Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame

Luther Keith, an inductee of the 1995 Michigan Journalism Class, passed away on March 5, 2025.

Former Detroit News managing editor and blues musician Luther “Badman” Keith was the first African American sports reporter at a major Detroit daily (1973), the first African American assigned to cover the state capitol (1979) and the first African American newsroom editor at The Detroit News (1982). In 2006, he founded and served as executive director of ARISE Detroit!

Read his full obituary here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 26, 2025

EAST LANSING, Michigan —11 outstanding journalists will be inducted into the 2025 class of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees have made significant, sustained contributions to journalism in Michigan. They are:

Cynthia Canty: Michigan radio storyteller Alex Cruden, elevated readers and editing

Kirt Dozier: sports photographer and mentor

John Flesher: environmental journalist

Cindy Goodaker: dedicated to the news of business

Daymon J. Hartley: social issues photojournalist

Dorothy Jurney: took women’s news mainstream

Keith Owens: politics and music journalist

Pat Rencher: advocate for older readers’ health

Jam Sardar: launchpad for TV stories and careers

David Zeman: editor of high-impact journalism

The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame was established to recognize those who have advanced the legacy of a free and responsible press and who have elevated Michigan journalism. Induction memorializes extraordinary and clearly outstanding careers.

The 2025 Hall of Fame class will be honored at a banquet on April 13, 2025, at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Details about registrations and opportunities for tax-deductible sponsorships and ads are available on the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame website: https://mijournalismhalloffame.org. Questions may be directed to Betsy DeSantis at 517-353-6431 or email at desant39@msu.edu .

Co-sponsors of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame are the Michigan chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association; the Detroit chapter of the Association for Women in Communications; Central Michigan University’s Department of Journalism; the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists; the Detroit and Mid-Michigan chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists; the Detroit Press Club; Wayne State University’s Journalism Program; the Michigan Association of Broadcasters; and the School of Journalism, Michigan State University.

MSU’s School of Journalism has been the home of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame since 1985, reprising the Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame, which became dormant in 1968. The Michigan Press Association and the MSU School of Journalism established the original Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1952.

Al Allen, an inductee of the 2021 Michigan Journalism Class, passed away on February 4, 2025.

FOX 2 reporter for nearly 30 years, Al Allen covered crime and corruption, featuring people across Metro Detroit. Allen was born Andrew Long and lived in Little Rock, Arkansas, until the age of 13, when he moved to Detroit. He got his start in broadcasting at a college radio station as a journalism student.

Read his full obituary here.

Jean Jennings, an inductee of the 2021 Michigan Journalism Class, passed away on December 16, 2024.

Former Yellow Cab owner and operator Jean Lienert Jennings was a test driver, welder and mechanic at the Chrysler Proving Grounds, where she edited the United Auto Workers (UAW) newsletter. She was an editor at Car and Driver magazine and helped to found Automobile Magazine, where she became the first woman to lead a major monthly car magazine. ​

Read her full obituary here.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 9, 2024

EAST LANSING, Michigan — Six outstanding journalists will be inducted into the 2024 class of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees have made significant, sustained contributions to journalism in Michigan. They are:

Molly Abraham: Detroit News & Detroit Free Press restaurant reviewer, she set the table for Detroit dining

John Bebow: Investigative reporter launched the Center for Michigan and Bridge Michigan

Carolyn Clifford: WXYZ-TV journalist and anchor, this Detroiter has won 22 Emmys

Eric Freedman: Detroit News Pulitzer winner; directs MSU Knight Center for Environmental Journalism

Jeff Gilbert: Only radio journalist in the United States to cover the auto industry full-time

Larry Lee: Built Gongwer News Service into the authority on Michigan government

The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame was established to recognize those who have advanced the legacy of a free and responsible press and who have elevated Michigan journalism. Induction memorializes extraordinary and clearly outstanding careers.

