The Nutting Foundation in Wheeling has established the Ogden Newspapers Multimedia Classroom Fund to support technology upgrades and the upkeep of the newly renovated main lecture hall in the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism at West Virginia University .

“This gift is invaluable,”said Dean Maryanne Reed.”It will allow us to continue to offer cutting-edge instruction, using state-of-the-art instruction technology, for years to come. Our students and faculty will benefit tremendously.”

The SOJ ’s main lecture hall, Room 205, underwent extensive upgrades in late 2004, including room renovations, new seating, lighting and a state-of-the art teaching system for multimedia instruction.

Ogden Newspapers Inc. publishes seven daily newspapers and four weekly newspapers in West Virginia , as well as 32 daily newspapers and various other publications in 13 other states.

Publisher, G. Ogden Nutting, of Wheeling , has been a leader in his support of WVU and the P.I. Reed School of Journalism.

He was instrumental in establishing the Ogden Newspapers Visiting Professorship in Journalism, Ogden Newspapers and Nutting Family Journalism Endowment Scholarship Fund, the Ogden Newspapers Seminar Series and the WVU Journalism Library Endowment Fund.

“The Nutting family has been very generous to both WVU and to the School of Journalism , and we appreciate all that they have done to create opportunities and make the school a success,”Reed said.

Nutting, a member of the WVU Foundation Board of Directors, was honored with the University’s Distinguished Service Award in 1998 for his exceptional leadership in the state and nation. He was inducted in 2002 to the WVU Order of Vandalia, which is reserved for those who have demonstrated extraordinary service, loyalty and dedication to the University. He is also a member of the West Virginia Business Hall of Fame, and received WVU ’s Most Loyal West Virginian award in 1996.

He was also the recipient of the first Paul A. Atkins”Friend of the (Journalism) School”award in 2000.

The gift was made through the WVU Foundation, a private non-profit corporation with assets of more than $755 million that generates and provides support for West Virginia University.