FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PHILADELPHIA – AUG. 6, 2018 – Charles Barkley, NBA Hall of Famer and Emmy-winning broadcaster, will receive the Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award this fall. The acclaimed analyst will be the 18th recipient of the honor at a ceremony hosted annually by Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication to honor distinguished alumni and media figures, and to raise funds for student scholarships.

Barkley began his broadcasting career in 2000 as a studio analyst with TNT, and he has broadcast every NCAA Final Four since 2011. Today he appears on the network’s “Inside the NBA,” the program for which he has won two Sports Emmys in the Outstanding Sports Personality - Studio Analyst category. Last year, Barkley also launched “American Race,” a TNT docu-series exploring the issue of race from a variety of perspectives across the country.

His NBA career began with the Philadelphia 76ers in 1984. He went on to be a league leader in rebounding and was an 11-time NBA All Star, elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2006. His basketball career also included two “Dream Team” appearances, representing the United States and winning gold medals at the 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games.

Barkley, who has also written four books, joins past Excellence in the Media recipients including Tina Fey, Robin Roberts, Dean Baquet, Anderson Cooper, Whoopi Goldberg and Wolf Blitzer.

“Charles Barkley is not only a keen analyst of basketball, he is an important and influential voice in American culture,” said David Boardman, dean of the Klein College. “He was known in the NBA for his ethic of hard work and intensity, and has brought that ethic to his work in media.”

In addition to receiving the award at the ceremony, Barkley will also hold a separate conversation with Temple University students.

“We are excited that our students will have an exclusive opportunity to speak with someone who is known for sharing his insights and wisdom with absolute candor,” Boardman said.

The Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards ceremony, to be held on Oct. 5 at Mitten Hall, will also honor the professional achievements of five alumni working in the media and communication industries. This year’s Alumni in the Media honorees are:

• Marsha Cooke, KLN ‘87, senior vice president content strategy, VICE Media 
• Jim Gallagher, KLN ‘78, retired, former vice president and general manager, Comcast Spotlight 
• David Maialetti, KLN ‘89, staff photographer, The Philadelphia Inquirer and Philadelphia Daily News
• Tifani Roberts, KLN ‘91, journalist, Univision
• Fred Stein, KLN ‘72, senior partner, The Creative Group

Additionally, the Rising Star Award will be given this year to Will Yip, KLN ‘08, president, Black Cement Records and partner, Studio 4 Recording.

Named in honor of broadcasting pioneer Lew Klein, the annual event pays tribute to both his influential career and to his more than 65 years of teaching at Klein College. The college was renamed in Klein’s honor In March 2017, in recognition of his career in television and decades of teaching service to the university.

“It is rewarding to know that through the past 18 years, hundreds of students have benefited from the proceeds of this event by enabling them to expand their studies in countries including Spain, Italy, England and South Africa,” said Klein.

Proceeds from the event directly benefit the Lew Klein Scholarship Fund, which provides stipends to help defray tuition costs, encouraging students to pursue off-campus learning and internship opportunities.

For more information: lewkleinawards.com

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Shannon McLaughlin Rooney
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