AMES, IOWA – Eldean “Dean” Borg, senior correspondent and producer for Iowa Public Radio, was presented with the 2016 James W. Schwartz Award honoring distinguished service to journalism and mass communication Friday, Oct. 28.
The James W. Schwartz Award is the highest honor conferred by the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication. It is awarded in honor of James Schwartz, former department chair of the school. The School’s advisory council and faculty nominate candidates, and faculty members select the winner.
Borg is one of Iowa’s leading voices on public policy and politics. Borg has dedicated his career to educating and informing the public. Since its inaugural broadcast in 1971, Borg has been a fixture on Iowa Public Television’s “Iowa Press,” hosting and moderating the popular broadcast that explores issues affecting lives of Iowans. In 2008, he received the Jack Shelley Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Iowa Broadcast News Association.
“Of all our recipients, in the decades we have been giving this award, few have led such a renowned career in service to Iowa than Dean,” said Michael Bugeja, director of the Greenlee School of Journalism. “I put him right up there with beloved broadcaster Jack Shelley, our 1993 Schwartz Award winner.”
Borg, a Forest City native, graduated in 1959 with a degree in technical journalism. He also holds a master’s degree in political science from the University of Iowa.
Bugeja shared testimonials from several of Borg’s colleagues in a speech given at a reception attended by Greenlee School faculty and staff, advisory council members, and Borg’s family.
“Katherine Perkins, Program Director for News and Talk at IPR, says Dean understands ‘context’ in the news. That is perhaps the most difficult thing to teach aspiring journalists, but Dean is a model of it. To quote Katherine, ‘His reports allow listeners to understand not just what happened, but why. He’s an invaluable person to have in our newsroom. He knows everyone and has seen it all. And in addition to all of that,’ she adds, ‘you won’t find a nicer or more thoughtful colleague,’” Bugeja said.
Read more about Borg’s career in the original announcement.