Edward Barrett; Ex-Dean of Columbia Journalism School

Edward Ware Barrett, who founded one of the first national magazines devoted to news media criticism, has died after a long illness. He was 79.

The former dean of the Columbia Graduate School of Journalism and founder in 1961 of the Columbia Journalism Review died Monday at Greenwich Hospital in Connecticut. He had been inactive since suffering a stroke five years ago.

Barrett served as dean of the journalism school from 1956 to 1968 when he resigned in a dispute over Columbia policies toward Vietnam War demonstrators.

He served as editorial chairman and publisher of the review from 1975 until 1982 when he was named publisher emeritus.

Barrett became head of the journalism school, founded in 1912 under the will of Joseph Pulitzer, after a career in journalism and government information service.

He served in editorial jobs at Newsweek, where he originated the feature known as the Periscope; as head of overseas operations for the Office of War Information during World War II; as assistant secretary of state for public affairs under President Harry S. Truman, and as a private public information and public relations counselor.