History

Sailors from the U.S. Navy have been gracing the halls of the Newhouse School since 1963. That’s when the Advanced Military Visual Journalism (AMVJ) program was created to improve the photography and communication skills of photographer mates. The two-semester, 30 credit program allowed sailors to return to the fleet better equipped to tell our nation’s stories.

In the 60 years since its inception, technology has changed exponentially. AMVJ grew to include Advanced Motion Media and Advanced Graphic Design concentrations. The Air Force, Army and Marine Corps also sent students to AMVJ. Currently, only sailors and Marines attend the program.

One thing that hasn’t changed is the commitment to excellence at the school to make the military students at Newhouse into great storytellers of our nation’s history.

Program Founder

Frederic A. “Fred” Demarest created the Newhouse School’s photojournalism and photo illustration undergraduate majors as well as its master’s degree in photography and brought those programs to national prominence. 

In 1962, Fred responded to a request from the chief of naval information to create a photojournalism program for Navy photographers. The department’s first military class graduated in 1963 and the program Fred designed has since grown to include members from all U.S. military services. Fred’s vision, wisdom, kindness and extraordinary sense of humor will be treasured by all those whose lives he touched.