Media Persons of the Year
Past Awardees at the Media Persons of the Year Press Club galas
1988 Joseph Pulitzer, Jr.
1989 Bob Hyland
1990 Al Fleishman
1991 Bob Broeg & Bob Burnes
1992 Mary Kimbrough
1993 Julius Hunter
1994 Bob Costas
1995 Karen Foss
1996 Martin Duggan & Ray Hartmann
1997 Bill McClellan
1998 Charles Brennan
1999 Wendy Wiese & Bill Wilkerson
2000 Charlene Sherman Bry & Karen Carroll
2001 Greg Freeman & Dick Ford
2002 Mike Bush & Bernie Miklasz
2003 St. Louis Post-Dispatch
2005 KETC-TV & KWMU-FM
2006 Charles Klotzer & St. Louis Journalism Review
Russ Mitchell -- National Journalism Achievement Award*
2007 Joe Buck -- Jack Buck National Media Person of the Year Award*
2008 Vickie Newton & Larry Conners
*The National Journalism Achievement Award and the Joe Buck National Media Person of the Year Award were established to recognize achievement of St. Louis media professionals whose journalistic accomplishments have
led to national media prominence.
History of the Event
In 1988, the Press Club of Metropolitan initiated the “Media Person of the Year”
Award to recognize distinguished men and women from the St. Louis media
whose exemplary performance established standards of professional conduct
and accomplishment. This scholarship dinner and roast has evolved into a
major fund-raiser, as well as one of the area's premier social events.
Today, the gala draws hundreds of people -- from the movers and
shakers of St. Louis, to everyday citizens -- with a special affinity for the media
professional(s) being honored. The event has gained the reputation of being a
memorable evening of entertainment, with the honorees graciously accepting
their "roasting" by prominent personalities and friends.
A popular part of each year’s event is the caricature. This year’s
caricatures were created by Steve Edwards, cover artist for the St. Louis
Journalism Review. Past caricatures have been created by Post-Dispatch
cartoonists and illustrators Dan Martin and Amadee Wohlschlaeger.
Proceeds from this event benefit journalism/communications
scholarships and internships, the media archives at the St. Louis Public Library,
Press Club programs, and enterprise journalism fellowships. The St. Louis
community's continuing support has enabled the Press Club to significantly
expand its funding for scholarships and fellowships.
The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis is honored to provide
scholarships and internships to the underserved, bright communications
students who are the trailblazers of tomorrow. Tonight, as we celebrate our
20th Media Person of the Year event, we proudly salute our esteemed
honorees, as well as the past and present recipients of this coveted award.