Philip Robbins, 74, journalist, professor of journalism and a leading authority on the First Amendment and freedom of the press, died of pancreatic cancer Oct. 13 at his home in Elkton, Md.
Robbins dedicated his life to the practice of journalism and the principles of a free press and freedom of information. He spent the early years of his career as a reporter and editor at a number of daily newspapers. As a professor for 25 years, he trained a generation of print, radio and television journalists. In his later years, he focused his efforts on the international stage as ombudsman for international publications such as Stars and Stripes.
Robbins sat on numerous award committees for journalistic practice, as well as receiving many awards himself, including the Distinguished Service Award from the Society of Professional Journalists. He was an SPJ member since 1951.
Former SPJ member Allan May, 82, a reporter at the The Herald in Everett, Wash., for 34 years died Dec. 19. He retired as a reporter at the end of 1988.
May wrote about his community, history, the mountains and the Northwest Coast for publishers in more than a half-dozen books. He served in the Marines during World War II and graduated from the University of Illinois with a journalism degree. He worked in newspapers in Illinois, New York and Washington state before starting with The Herald in 1954.
Pam Klein, who died of cancer in spring 2005, has been inducted into Central Michigan University’s Journalism Hall of Fame.
During her career, Klein worked in various roles for a number of newspapers, including The Indianapolis Star and Hartford Courant. She freelanced for The Chicago Tribune, Newsweek, Indianapolis Monthly, Family Money, Advertising Age, Business Week and Real Estate Today.
Bruce Hetrick, CEO of Indianapolis-based Hetrick Communications, accepted the honor on his wife’s behalf. His speech served as a tribute to Pam’s hardworking yet gentle spirit. Klein, who was 49 when she died, developed lung cancer even though she wasn’t a smoker.
Hetrick plans to combine the donations from CMU with gifts from Klein’s family to endow the Pam Klein Memorial Scholarship, which will be awarded to an excellent junior or senior journalism major at CMU. This scholarship will go to a student who doesn’t smoke or use tobacco products.
