Two Media School faculty headed for hall of fame
Two journalism faculty members at Indiana University’s Media School have been chosen as inductees into the Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame at its 50th anniversary celebration in October.
Professor emeritus Cleve Wilhoit and professor practice Tom French are among seven journalists selected as part of the 2015 class of inductees.
Wilhoit spent 36 years as an Indiana University journalism professor and researcher. He joined the IU faculty in 1967 and became known as an inspirational teacher and mentor for scores of students who went on to journalism careers across Indiana and the country. Beginning in 1986, Wilhoit and professor emeritus David Weaver co-wrote three books, each published a decade apart, on the state and status of journalists in the United States and overseas. The series, The American Journalist, is the only such large-scale, long-term survey in the United States and continues today.
French, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from Indiana University in 1981. He then started a 27-year career at the Tampa Bay Times (formerly the St. Petersburg Times). He became nationally known for his narrative storytelling and won the 1998 Pulitzer Prize in feature writing for “Angels & Demons,” a series that chronicled the murder of an Ohio woman and her two teenage daughters. In 2009, Tom turned to fulltime teaching and now holds the Riley Endowed Chair in Journalism at Indiana University.
Other journalists to be inducted into the Hall of Fame during the ceremony at Indiana University are:
- Bob Daugherty, who covered seven presidents during their White House terms as a photographer for The Associated Press.
- John Rumbach, editor and co-publisher of The Herald in Jasper, Indiana, who led it to the forefront of newspaper photography.
- The late Gene Slaymaker, a distinguished longtime Indianapolis radio and television reporter and newsroom leader.
- The late Lotys B. Stewart, a prolific writer as well as the fashion and home furnishings editor for the Indianapolis Star.
- Gary Varvel, who has become Indiana’s premier editorial cartoonist during a more than 35-year career with The Indianapolis Star.
The Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame 50th anniversary is set for Oct. 24 at IU’s Indiana Memorial Union. The celebration will begin with a reception for current and past inductees at 10:30 a.m. in Alumni Hall followed by the luncheon and induction ceremony. Those interested in attending the events may obtain additional information on the website or by calling 812-856-9898.
The lead sponsor for the Golden Anniversary event is American Senior Communities.
The Indiana Journalism Hall of Fame was established by the Indiana Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 1966 to recognize and honor Hoosier journalists who have significantly contributed to the profession. The hall is housed at Indiana University’s Media School.
For information on previous inductees and how to nominate someone for induction, visit the hall of fame’s website.