Malcolm Moran has been named the new director of the National Sports Journalism Center, the Indiana University School of Journalism announced Monday.
Moran brings 30 years of sports journalism experience to the Indianapolis-based center, which serves as a comprehensive institute for the study of sports journalism. The National Sports Journalism Center is the official partner of the Associated Press Sports Editors and the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Association.
“It will be an honor to direct the National Sports Journalism Center and build upon all the good work that has been done since its launch,” said Moran, who assumes his new role in January. “All journalists are products of their experiences, and the core of our mission will be to connect students to the most rewarding challenges we can find.”
Moran previously served as the Knight Chair in Sports Journalism and Society at Penn State, where he taught a variety of sports journalism. He used his experience as a sportswriter at USA Today, Newsday, The New York Times and Chicago Tribune to provide students with opportunities to cover premier sporting events.
“In the past year, the opportunity to direct Penn State students and recent graduates at the BCS Championship Game, NCAA men’s Final Four basketball tournament and London Olympic Games has produced some of the most memorable moments of my career,” said Moran. “The relationships already in place at the NSJC, and others that we will develop, will help create more of those experiences.”
IU was the first school to offer a master’s degree program in sports journalism. Both the IUPUI and IU Bloomington journalism programs offer undergraduate sports journalism courses. The NSJC and the IUPUI campus is the home of the APSE Red Smith Award Hall of Fame, widely considered the most prestigious award in the field. The NSJC’s website is SportsJournalism.org, a blog with breaking news and commentary about the sports media industry.
“Malcolm brings an impressive array of experiences to the position,” said School of Journalism Interim Dean Michael Evans. “His background as a highly respected journalist and as a successful leader in an academic setting, coupled with his outstanding skills and talents, make him an excellent choice to lead the National Sports Journalism Center to new levels of national prominence.”
Moran is the second director of the center, which launched in 2009. Bloomberg News’ Tim Franklin, who led several large newspapers, including the Orlando Sentinel and Baltimore Sun, was the first director.
