalism but minored in Brann,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/profile\/michael-dowding\/\">Michael Dowding<\/a>, a current COM master lecturer and a former graduate student when Brann was the department chair.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cDuring my first weeks of his City Room 1 class,\u201d he recalled, \u201cI thought I was little Johnny Hotshot cranking out a car-crash story in record time, swooping over to the printer, and confidently strolling up with my printout for him to review and edit &#8211; and of course praise to the skies. He glanced down, spotted a horrifying spelling error, drew a big fat 0 at the top of the page, and silently slid it back to me, unable to contain his grin.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The grade stayed and so did the lesson: spelling matters. \u201cOh, and grab yourself an extra helping of humility as you take your seat,\u201d Dowding said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>He added that Brann \u201cpossessed an irreplaceable, inimitable combination of pragmatic teaching, savvy observation, informal mentoring, and unflagging support. Jim loved connecting people and connecting&nbsp;with&nbsp;people.&nbsp;He loved learning about new things from students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/profile\/caryl-rivers\/\">Caryl Rivers<\/a>, a current COM professor of journalism and former colleague of Brann\u2019s, remembers him as a \u201cloyal friend\u201d and \u201cwonderful dad,\u201d adored by his three sons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1024\" height=\"698\" src=\"\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/Brann_2_thumbnail_image003-1-1024x698.png\" alt=\"James Brann and two other men in graduation robes\" class=\"wp-image-41816\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/Brann_2_thumbnail_image003-1-1024x698.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/Brann_2_thumbnail_image003-1-636x434.png 636w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/Brann_2_thumbnail_image003-1-768x524.png 768w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/Brann_2_thumbnail_image003-1-1536x1047.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/Brann_2_thumbnail_image003-1-1467x1000.png 1467w, https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/files\/2025\/03\/Brann_2_thumbnail_image003-1.png 1678w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cBefore coming to BU, he had covered education for a number of publications and was well-versed in that subject,\u201d Rivers said. \u201cHe was a strong advocate for the department with (then BU President) John Silber and was instrumental in hiring a number of very good faculty members. If you went to him with a good new idea he liked, he would encourage you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Brann made an impression in Hugo Shong\u2019s first City Room 1 class in fall 1986, even having students write their own obituaries to help teach them how to think about impactful storytelling. Shong became a journalist and now is chairman of IDG Capital.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cJim was my favorite professor at COM,\u201d he said, \u201cand I am sure he will be missed by many of his former students.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator is-style-wide\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h4><strong>Endowed Scholarship Named for Former Journalism Chair, James Brann<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Hugo Shong (\u201987), a Boston University trustee and COM Dean\u2019s Advisory Board member, endowed a graduate student scholarship in the name of James W. Brann, chair of the journalism department from 1973 to 1980. A veteran journalist, Brann continued teaching until 1998. He died in March 2025 at 91. The Brann Scholarship is expected to be available beginning in the 2026\u20132027 academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cProfessor Brann inspired us and held us students to high standards while also fostering our growth as journalists every step of the way,\u201d says Dean Mariette DiChristina (\u201986), a former student of Brann\u2019s. \u201cI am so grateful that Hugo Shong\u2019s generous gift will continue to keep Professor Brann\u2019s work alive in supporting student journalists so they can succeed.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>James Brann, who served as chair of the Department of Journalism at Boston University&#8217;s College of Communication and deeply inspired&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1654,"featured_media":41779,"template":"","meta":{"bu_prepress_billboard":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term":"","_bu_prepress_primary_term_manual":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"bu-publication":[],"discipline-type":[],"bu_edition":[],"media_type":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/41775"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/bu-article"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1654"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/41775\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":45727,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-article\/41775\/revisions\/45727"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41779"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41775"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"bu-publication","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu-publication?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"discipline-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/discipline-type?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"bu_edition","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bu_edition?post=41775"},{"taxonomy":"media_type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media_type?post=41775"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}