Michael Bugeja retires after guiding journalism education and the profession for 48 years

After a dedicated 48-year career in journalism, Michael Bugeja, distinguished professor, retired from Iowa State University in May.

Bugeja started his journalism career in South Dakota as the reporter and bureau manager for United Press International.

“I worked very hard as a reporter covering unsettling, disturbing types of stories – interviewing killers, covering prison riots, everything a national correspondent would do,” Bugeja recalled.

With a master’s degree from South Dakota State University, he said “out of the blue, I was contacted for a possible job at Oklahoma State University. And they were looking for a professional journalist who could enter the newsroom of the student newspaper called the “O’Collegian,” and I switched from being a bureau manager in South Dakota to being the student media advisor to the student newspaper.”

Bugeja continued, “I came in as an assistant professor with teaching responsibilities, so I was fortunate enough to have some of the most brilliant students out of my 48 years of teaching — this is going to hurt some people — but the reporters and editors at the “O’Colly” are to this day some of the most successful journalists that I ever have worked with.”

After seven years in Oklahoma, Bugeja moved on to work for Ohio University where, again, he said, “the students were outstanding journalists.”

It was here, at Ohio, where Bugeja developed many of his administrative skills, first as assistant to President Robert Glidden and later as associate and interim director of the famed Scripps School of Journalism.

He then came to Iowa State University and served as director of the Greenlee School of Journalism and Communication for 14 years between 2003 to 2017 during which he earned awards for his administrative leadership both at the college and university levels. In 2015 he was named “Journalism and Mass Communication Administrator of the Year” by the Association for Education in Journalism and Mass Communication.

Bugeja won teaching awards for his media ethics classes at Ohio University. When he came to Iowa State, he had no teaching obligations, “but I could not be an effective director without being in the classroom, so I began teaching ethics here.”

He consistently earned some of the top teaching evaluations in the School.

“I always tried to push them [students] past what they thought they could do. My goal was not to affirm what they could do but to encourage them to do more of what they are capable of doing.”  

His capstone media ethics class was nationally recognized for the final project of a professional portfolio with personal ethics code.

Bugeja has guided students, faculty and staff as a leader, mentor and teacher.

“In Dr. B’s class, I always felt welcome to share my thoughts, or to challenge the discussion. He created an environment that encouraged thought and often led me to reflect on class material outside of the classroom for a deeper understanding,” said Ryan Harrison, senior in public relations.

“For decades, Michael has been a tireless champion for faculty advancement,” said professor and Greenlee School Associate Director Jan Lauren Boyles. “In my own experience, Michael’s wisdom and advice significantly shaped my administrative career. The core principles that drove his life’s work — transparency, compassion and mindfulness — will now inform the next stages of my own leadership journey. I am forever grateful for his steadfast mentorship.”

Bugeja has guided the thought and agenda of the journalism and mass communication field. He has published 24 books across genres, including three books by Oxford University Press: “Interpersonal Divide: Searching for Community in a Technological Age;” Interpersonal Divide in the Age of the Machine;” and “Living Ethics Across Media Platforms.” He has published articles in many of journalism’s top tier journals. To reach a broader audience, he also published in professional outlets that ranged from the flagship Poynter Institute, Inside Higher Ed, and The Department Chair, to journalistic outlets such as the Iowa Capital Dispatch and the Des Moines Register.

As a sample of his many awards, he has been recognized with the Provost Faculty Mentor Award, Administrator of the Year Award from the Scripps Howard Foundation, Award for Outstanding Achievement in Administration from Iowa State University and guided the Greenlee School to be named as winner of the national Equity and Diversity Award by the Association for Education in Journalism and Communication.

In 2019, Bugeja received Iowa State’s highest academic title of distinguished professor for his contributions to media ethics and technology. Of the more than 225 faculty members to receive this title since 1956, fewer than 10 have been so named in the humanities. 

“Thousands of media professionals, alumni and students can trace their success from the support and mentorship of Michael Bugeja. I count myself as one of them and thank him for his long-time support and friendship,” said Michael Dahlstrom, director of the Greenlee School.

Bugeja will continue to support the Greenlee School and Iowa State students. He created the Michael Bugeja Kappa Tau Alpha Scholarship Fund to provide scholarship support to students in the Greenlee School and pay membership fees for inductees to the Michael Bugeja Kappa Tau Alpha honorary society, a chapter of the only national journalism and mass communication society recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. He has so far raised $110,000, the primary source coming from his donation of all royalties from his book, “How-to News Writer,” which was recently listed within the 100 best journalism books of all time as judged by The New Yorker, Wall Street Journal, and 150+ other authorities across a wide spectrum. 

To cap off this list of accomplishments and recognition, the Greenlee School is happy to share that Bugeja was just recently selected by the faculty as the 2025 James W. Schwartz Award recipient. This award is the highest honor conferred by the Greenlee School. It is awarded in honor of James Schwartz, former department chair of the school and recognizes the highest distinguished service to journalism and communication and to the Greenlee School. That ceremony will be held in the fall.

Now that he has retired, he is happy to spend more time with spouse Diane Bugeja, teaching professor emerita, and with this three Maine Coons, orchard and woodlands. He said he has enjoyed teaching and getting to know students, and the memories will live on, but he is looking forward to spending time with his family and cats.