FIU has appointed Manny García as the inaugural Knight Foundation executive director of the Lee Caplin School of Journalism & Media. García, an alumnus who graduated in 1990 with a degree in mass communication, is a two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist. He will lead new initiatives at the school, supported by funding from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.
The position was created to bring new direction to journalism education at FIU. García said, “It’s an honor and a full circle moment for me to not only be the founding executive director but to also return to FIU where I began my training as a journalist.”
García previously won the Pulitzer Prize for investigative reporting with The Miami Herald in 1999 after his team uncovered widespread voting fraud during Miami’s 1997 mayoral election.
The Knight Foundation’s support will fund real-world newsroom experiences, new production technologies, and interdisciplinary collaborations at FIU. Planned projects include a mobile reporting lab focused on community storytelling and a media innovation studio that will train students in immersive and data journalism.
“There is no better news ecosystem than South Florida,” García said. “FIU is well positioned to be the premier training ground to graduate journalists who are leaders, critical thinkers, and problem solvers, exactly what our profession needs, students con chispa, with spark, who are fearless and creative, and do it the Caplin Way.”
Maribel Pérez Wadsworth, president and CEO of Knight Foundation, stated: “We’re proud to support the crucial work of preparing the next generation of journalists to serve their communities with integrity, innovation, and purpose. The leadership of FIU and Manny reflects the deep commitment needed to fortify the talent pipeline of future journalists that will ensure communities have access to local news and information.”
The partnership between FIU’s Caplin School and the Knight Foundation aims to enhance student success, research excellence, and real-world impact by equipping students with skills for ethical communication in modern media.
Brian Schriner, dean of the College of Communication, Architecture + The Arts at FIU said: “The Caplin Way is rooted in experiential learning, where students develop the objective reporting, storytelling, technical and leadership skills needed to thrive in today’s dynamic media landscape. This investment strengthens our ability to deliver on our promise of connecting students with the industry, elevating standards and advancing ethical journalism that serves the public good.”
Kenneth C. Hall, president of the FIU Foundation added: “We are deeply grateful to the Knight Foundation for its continued partnership and belief in the transformative power of journalism. Support of the Caplin School reflects a shared commitment to advancing student success, faculty excellence, and community impact, the hallmarks of FIU’s vision.”
