After turning down the job two months ago, Ithaca College’s Dianne Lynch has reconsidered and accepted the post of dean of the UC Berkeley graduate school of journalism, replacing Orville Schell. Lynch (pictured) has been at the forefront of Internet journalism, founding the Online News Association, writing a textbook on digital media ethics and creating a student film festival for movies shot on cell phones.

The East Bay Express reported earlier that the search was down to Lynch and UC Berkeley journalism professor Neil Henry, an author and former Washington Post reporter. When Lynch withdrew her application in March after visiting Berkeley, Henry became the frontrunner. Then, on April 29, Cal Provost George Breslauer sent an e-mail to J-school faculty, staff and students saying he was talking to Lynch again. One J-school faculty member told the EBX anonymously that Lynch was thought by many to be the right choice she has a New Media background and was an outsider who had a good chance of healing a split in the faculty that had taken place under Schell.

Links:

• Today’s Chronicle story announcing her appointment

• A 2004 news release announcing Lynch’s appointment to her post in Ithaca, giving her background in detail.

• A May 4 East Bay Express story about how Breslauer was trying to get Lynch to change her mind.

• A March 16 EBX story announcing Lynch’s withdrawal from the search.

(Photo credit: Ithica College Web site)