Jeremy J. Stone

Jeremy J. Stone was a longtime Ithaca College friend and supporter who, along with serving as one of the nation's leading arms control researchers, advocated for independent journalism—a cause instilled in him by his journalist father, I.F. "Izzy" Stone: a name well known to the IC community. Ithaca College's own Izzy Award for outstanding achievement in independent media is named after Izzy, who launched I. F. Stone's Weekly in 1953 to expose government deception, McCarthyism, and racial bigotry.

Even though his father's controversial views twice jeopardized Stone's own security clearance, Jeremy Stone remained a lifelong, passionate advocate for independent media. Thanks to a generous endowment from Jeremy J. Stone's estate supporting the Park Center for Independent Media (PCIM), students in the Roy H. Park School of Communications will have even greater access to innovative communications resources, internships, lectures, and workshops.

"Jeremy Stone was a big supporter of our center's efforts to help socially conscious students move toward careers in independent media and journalism," says Jeff Cohen, founding director of PCIM. "He loved that our Izzy Award has raised awareness of his dad's work and legacy."

The Jeremy J. Stone Endowment in Support of the Park Center for Independent Media was established to expand the outreach and programming of PCIM and to engage more faculty and students in its work. The center was launched to study journalism-oriented media outlets that create and distribute content outside traditional corporate systems and news organizations. PCIM also provides grants to students who work as summer interns at specific independent media organizations or nonprofits.

"Jeremy Stone's commitment to independent journalism stemmed in part from an unforgettable remark his dad told him when he was young," Cohen says. "Izzy had said: 'With a free press, if the government does something wrong, it will become known and the government can fix it. But if something goes wrong with a free press, the country will go straight to hell.'"

Stone, who passed away January 1, 2017, began his career as a mathematician before becoming an arms control researcher and advocate. He served as president of the Federation of American Scientists for 30 years, leading the organization's advocacy on subjects ranging from the nuclear arms race and human rights to civil conflict and energy conservation.