This past Wednesday, Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication honored seven Klein alumni and David Muir, anchor and managing editor of ABC World News Tonight with David Muir, the most-watched newscast in the U.S., as well as co-anchor of 20/20.
Several hundred Temple alumni, students, faculty, staff, family and friends gathered at Vie by Cescaphe on Broad Street in Philadelphia to celebrate the honorees and the legacy of broadcast pioneer and educator Lew Klein in a ceremony hosted by Amy Caples, KLN ’85, retired media professional and assistant professor and Temple University Interim Provost and Klein College Dean David Boardman.
“Tonight, we honor the past, celebrate the present and invest in the future of the professions for which we train at the Klein College,” said Boardman.
Throughout the night, the College inducted six distinguished alumni into its Hall of Fame. They are:
Lesly Attarian, KLN ’90, vice president of development, Historic Philadelphia
Joe Carolei, KLN ’76, director and producer, Variety Television
John Clark, KLN ’98, sportscaster, NBC10 and NBC Sports Philadelphia
Jordy Freed, KLN ’12, head of brand, business development, partner marketing & strategy, Sony
Kia Johnson, KLN ’86, producer, Reuters News Agency
Darla Price, KLN ’04, president, Ogilvy New York
This year’s Rising Star Award was presented to Beccah Hendrickson, KLN ’16, multimedia journalist at 6abc Action News.
Muir was honored with the Lew Klein Excellence in the Media Award. The award is presented annually to a media luminary whose work is a model for Klein College students. Past recipients include writer, producer and actress Quinta Brunson; Oscar- and Grammy-winning musician Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson; comedian Tina Fey; sports icon Charles Barkley; CNN anchor Jake Tapper, and New York Times Executive Editor Dean Baquet.
In his acceptance speech, Muir shared his experiences starting in the industry as an intern at his local news station, growing as a journalist through covering untold stories—often in dangerous conditions—as well as his time speaking with Temple students earlier that day at the Student Conversation with David Muir, hosted by the Klein College at the Temple Performing Arts Center.
“The true highlight of my day here in Philadelphia was meeting the young journalists who are going to take up this extraordinary discipline, this most important of roles in our society,” Muir shared about his visit to Temple’s campus.
About the Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards
The Lew Klein Alumni in the Media Awards were established in 2000 through the generosity of Gerry and Marguerite Lenfest and the Annenberg Foundation to honor broadcasting legend and longtime Temple University instructor Lew Klein. The awards celebrate Klein College graduates whose achievements in the media bring honor to Temple, along with one media figure who represents the excellence and values personified by Lew Klein. Proceeds from the dinner benefit the Lew Klein Scholarship Fund, which helps defray tuition costs for students, enabling them to pursue off-campus study and internship opportunities.