Past Events

Established in 2000 through the generosity of Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest and the Annenberg Foundation, the Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards honor the legacy of broadcasting pioneer and longtime Temple University instructor Lew Klein.

Each year, the event recognizes distinguished alumni whose work in the media brings pride to Temple University, along with one media figure whose career reflects the excellence and values personified by Lew Klein.

Proceeds from the annual event benefit the Lew Klein Scholarship Fund, which supports students pursuing off-campus study and internship opportunities.

Explore Past Honorees by Year

Browse previous years’ events and view the full list of past honorees below.

2024

Excellence Honoree

Quinta Brunson
Writer, producer and actress 

 

Alumni Honorees

Nancy Becker, ‘82
Pam Derderian, ‘82
Cherri Gregg, ‘12
John Kincade, ‘86
Dylan Purcell, ‘00

Rising Star: Teresa M. Lundy, ‘14


View the honorees and highlights from the 2024 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2022

Excellence Honoree

Questlove
Oscar- and Grammy-winning Musician

 

Alumni Honorees

Howard Bryant, former Owl
Chris Carl, ‘92
Danielle Cohn, ‘95
Nora Gerard, ‘74
Pete Jones, ‘92
Eugene Kane, ’81*

Rising Star: Ray Boyd, ’13 

 

View the honorees and highlights from the 2022 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2019

Excellence Honoree

Jake Tapper
Anchor and Chief Washington Correspondent for CNN

 

Alumni Honorees

Julie K. Brown, ’87
Murray Dubin, ’69
Mel Greenberg, ’69
Michelle Rice, ’88
John Zissimos, ’88

Rising Star: Kyle Hall, ’08

 

View the honorees and highlights from the 2019 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2018

Excellence Honoree

Charles Barkley
Broadcaster, Turner Networks

 

Alumni Honorees

Marsha Cooke, ’87
Jim Gallagher, ’78
David Maialetti, ’89
Tifani Roberts, ’91
Fred Stein, ’72

Rising Star: Will Yip, ’08

 

View the honorees and highlights from the 2018 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2017

Excellence Honoree

Dean Baquet
Executive Editor of The New York Times

 

Alumni Honorees

Lorraine Branham, ’76*
Thomas Conti, ’83
Patrick Hally, ’96
Ben Jankowski, ’82
Michael O’Shea Jr., ’95
Terry Taylor, ’74

Rising Star: Julia Nietsch, ’07

 

View the honorees and highlights from the 2017 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2015

Excellence Honoree

Wolf Blitzer
CNN's Lead Political Anchor and Anchor of The Situation Room


Alumni Honorees

Ari Brandt, ’92
John Foy, ’89
Kristen Graham, ’00
Ritschard (Rich) Homberg, ’78
Linn Washington, Jr., ’74

Rising Stars
Robert Czyzewicz, ’10
Patrick Rosenbaum, ’11


View the honorees and highlights from the 2015 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2014

Excellence Honoree

Brian Williams
Anchor and Managing Editor, NBC Nightly News


Alumni Honorees

Tracy Davidson, ’06
Jerry Klein, ’70 & ’80
Larry Margasak, ’65
John Oates, ’70
Claire Smith, ’79

Rising Star: Meredith Z. Avakian, ’06


View the honorees and highlights from the 2014 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2012

Excellence Honoree

Anderson Cooper
Anchor, CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360°, Host and Executive Producer, Anderson Live


Alumni Honorees

Fred Bauer, ’64
Amy Caples, ’85
Clark DeLeon, ’72
Kenn Venit, ’66, ’68
Richard R. Weiss Jr., ’69
Dyana Williams, ’97

Rising Star: Jian Wang, ’08


View the honorees and highlights from the 2012 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2011

Excellence Honoree

Charles Osgood 
Anchor, CBS News Sunday Morning and CBS Rad 10, “The Osgood File”


Alumni Honorees

Jane Brodsky Altschuler ’69
Leslie Esdaile Banks ’98*
Kal Rudman ’57
Clifford Schwartz ’80


View the honorees and highlights from the 2011 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2010

Excellence Honoree

Robin Roberts
Anchor, ABC’s Good Morning America


Alumni Honorees

Tamron Hall ’92
Alan Ross Kosher ’69*
J Russell Peltz ’68
Harvey Pollack ’43*
Mike Strug ’64


View the honorees and highlights from the 2010 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2007

Excellence Honoree

Dick Vermeil
Anchor, ABC’s Good Morning America


Alumni Honorees

Barbara Attie ’96
Bill Daly ’77
John Dotson Jr. ’58*
Linda Munich ’75
Bob Pantano ’71
Marc Rayfield ’85


View the honorees and highlights from the 2007 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

2005

Excellence Honoree

Chris Matthews 
Host, MSNBC, Hardball with Chris Matthews


Alumni Honorees

Tom Cardella ’60
John Connolly ’79
Victoria Lim ’91
Shirley Powell ’88
Larry Rosen ’84
Gene Shay ’57


View the honorees and highlights from the 2005 Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards.

1999

Alumni Honorees

Perry Cline ’73
Paulette Joy Douglas ’72*
John W. Glaser, III ’79
Art Moore
Joe Nicolo ’77
Marci Shatzman ’68
Joby Warrick ’82
Clarence J. Williams, III ’93

1998

Alumni Honorees

Rhada Bharadwaj ’85
Beatrice Cronin ’69
Patrick Cronin ’68
Jan Dickler ’77
Bert Medley ’67*
Arlene Notoro Morgan ’67
David Murphy ’85
Lois Passalacqua Paul ’75

1997

Alumni Honorees

Cathy Gandolfo ’71
Paul Gluck ’76
Gloria Hochman ’54
Craig W. Linebaugh ’74
Tracey Matisak ’85
Mari Angela Pino ’81
Howie Shapiro ’70
Elmer Smith ’73