Frank investment: Couple gives $7.5M to help UI College of Media foster good journalism
URBANA — Richard and Leslie Frank hark back to a time when there was a clear line between news and commentary, and it was much easier for people to tell the difference.
And while they lament the news industry’s changes for the worse, the Franks are also making a sizable investment in Richard Frank’s beloved alma mater to help foster good journalism at its roots — basically, what journalism students are taught in the classroom.
The University of Illinois announced this past week that Richard Frank, a former entertainment executive, and his wife, Leslie, a former award-winning broadcast journalist, have made a $7.5 million gift to the UI’s College of Media.
In an interview Wednesday with The News-Gazette, the Franks — who now operate Frnak Family Vineyards in Calistoga, Calif. — spoke about why they want to give back to the UI, their hopes for the use of the money and their views on today’s news industry.
Read more: https://www.news-gazette.com/news/local/university-illinois/frank-investment-couple-gives-7-5m-to-help-ui-college-of-media-foster-good-journalism/article_3a0fd461-22c4-518b-b63d-656dc2070764.html
(Champaign News-Gazette)