Ronald Farrar

POWERHOUSE: THE MEEK SCHOOL AT OLE MISS, by Ronald Farrar. $29.95

Cloth, 197 pages, illustrated. ISBN 978-0-916242-77-0

Yoknapatawpha Press is pleased to announce the publication of Powerhouse: The Meek School at Ole Miss, by Ronald Farrar, who tells the history of journalism at the University of Mississippi from its humble beginnings in 1947 to the Meek School of Journalism and New Media that it has become. This forthcoming title will be available in stores in Fall, 2014.

“If you’re a reporter, you probably wondered somewhere along the way how at least half the good writers you knew seemed to come from one school—Ole Miss. The answer is here and as you might expect it’s a story well told, with the bark definitely off.” 

                                                                                    –Bob Schieffer, CBS News   

In these pages we see how a worthy academic and professional program came to be. We meet Gerald Forbes, the man who founded it, and the men and women who nurtured it, and Ed Meek, an alumnus and benefactor who did much to propel it toward the top tier in its field. It’s a remarkable story, told authoritatively and graced with traces of humor along the way—the moral being that journalism at Ole Miss is fun or they wouldn't be doing it.

PRAISE FOR POWERHOUSE: OLE MISS JOURNALISM

If a book that chronicles the history of a university journalism program, no matter how proud and storied, ever could be called a page turner, this is the one. Logically organized, impressively researched, beautifully written and masterfully framed, the book is laced with facts, vivid quotes, anecdotes and context. With authority and voice, Ron Farrar skillfully writes about the program, the people, the university and the community—while simultaneously providing readers with a feel for them.

               –Doug Anderson, Dean, College of Communications, Penn State University

How a football star rebuilt an old university's reputation is in this lively, well-written book. So is the story of how and why Ole Miss has become a leader in teaching good journalism.                     

                         –Dan Rather, anchor of CBS Evening News and Dan Rather Reports

A fascinating peek inside a storied journalism program where the central characters, with often conflicting styles, join together to produce a common story of excellence. The story does not end here, but lives and breathes in a new generation of Ole Miss student journalists whose gifts will lead them on the same path as their famous predecessors.

                                                –Ronnie Agnew, Director, Mississippi Public Broadcasting

A comprehensive but also a thoroughly informative and entertaining history of what has become recognized as one of the most outstanding journalism programs in the country. Every person who either is, or aspires to be, a journalist should read this book.

   –James A. Autry, Author and former President of Meredith Magazine Group

An entertaining history of the Meek School of Journalism, a gem....a sparkling and inspiring account of a superb faculty producing the next generation of smart young storytellers.

                                                            –Andy Lack, Chairman, Bloomberg Media Group

Powerhouse: Ole Miss Journalism is the inspiring story of a distinguished School of Journalism and of the chairmen who made it one of the best in the country.

 –Susanne Shaw, Executive Director, Accrediting Council on Education in Journalism and Mass Communications.