Alberto Ibarguen receives Schieffer School Ethics Award
Fort Worth, TX
3/25/2010
Schieffer School Green Honors Chair, Alberto Ibargüen, president and CEO of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, discussed “Information Needs and a Free Society” on campus Wednesday, March 24. Following the lecture, Ibargüen was presented with the Schieffer School Ethics Award. The first award was given in 1988 to recognize individuals in the fields of journalism and strategic communications who have demonstrated a commitment to the highest standards of ethical standards."Bestowing this honor on this distinguished journalist not only honors him but enhances the prestige of the award," said Phil Record, who teaches ethics in the Schieffer School of Journalism and is a member of the committee that nominated Ibargüen.
“This award is given to honor ethical decision-making in the trenches – those practitioners who consistently make the tough choices and consistently choose to do the right thing,” said Tommy Thomason, director of the Texas Center for Community Journalism. “Alberto Ibargüen sought to bring a culture of ethical decision-making to The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, and that’s just the kind of ethics leadership we want to honor.”
Ibargüen received his undergraduate degree from Wesleyan University before attending law school at the University of Pennsylvania. He then served as publisher of the Miami Herald, which won three Pulitzer Prizes during his tenure. He has received a Maria Coors Cabot citation from Columbia University and an honorary Doctor of Letters from George Washington University for his work on the protection of journalists in Latin America.
"Alberto Ibargüen could not be more deserving,” said John Lumpkin, director of the Schieffer School of Journalism. “His career is a model for ethics in our profession. I can say that from the perspective of the Schieffer School and also one who knew Alberto professionally in my former assignment with Associated Press."
In 2008, the Schieffer School Ethics Award was presented to Wes Turner, retired Star-Telegram publisher and current a media consultant. In 2007, the award was presented to Julian Reid, who has a national reputation in the field of public relations.