The 2024 Hall of Fame class will be honored at a banquet on April 14, 2024, at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Details about registrations and opportunities for tax-deductible sponsorships and ads are available on the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame website: https://mijournalismhalloffame.org . Questions may be directed to Betsy DeSantis at 517-353- 6431 or email at desant39@msu.edu .

Co-sponsors of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame are the Michigan chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association; the Detroit chapter of the Association for Women in Communications; Central Michigan University’s Department of Journalism; the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists; the Detroit and Mid-Michigan chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists; the Detroit Press Club; Wayne State University’s Journalism Program; the Michigan Association of Broadcasters; and the School of Journalism, Michigan State University. MSU’s School of Journalism has been the home of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame since 1985, reprising the Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame, which became dormant in 1968. The Michigan Press Association and the MSU School of Journalism established the original Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1952.

East Lansing, MI – Nominations are now being accepted for the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Inductees to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame must have established their professional reputations through Michigan journalism. Honorees will be inducted at a banquet on April 14, 2024 at the Michigan State University Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

Nominees are judged on their contributions to Michigan journalism, courage, innovation, leadership, impact and influence on the industry. They may be living or deceased. The deadline for nominations is Tuesday, January 16, 2024. Completed nomination packets must be received in the School of Journalism office, Michigan State University, 404 Wilson Rd., 305 Com Arts and Sciences Bldg, East Lansing, MI 48824- 1212. If you would like information on uploading your nomination packet, please call Betsy DeSantis at 517-353-6431.

Nomination forms are available online http://mijournalismhalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/HOF-Nomination-Form_2024.pdf or from Tim Vos, Director, Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame Committee, School of Journalism, Michigan State University.

The nomination packet must include the following:

1. Statement describing the nominee’s professional journalism career and explaining why the nominee should be named to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, citing examples according to the criteria on the website. Of particular interest to the committee are examples of how the nominee, as a journalist, has personally impacted and influenced great journalism in Michigan.

2. Support materials composed of 5 to 10 testimonial letters supporting the statement; the nominee’s resume; 5 to 10 examples of the nominee’s journalistic work; and other evidence of merit, such as anecdotes that address selection criteria, if desired.

3. A 400-words essay summarizing the nominee’s journalism career.

A nomination must include clips, photos, video, audio, online or other samples, that document a nominee’s work as a journalist and demonstrating impact in Michigan journalism. All materials remain the property of the Hall of Fame and become part of its historical record.

The Hall of Fame Committee is composed of representatives of the co-sponsors, which are non-profit journalism organizations in Michigan. Questions? Email tpvos@msu.edu.

NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY TUESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2024.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

February 8, 2023

EAST LANSING, Michigan – Six outstanding journalists will be inducted into the 2023 class of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees have made major, sustained contributions in Michigan journalism. They are:

Journalist and professor Dr. Lucinda D. Davenport

Lansing community broadcast journalist Sheri Jones

Trailblazing journalist Luise Ruth Mahon Leismer

Multimedia entertainment journalist Jim McFarlin

Editor, recruiter and professor Walter T. Middlebrook

Longtime Detroit Free Press journalist Patricia Montemurri

The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame was established to recognize those who have advanced the legacy of a free and responsible press and who have elevated journalism in Michigan. Induction memorializes extraordinary and clearly outstanding careers.

The 2023 Hall of Fame class will be honored at a banquet on April 23, 2023, at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Details about reservations and opportunities for tax-deductible sponsorships and ads will be forthcoming. Details will be provided on the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame website: https://mijournalismhalloffame.org/. Questions may be directed to Betsy DeSantis at 517-353-6431 or email at desant39@msu.edu .

Co-sponsors of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame are the Michigan chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association; the Detroit chapter of the Association for Women in Communications; Central Michigan University’s Department of Journalism; the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists; the Detroit and Mid-Michigan chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists; the Detroit Press Club; Wayne State University’s Journalism Program; the Michigan Association of Broadcasters; and the School of Journalism, Michigan State University. MSU’s School of Journalism has been the home of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame since 1985, reprising the Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame, which became dormant in 1968. It was established by the Michigan Press Association and the MSU School of Journalism in 1952.

