Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis’ 2015 Media Persons of the Year

The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis toasted four media professionals at the Media Persons of the Year Gala, Thursday, June 11, 2015, at Edward Jones Corporate Headquarters. The Press Club’s signature annual fundraiser supports the many journalism scholarships and grants the club offers.

In 1988, the Press Club initiated the gala to recognize distinguished men and women from the St. Louis media whose exemplary performances established standards of professional conduct and accomplishment. The affair has gained the reputation as a memorable evening of entertainment with the honorees accepting toasts by prominent personalities and friends.

Between the dinner and the awards program, Gina Galati, general director of Winter Opera Saint Louis and an internationally-acclaimed opera singer, kicked off the proceedings with a powerful rendition of God Bless America.

Mark Reardon, KMOX Radio host, emceed the evening, assisted by the following friends/presenters’ toasts and roasts: Lynden Steele, director of photography, St. Louis Post-Dispatch (Special Recognition, St. Louis Post-Dispatch); Art Holliday, KSDK anchor/reporter (Jennifer Blome); Tim Eby, general manager, KWMU St. Louis Public Radio (Don Marsh); Fred Sweets, contribution editor, St. Louis American (Dr. Donald Suggs); and Doug McElvein, KMOX host (Candy Crowley).

This year’s honorees reflect these characteristics and proudly supplement the list of previous recipients:

Jennifer Blome, born in Baltimore and raised in Rhode Island and Ohio, began her career at NewsChannel 5 in 1979 as a reporter and weekend weatercaster. When KSDK launched the first morning newscast in the early 1980’s, Blome became the sole anchor. During 1989, the station paired her with Art Holliday, forging a long and highly successful partnership that is attributed to the two anchors’ natural chemistry. Always a vocal advocate for animal welfare, Blome retired from Channel 5 in 2014 to pursue her other passion promoting humane education for the Animal Protective Association.

With a career commencing in 1959, Don Marsh rates among St. Louis’ most accomplished veteran newsmen. His professional accolades inlcude 12 regional Emmy awards and a lifetime achievement honor from the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Marsh also has written a book, How to be Rude Politely.

In 1980, Dr. Donald Suggs, an oral surgeon by trade, and two partners purchased the then-struggling St. Louis American newspaper. Four years later, he became its majority shareholder, overseeing daily operations. Today, the American represents the longest continuously published weekly newspaper in St. Louis, the largest independent newspaper in Missouri, and one of the biggest African-American papers in America.

Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Candy Crowley grew up in Creve Coeur and graduated from Principia High School. She joined the fledgling CNN cable news network in 1987, where she developed into an award-winning political correspondent and host of State of the Union with Candy Crowley. In 2012, she became the first woman in two decades to moderate a presidential debate, contributing to a career as one of the best-known and respected television political journalists.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch received special recognition for its coverage of events in Ferguson, and Lyden Steele, director of photography, presented a video on the newspaper’s coverage. The photo staff won the Pulitzer Prize for breaking news photography related to its chronicle of the extended protests and violence following Michael Brown’s death. The Pulitzer board also named as finalists for editorial writing two Post-Dispatch editorial writers, editorial page editor Tony Messenger, and deputy editorial page editor Kevin Horrigan, citing “editorials that brought insight and context to the national tragedy of Ferguson, MO, without losing sight of the community’s needs.”

The Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis consists of a professional, social and charitable organization of people who make, cover and influence the news. Its members include reporters, editors, news directors, anchors, columnists, broadcasters, professionals in advertising, marketing, communications and public relations and others who may become sources of news. It represents a true “umbrella” organization for those in the profession.

The mission of the Press Club of Metropolitan St. Louis is serving as a primary resource for the journalism and communications industry. The Press Club advances understanding of mass communicators and their respective public and promotes awareness of significant issues facing the press.