The James M. Cox, Jr., Foundation and the "Palm Beach Post" provided this endowment to support a professorship for teaching, research and experimentation in new media such as electronic newspapers or the internet.

Cox was chairman of the board of Cox Enterprises and a major figure in the communications industry in the United States in the 20th century. In 1957, with 45 years of experience in the newspaper business, Cox assumed the board chairmanship of Cox Enterprises upon the death of his father, former Ohio Gov. James M. Cox, Sr. In 1969, Cox Enterprises purchased the "Palm Beach Post" and formed Palm Beach Newspapers Inc. Cox passed away in 1974.