Ralph Lowenstein

American professor of journalism (1930–2020)

Ralph Lowenstein

Dean of University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications
In office
1976–1994
Preceded by| John Paul Jones, Jr.
Succeeded by| Terry Hynes
Personal details
Born| (1930-03-08)March 8, 1930
Danville, Virginia
Died| August 10, 2020(2020-08-10) (aged 90)
Gainesville, Florida
Education| Columbia University (BA, MA)
University of Missouri (PhD)
Nationality| American
Scientific career
Fields| Journalism
Institutions| University of Missouri
Tel Aviv University
University of Florida

Ralph L. Lowenstein[1] (March 8, 1930 – August 10, 2020) was an American professor of journalism.[2] He served as dean of the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications.[2][3]

## Biography

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Lowenstein was born in Danville, Virginia, on March 8, 1930, and was raised in a Zionist household.[2][4] He earned his bachelor's and master's degrees from Columbia University before earning his PhD from the University of Missouri.[5] While an undergraduate student at Columbia, he used his summer break to join the volunteer organization Mahal and fought alongside Israeli forces during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. To join the Israeli army, he lived in a Displaced Persons camp in Marseilles under an assumed name, then saw combat with the 79th Armored Battalion. He was one of the youngest American volunteers that time and later served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.[2][6][7]

After obtaining his advanced degrees, Lowenstein reported for United Press International, El Paso Times, and CBS Morning News.[2] He began teaching at University of Texas at El Paso, was chairman of the news editorial program at the University of Missouri as well as visiting professor and head of journalistic studies at Tel Aviv University from 1967 to 1968.[2]

In 1971, Lowenstein co-authored a landmark work, Media, Messages and Men, with John C. Merrill in which he predicted the demise of print media and rise of electronic mass media in which any person would be able to retrieve an infinite amount of material from central computers.[8]

From 1976 to 1994, Lowenstein served as the dean of University of Florida's College of Journalism and Communications.[9] He was a pioneer in digital media and created one of the first journalism-related websites in the world as well as Gainesville cable press, the first 24-hour rotatext cable newspaper.[2] UF's program also became the first communications program in the United States to install a fully integrated PC network in all of its offices and labs.[2] During his tenure, UF launched the NPR station WUFT-FM, the Brechner Center for Freedom of Information and what is now the Knight Division for Scholarships and Student Inclusion, and increased its endowment from $2 million to $12 million.[6]

In 2011, Lowenstein received the Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award for his project, the Machal and Aliyah Bet Archives, which documented the lives of American volunteers who died during the 1948 war.[10][11]

Lowenstein died at age 90 on August 10, 2020, following a stroke.[9]

## References

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1. ^ "Bookshelf | Columbia College Today". www.college.columbia.edu. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
2. ^ a b c d e f g h Cohen, Howard (August 12, 2020). "Obituary: UF journalism dean Ralph Lowenstein dies at 90". The Miami Herald. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
3. ^ Wagner, Sue (August 11, 2020). "CJC Mourns the Loss of Dean Emeritus Ralph Lowenstein". UF College of Journalism and Communications. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
4. ^ "12 Aug 2020, A7 - The Miami Herald at Newspapers.com". Newspapers.com. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
5. ^ "Ralph Lowenstein 40". UF College of Journalism and Communications. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
6. ^ a b Weber, Thomas. "Ralph Lowenstein, longtime UF journalism dean and leader, dies at 90". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
7. ^ "Machalniks from USA and Canada – summary by Ralph Lowenstein". World Machal. October 7, 2009. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
8. ^ "Book Reviews". Journal of Communication. 24 (1): 118–142\. March 1, 1974. doi:10.1111/j.1460-2466.1974.tb00362.x. ISSN 0021-9916.118-142&rft.date=1974-03-01&rft_id=info:doi/10.1111/j.1460-2466.1974.tb00362.x&rft.issn=0021-9916&rft_id=https://academic.oup.com/joc/article/24/1/118-142/4553602&rfr_id=info:sid/en.wikipedia.org:Ralph+Lowenstein" class="Z3988">
9. ^ a b Hernandez, Melissa (August 11, 2020). "Former UF Journalism Dean Ralph Lowenstein Dies After Stroke". WUFT News. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
10. ^ Robins, Kayla. "UF dean to receive Emma Lazarus Statue of Liberty Award". Gainesville Sun. Retrieved July 15, 2022.
11. ^ Wiener, Robert. "Americans who fought for Israel to be honored". njjewishnews.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved July 15, 2022.