Aid sought for stipend in public affairs reporting ex-Citizen staffer loved
The University of Arizona School of Journalism is soliciting donations for a scholarship the department wants to start in memory of longtime Tucson journalist and former Tucson Citizen reporter Steve Emerine.
Emerine, who died Feb. 13, was a fixture in Tucson journalism and politics for more than four decades. He also taught journalism briefly at UA and worked in the university’s News Services department.
“We just started soliciting donations after we had several inquiries here from friends of his who wanted to do something,” said Kate Harrison, program coordinator for the School of Journalism.
Emerine’s widow, Claudine, worked with UA to determine that the scholarship will go to a student studying public affairs reporting, since Emerine’s passion was journalism’s role in government accountability.
“It’s terrific,” Claudine Emerine said of UA’s effort to start a scholarship. “It would please Steve so very much.”
Harrison said the school hopes to raise at least $10,000 for the scholarship, because UA rules require that minimum for a scholarship to be permanently endowed.
“We have no idea if we will reach that level, but we would like to make an award of some size this spring at our annual ceremony honoring journalism students on May 7,” Harrison said.
In the course of his career, Emerine held posts at the Citizen, the Arizona Daily Star and in county government. He was 73 when he died. At the time he was running a private consulting business, writing a weekly column for Inside Tucson Business, and was a regular guest on KUAT-TV’s Friday Roundtable.
“Steve touched many lives in the Tucson community as a journalist, politician, consultant, educator and friend,” said Jacqueline Sharkey, School of Journalism director. “We’re pleased to be able to offer some financial assistance to a journalism student who – like Steve – believes in holding government accountable by asking tough questions.”
To donate to the Steve Emerine Scholarship, contact Harrison at 626-3079.