Celebrating 20 Years of the Pioneering Goldring Arts, Style and Culture Journalism Master’s Program at Newhouse

Lola Goldring ’51 turned her love for Syracuse University and a dedication to the arts into a pioneering graduate journalism program at her alma mater. 

On Saturday, a celebration in New York City will toast a milestone anniversary for the Goldring Arts, Style and Culture Journalism program at the Newhouse School. When it was established two decades ago, the program was the first arts journalism master’s degree to be offered by an accredited communications school.   

The gathering will also serve as a belated 95^th birthday party for Goldring, with family, friends and program alumni all on the invite list. The Goldring master’s program has graduated 221 students since starting in 2005.  

“I want the arts and the humanities to continue, and the only way we can have it continue is if we have people who are interested and love the arts like I hope my students do,” said Goldring, who graduated with a bachelor’s in speech and dramatic arts from Syracuse University’s College of Visual and Performing Arts.  

“I hope the legacy of the arts, the love of the arts, the writing of the arts, the keeping of the arts and the thinking about the arts goes on in journalism,” she said.   

The yearlong program includes extensive travel for students to cover events like the Toronto International Film Festival and Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, South Carolina, and engagement with members of the strong alumni network. 

“Lola Goldring’s vision established the groundwork for the premier graduate program for students pursuing a career covering the arts, style and culture,” Newhouse Dean Mark J. Lodato said. “We are so grateful for her generosity, spirit of collaboration and shared dedication to excellence in journalism education.”  

The program’s roots trace back to conversations between Goldring and the late Marcia Tucker, the founder and director of the New Museum of Contemporary Art in New York City. Tucker expressed a need for journalists who were experts in writing about the visual arts. Goldring brought the idea to Dean Emeritus David Rubin, who was dean at the time. Rubin went on to shepherd the program’s creation and expand its breadth.  

“He said, ‘Well, what if we teach [students about writing] about the arts entirely? We’ll teach visual arts, music, writing, architecture.’ I thought this was a great idea,” Goldring said in recounting the chat with Rubin. 

Johanna Keller, now a professor emerita of magazine, news and digital journalism, was the program’s founder and first director in 2005. Eric Grode, who succeeded Keller as program director in 2015, cites his predecessor’s leadership and foundational curriculum as reasons for the program’s success. 

After providing core reporting and writing skills, the flexible curriculum allows students to create their own blend of classes catering to their interests. While students learn how to critique an album or a play, they also dive into the importance of art, why it exists in the form that it does, and how culture is responding to it, Grode said.  

“Our students are incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about culture,” Grode said. “They love thinking about it and writing about it, and they’d love to make a living putting those thoughts into words. We help them do that.”   

“I hope the legacy of the arts, the love of the arts, the writing of the arts, the keeping of the arts and the thinking about the arts goes on in journalism.”

Lola Goldring

Grode brings notable guest speakers to campus like Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion critic Robin Givhan, former New York Times film critic A.O. Scott and “Pop Culture Happy Hour” host Aisha Harris. Goldring alumna Kelundra Smith G’12, the director of publishing for TCG Books and American Theatre Magazine, credits her time at Newhouse for helping her find her voice as a writer. 

“I was so young when I was in the program, that I really wasn’t confident in my voice as a writer,” Smith said. “I think the Goldring program encouraged me to find my voice and nurture it.” 

The program has widened its focus in recent years. When students began expressing more interest in film, television, popular music, fashion, video games and food, the program adapted, Grode said. Last year, the program officially added “style” and “culture” to its name.  

“Once we realized that a lot of our graduates were finding work—still thinking and writing about the arts but doing it from within organizations like Alvin Ailey or Syracuse Stage—the program expanded to offer the skills they need to do good work in any of these spheres,” Grode said. 

Looking ahead to fall 2025, the Goldring program will also have new leadership as veteran journalism professor Joel Kaplan takes over as director. A theater reporter who freelances for The New York Times, Grode will remain closely involved with the program.   

What has never changed, Grode said, is the unwavering support and enthusiastic collaboration of Lola Goldring, a Syracuse University life trustee. 

As a trustee, Grode said, “there are a lot of worthwhile things to put your time and your generosity toward. And I think Lola chose really well. Everyone realizes how lucky we are to have her with us.”