David P. Forsyth

From College of Fine Arts and Communications

David P. Forsyth served as the Department of Communications chair from September 1990 until November 1995, during which time the department became fully accredited.

Forsyth focused on alumni relations, having been president of the BYU Alumni Association, as well as establishing visiting professorships, gaining funds for the construction of a communications building, and finding better internship opportunities for students. To help in this effort, Forsyth appointed Edwin O. Haroldsen, a former department chair and retired faculty member, as the internship director starting in February 1991.

Over the course of the next year, Forsyth's worked on becoming accredited. This process included not only locating more internships for students, but also creating an affirmative action plan for recruiting women and minorities, and redesigning news beats.

Forsyth also continued working toward the convergence of the news rooms, breaking down the historical barriers between the print, broadcast, and newly emerging internet journalists.

In 1995, Forsyth suffered an heart attack and was relieved of his position as department chair (Pratte, 34).

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