Kappa Tau Alpha is an American college
honor society which recognizes academic excellence and promotes scholarship in
journalism
Journalism is the production and distribution of reports on the interaction of events, facts, ideas, and people that are the " news of the day" and that informs society to at least some degree. The word, a noun, applies to the occupation (pro ...
and
mass communication. Membership must be earned by excellence in academic work at one of the colleges and universities which have chapters.
[Kappa Tau Alpha website]
Retrieved January 1, 2011
History
The seventh-oldest national honor society, KTA was founded at the
University of Missouri
The University of Missouri (Mizzou, MU, or Missouri) is a public land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus University of Missouri System. MU was founded in ...
in 1910 at
the world's second oldest school of journalism. KTA is the only journalism and mass communication society recognized by the
Association of College Honor Societies and is one of 67 ACHS members.
When Kappa Tau Alpha was founded it was limited to only men. However, the society lapsed during World War I and when it was reorganized after the war it was broadened to allow women students.
Symbols
The emblem of Kappa Tau Alpha is the key, the oldest symbol of knowledge and communication, with a
quill pen
A quill is a writing tool made from a moulted flight feather (preferably a primary wing-feather) of a large bird. Quills were used for writing with ink before the invention of the dip pen, the metal- nibbed pen, the fountain pen, and, eventuall ...
. The Greek letters mean "The Truth Will Prevail." The letters also suggest three English words: knowledge, truth and accuracy. The society's colors are light blue, signifying truth; and gold, emblematic of worth and high standards.
[
The society co-sponsors the Kappa Tau Alpha-AEJMC Awards luncheon at the annual convention of the ]Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
The Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication (AEJMC) is a major international membership organization for academics in the field, offering regional and national conferences and refereed publications. It has numerous membershi ...
.Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication
Retrieved March 1, 2011
Notes
References
Kappa Tau Alpha website
ACHS Kappa Tau Alpha entry
Kappa Tau Alpha chapter list at ACHS
{{Authority control
Honor societies
Association of College Honor Societies
Student organizations established in 1910
University of Missouri
1910 establishments in Missouri