News Story

Indiana University Media School friends and faculty recognized alumni who have become trailblazers in journalism and related media fields in a special ceremony in Presidents Hall Nov. 5.

Alumni Kenneth A. Beckley, BS’62; Bonnie J. Brownlee, BA’72, MA’75; Eric Deggans, BA’90; Andy Hall, BA’82; and Bob Shanks, BS’54, received the Distinguished Alumni Awards in Journalism with members of the Media School Alumni Board, Dean James Shanahan, previous recipients, and friends and colleagues in on hand.

Shanahan welcomed the crowd by bringing them up to date about the school’s move to Franklin Hall in August. He cited the high-tech aspects of the new building, such as as the Beckley Studio, made possible by a generous contribution from DAA recipient Beckley and his wife, Audrey.

The celebration also featured videos representing the professional achievements of each recipient, then presentations of the awards. Each recipient had a few minutes to address the crowd.

Beckley, former broadcast anchor, H.H. Gregg executive and director of Indiana University Alumni Association, talked about The Media School before leaving his listeners with a reminder.

“Journalists should always be engaged in telling the truth and being balanced,” said Beckley, specifically referring to media coverage during this election process. “If they are, regardless of what readers or listeners or viewers think of what they have reported, they will have served the public well.”

Recipient Bonnie Brownlee received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees at IU, then returned after earning her doctorate to work at the former School of Journalism. She served as assistant professor, associate professor, associate dean and senior associate dean for the school, as well as oversaw the journalism program’s reaccreditation process just before she retired in 2015.

“I spent most of my adult and working life here at IU,” she said as she thanked numerous faculty and staff, including Professor Emeritus Cleve Wilhoit. She said Wilhoit encouraged her to return to IU to pursue her academic career.

Eric Deggans was honored for his work as a media critic. He, too, thanked mentors at IU for giving him the foundations and connections he carries with him to this day.
“I was able to make all these wonderful connections and meet all these wonderful people because the school of journalism was like a brotherhood,” said Deggans, who spent 20 years as a reporter and writer at the former St. Petersburg Times, now Tampa Bay Times, before taking his current post as NPR’s first fulltime television critic.

“It wasn’t just about learning the skills of journalism” he said of those connections, some forged in the Indiana Daily Student newsroom and in journalism classes, as well as later the Times, where the newsroom staff included numerous IU alumni. “It was about entering this world we were all in together.”

Andy Hall spent years as an award-winning investigative reporter before founding the Wisconsin Center for Investigative Journalism. He cited values he traces back to his IU roots: Protect the vulnerable. Expose wrongdoing. Seek solutions.

Hall also quoted Ernie Pyle: “Thoughts are wonderful things, that they can bring two people, so far apart, into harmony and understanding for even a little while.”

Television producer Bob Shanks served as the vice president of programming and vice president of news at ABC. In his time there, he had roles in creating and developing shows like Good Morning America, 20/20 and The Barbara Walters Special.

He spoke of his career as one adventure after another and how much he valued every opportunity he had. He, too, recalled his IU mentors, including the late Dick Yoakam. Shanks said most important is language.

“The written word is where is begins and ends,” said Shanks. “Every brick is built on the written word.”

Also among the speakers was Lisa Lenoir, president of the Media School Alumni Board, which chooses DAA recipients. Alumni who studied journalism or a related field, had significant journalism coursework or played important roles within student media during their time at IU are eligible for the award.

“As the journalism program evolved into The Media School, our awards program has evolved as well,” said Lisa Lenoir, president of the Media School Alumni Board, as she welcomed the audience. “As we recognize individuals who have graduated from the former radio, TV and telecommunications programs, we welcome nominations from alumni, faculty and friends of the school.”

Dean Shanahan closed the night.

“Media can be the most wonderful thing, the most inspiring thing, the most educational thing, the most important thing, the most truthful thing,” he said.