East Lansing, MI – Nominations are now being accepted for the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Inductees to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame must have established their professional reputations through Michigan journalism. Honorees will be inducted at a banquet on April 23, 2023 at the Michigan State University Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center.

Nominees are judged on their contributions to Michigan journalism, courage, innovation, leadership, impact and influence on the industry. They may be living or deceased. The deadline for nominations is January 16, 2023. Completed nomination packets must be received in the School of Journalism office, Michigan State University, 404 Wilson Rd., 305 Com Arts and Sciences Bldg, East Lansing, MI 48824- 1212. If you would like information on uploading your nomination packet, please call Betsy DeSantis at 517-353-6431.

Nomination forms are available online at http://mijournalismhalloffame.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/HOF-Nomination-Form_2023.pdf or from Tim Vos, Director, Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame Committee, School of Journalism, Michigan State University.

The nomination packet must include the following:
1. Statement describing the nominee’s professional journalism career and explaining why the nominee should be named to the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, citing examples according to the criteria on the website. Of particular interest to the committee are examples of how the nominee, as a journalist, has personally impacted and influenced great journalism in Michigan.

2. Support materials composed of 5 to 10 testimonial letters supporting the statement; the nominee’s resume; 5 to 10 examples of the nominee’s journalistic work; and other evidence of merit, such as anecdotes that address selection criteria, if desired.

3. A 400-words essay summarizing the nominee’s journalism career.

A nomination must include clips, photos, video, audio, online or other samples, that document a nominee’s work as a journalist and demonstrating impact in Michigan journalism. All materials remain the property of the Hall of Fame and become part of its historical record.

The Hall of Fame Committee is composed of representatives of the co-sponsors, which are non-profit journalism organizations in Michigan. Questions? Email tpvos@msu.edu.

NOMINATIONS MUST BE RECEIVED BY MONDAY, JANUARY 16, 2023.

EAST LANSING, Michigan – Five outstanding journalists will be inducted into the 2022 class of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

This year’s inductees have made major, sustained contributions in Michigan journalism. They are:

Robert Ankeny, dogged reporter on Jimmy Hoffa, Orville Hubbard and Kwame Kilpatrick
Greg Dorsett, from Muskegon he elevated the power of photojournalists to tell stories
Marguerite Gahagan, trailblazing Detroit journalist who opened doors for many women
Tim Kiska, newspaperman, author, professor, historian and podcaster
Beth Konrad, Detroit TV and radio journalist and news director; professor and FOIA champion

The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame was established to recognize those who have advanced the legacy of a free and responsible press and who have elevated journalism in Michigan. Induction memorializes extraordinary and clearly outstanding careers.

The 2022 Hall of Fame class will be honored at a banquet on April 24, 2022, at the Kellogg Center in East Lansing. Details about reservations and opportunities for tax-deductible sponsorships and ads will be forthcoming.

Details will be provided on the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame website: http://j-school.jrn.msu.edu/hallofffame/ . Questions may be directed to Betsy DeSantis at 517-353-6431 or email at desant39@msu.edu .

Co-sponsors of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame are the Michigan chapter of the Asian American Journalists Association; the Detroit chapter of the Association for Women in Communications; Central Michigan University’s Department of Journalism; the Detroit chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists; the Detroit and Mid-Michigan chapters of the Society of Professional Journalists; the Detroit Press Club; the Individual Communicators Network; Wayne State University’s Journalism Program; the Michigan Association of Broadcasters; the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association; the Michigan Press Association Foundation; and the School of Journalism, Michigan State University.
MSU’s School of Journalism has been the home of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame since 1985, reprising the Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame, which became dormant in 1968. The Michigan Press Association and the MSU School of Journalism established the original Michigan Newspaper Hall of Fame in 1952.