Charles Joseph “Joe” Scarborough is being inducted into the 2010 Hall of Fame for the College of Communication and Information Sciences tonight, and he is bringing his talk show with him.
“Morning Joe,” MSNBC’s weekday morning news show, will be broadcast live from Rama Jama’s café on Greensboro Avenue Friday morning from 5 to 8, upon Scarborough’s request.
The show features three hours of free-style conversation with an emphasis on politics and news. The guest lineup, which is usually jam-packed with various participants on the political scene, has not yet been revealed for this week.
Students are encouraged come out and buy a cup of coffee at the café and watch Mika Brzezinski and Joe Scarborough and their guests.
Tuscaloosa is one of Scarborough’s favorite places, and he is excited about having the show here, according to his assistant, Madeline Peters.
Scarborough graduated with his Bachelor of Arts from the University of Alabama in 1985. He is now returning to his alma mater 25 years later to be honored for his success in the communications arena at a national level.
“In many respects, he has risen to the top of his profession,” said Loy A. Singleton, dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences. “He is nationally known, and we want to recognize an alum who demonstrates a high level of expertise in the skills that we use and teach.”
Singleton said each honoree is selected based on his or her own merits. He believes Scarborough to have been a successful newspaperman, member of Congress and host of both a radio and a television program over the course of his career.
“The persons who are honored in the Hall of Fame are chosen by a committee of the Board of Visitors,” Singleton said. “The board is composed of several dozen professionals who are friends of the college, alumni and media professionals.”
Scarborough is one of three honorees who will be inducted into the 13th class of the Communication and Information Sciences Hall of Fame.
The other honorees include Sanford Morton “Sandy” Grossman and James “Jimmy” Mills. Each of these individuals will be recognized for his professional achievements at a black-tie-ceremony and dinner, and another gold plaque will be added to the Hall of Fame showcase inside Reese Phifer Hall.
Singleton said he has watched “Morning Joe” in the past, but the show airs too early for him to be a regular viewer. Some students agree with this assessment, but other early risers said they can’t wait to have breakfast with “Morning Joe” on location.
“Any time the University of Alabama is displayed in national spotlight, I think it’s beneficial to the school,” said John Quigley, a sophomore majoring in business. “I’m probably going to Rama Jama’s to see the show since it’s coming here from New York.”
