The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University plans to award an annual “I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence,” followed immediately thereafter by an “I.F. Stone Workshop on Strengthening Journalistic Independence.” The March 5, 2008 Nieman Foundation press release can be found here and at www.nieman.harvard.edu.

The project in honor of I.F. Stone is, in reality, the beginning of a campaign to maintain, encourage and increase journalistic independence of journalists, journalistic institutions and journalism itself—all under special stress today for economic, technological and political reasons.

The I.F. Stone Medal for Journalistic Independence would be presented annually “to an American journalist or news executive whose work exemplifies the independent spirit of I.F. Stone as well as the qualities of integrity, courage and indefatigability that characterized I.F. Stone’s Weekly, 1953-71." The medal would be awarded in Washington, D.C. at a date to be determined as soon as the necessary endowment is secured.

The recipient would be invited to deliver an address related to the work for which he or she was being given the award and, if possible, to distill from his or her experience relevant constructive ideas for strengthening journalistic independence.

At the conclusion of the address and an associated question period, the round-table workshop would begin with about a dozen individuals. Most participants would be journalists and news executives, including publishers, but relevant representatives from Congress or academics and activists might also be involved. The workshop would focus on ways to implement the ideas of the awardee and/or other methods of strengthening journalistic independence. Attendees at the award ceremony would be invited to join the workshop as observers. Ideas for strengthening journalistic independence would be disseminated by the journalists at the workshop and other observers.

I.F. Stone had an extraordinary capacity for independence at any personal cost. His opposition to Joseph McCarthy and his determination to expose the excesses of J. Edgar Hoover kept him a political pariah when America was cowed by McCarthyism. Although himself a Jew, his support for justice for the Palestinians estranged him from the American Jewish community. And when the National Press Club refused to serve a black judge whom I.F. Stone had brought to lunch, he resigned from the Club, thus isolating him from the main meeting place of his colleagues. But he never wavered. And his love of journalism kept him joyous.

Obviously, not every journalist can publish his own newsletter and do it without advertising, as did I.F. Stone. But every journalist, and every journalistic publication, wants and need a maximum of independence, within its constraints, to do its job. This means insulating journalists from inappropriate commercial, personal, sectarian and other pressures. And it means insulating editors, publishers and owners from these kinds of pressures as well. Journalism itself plays a constitutional role in this country that deserves constant vigilance and cries out for independence.

Accordingly, the objective of this award is to use I.F. Stone’s reputation for independence to strengthen the independence of journalism by providing this annual medal award and workshop as a point of annual reference, discussion and brainstorming.

A distinguished committee of journalists has been formed to provide advice and assistance to this Nieman Foundation project. The Advisory Committee will be chaired by Jeremy J. Stone, elder son of I.F. Stone, who is the former President of the Federation of American Scientists (1970-2000) and current president of Catalytic Diplomacy.

The committee already includes Bill Kovach (former curator of the Nieman Foundation), John R. MacArthur (Publisher of Harper’s Magazine), Myra MacPherson (former Washington Post correspondent and biographer of I.F. Stone), Murray Marder (former Washington Post correspondent and founder of the Nieman Watchdog Project), Don Oberdoerfer (formerly of the Washington Post and current Chairman of the U.S.-Korea Institute at the Johns Hopkins University), Peter Osnos (founder and publisher-at-large of PublicAffairs Books) and Roger Wilkins (former member of the editorial board of the Washington Post, the New York Times and The Nation).

The Nieman Foundation has opened two accounts for contributions from those who wish to help fund these activities in a fashion adequate to the task.

One fund will be available for large donations toward a minimum endowment goal of $200,000. Another fund is available toward ongoing operating expenses and shortfalls until such time as the endowment is large enough to provide the necessary income or to fund new projects related to journalistic independence. An anonymous donor has offered to match contributions toward the endowment fund up to a total of $100,000; thus each $1 contributed to this fund would produce, in effect, $2. These contributions are tax-deductible and can be made, through pledges, over more than one taxable year.

Persons wanting to contribute toward this project should visit the home page www.nieman.harvard.edu where they will be further directed. Donors will be asked to specify whether the money should go into the I.F. Stone Endowment Fund for Journalistic Independence or the I.F. Stone Operating Fund for Journalistic Independence.