ASJMC Gerald M. Sass Distinguished Service Award
The Citation of Merit Award was created in 1946 by the American Society of Journalism School Administrators to recognize outstanding journalistic service by organizations and individuals. When ASJSA merged with the Association of Schools of Journalism and Mass Communication in 1984, the award became known as the Distinguished Service Award. In 1996 the award was renamed the Gerald M. Sass Distinguished Service Award in recognition of the many years of dedication and vision that Sass provided to journalism and mass communication education.
Past Recipients
2024 – Irving Washington, Health Misinformation and Trust at KFF
2023 – Rebecca Landsberry-Baker,
Indigenous Journalists Association
2022 – Peter Bhatia, ACEJMC President, Editor and Vice President, Detroit Free Press
2021 – Jennifer H. McGill, AEJMC/ASJMC
2020 – Hugo Morales, Radio Bilingue
2019 – Linda Shockley, Dow Jones News Fund
2018 – Mizell Stewart, VP, Gannett/USA Today
2017 – Keith Woods, National Public Radio
2016 – Marty Baron, The Washington Post
2015 – Clark Bell, McCormick Foundation
2014 – Frank Ovaitt, Institute for Public Relations
2013 – Jan Watten, Hearst Foundation Journalism Awards
2012 – Vivian Vahlberg, Vahlberg & Associates
2011 – Connie Frazier, American Advertising Federation
2010 – Rich Holden, Dow Jones News Fund
2009 – Charles Overby, The Freedom Forum/Newseum
2008 – Susanne Shaw, Accrediting Council on Education in JMC
2007 – Mark Goodman, Student Press Law Center
2006 – Judith Clabes, Scripps Howard Foundation
2005 – Karen Dunlap, Poynter Institute
2004 – Hodding Carter III, Knight Foundation
2003 – Lee Stinnett, ASNE
2002 – Jerry Ceppos, Knight Ridder
2001 – Brian Lamb, CSPAN
2000 – Bob Giles, Freedom Forum Media Studies Center
1999 – Jay Harris, San Jose Mercury News
1998 – Robert J. Haiman, Poynter Institute
1997 – Al Neuharth, Freedom Forum
1996 – Creed Black, Knight Foundation
1995 – Robert MacNeil, MacNeil-Lehrer NewsHour
1994 – Daniel Schorr, National Public Radio
1993 – Ruth Holmberg, The Chattanooga Times
1992 – David Lawrence, Miami Herald
1991 – Mervin Aubespin, The Louisville Courier-Journal
1990 – Randolph A. Hearst, Hearst Foundation
1989 – Helen Thomas, UPI
1988 – John Seigenthaler, The Tennessean
1987 – Gerald M. Sass, Gannett Foundation
1986 – David Broder, The Washington Post
1985 – Fred Friendly, CBS News