Journalism School To Honor Four Alumni at Awards Banquet

Distinguished service and early professional achievement will earn four University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni awards from the School of Journalism and Mass Communication.

Science News editor Julie Ann Miller, Chicago Daily News and Chicago Sun Times reporter M.W. Newman and NW Ayer Advertising executive Patrick Cunningham will receive distinguished service awards for 1997. Gregory Hughes, vice president for public relations for Turner Sports, will be recognized for professional achievement within 10 years of graduation.

Miller holds a master’s degree in journalism and a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UW–Madison. She began her journalistic career as a writer for the University-Industry Research Foundation in 1975, then became life sciences editor at the weekly magazine Science News. Miller moved to BioScience in 1986, and returned to Science News as editor in 1995. The winner of many awards, she was the Journalism School’s science writer in residence in 1992.

Chicago Journalism Hall-of-Famer Newman earned his bachelor’s degree in journalism from the UW in 1938. He joined the Daily News staff in 1945 and stayed until the paper folded in 1978, writing the famous front-page “obituary” on its final day of publication. He then transferred his talents to the Sun Times, where he worked until he retired in 1995.

Cunningham earned his bachelor’s degree from the school in 1965. After beginning his career with Lawler Ballard Little Advertising in Norfolk, Va., he joined NW Ayer as a copywriter. By 1978 he had joined Ayer’s board of directors and had become the firm’s creative services director, launching the Army’s “Be All You Can Be” campaign. As Ayer’s vice chair and worldwide creative director, he has held responsibility for all of the agency’s accounts. He has received every major award offered to the advertising industry.

Hughes received his bachelor’s degree in 1986. After interning with the Atlanta Braves, he joined Turner Broadcasting as a tour guide. Within three years, he had moved to Turner Sports public relations, coordinating media for the 1990 Goodwill Games. In 1993 Turner Sports named him director of public relations. In 1996 he was promoted to vice president. He is responsible for all publicity related to Turner Network Television and superstation TBS.

“These are four extraordinary models of professional excellence in their respective fields,” says Robert Drechsel, director of the School of Journalism and Mass Communication. “They have done the school and the university proud, and we are pleased to have a chance to honor them.”

The winners will be recognized a banquet April 18 at 6 p.m. in Memorial Union’s Tripp Commons. Reservations are available through the School of Journalism office, (608) 263-4080. The cost is $20.