October 6, 2000

WKU School Of Journalism And Broadcasting To Honor Five

Bowling Green, Ky. - Five media professionals will be honored Oct. 13 by the Western Kentucky University School of Journalism and Broadcasting.

Four are being honored for outstanding achievement in the year that ended June 30. The fifth will receive a distinguished service award.

The fifth annual awards will be presented to:

· T. William Samuels Jr., president and chief operating officer of Maker's Mark Distillery, Advertising Practitioner of the Year;
· Tom Clinton, executive editor of The Messenger of Madisonville, Print Journalist of the Year;
· Leanne Banna-Pritchett, owner of LBP Communications in Henderson, Public Relations Practitioner of the Year;
· Jack Corn, former director of photography for The Tennessean and The Chicago Tribune, Visual Journalist of the Year;
· Dan Modlin, news director of WKYU-FM,, Western's Public Radio Service, Distinguished Service in Broadcasting.

The awards dinner, which is open to the public, begins at 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oct. 13, in the Garrett Conference Center. The dinner will benefit the faculty development fund and serve as a match for the school's Program of Distinction support from the Kentucky Incentive Trust Fund.

For reservations, contact the School of Journalism and Broadcasting at (270) 745-4143. Cost is $35. Students may attend for $15.

The practitioner awards recognize media professionals based in Kentucky or a state that borders Kentucky: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri, Ohio, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia.

Samuels, who became president and chief operating officer of the Bardstown distillery in August 1975, is the driving force behind Maker's Mark advertising, known for its wit and originality. He is founding chairman of the Kentucky Economic Development Partnership Board, chair of the Kentucky Derby Museum board and vice chair of the University of Louisville board of trustees.
Clinton has been executive editor of the Madisonville newspaper for 22 years. "Possibly Tom's greatest contribution has been to the young people of this community having guided three generations of budding journalists, leaders and future citizens with a clear sense of values so important to young lives and future leaders," Messenger Publisher Bob Morris said.

Banna-Pritchett's primary job is consultant for Habitat for Humanity of Evansville, Ind., for which she has helped raise $3 million. She administers all public relations and development activity for the Top 40 Habitat for Humanity International Affiliate and last year secured enough sponsorships to build 25 homes in one week. She has been public relations manager of St. Mary's Medical Center in Evansville, program and promotions director of Evansville Arts and Education Council and public relations specialist for Deaconess Hospital in Evansville.

Corn, an emeritus faculty member, was a photojournalist-in-residence at WKU between and after his two newspaper assignments that spanned 30 years.

Modlin, news director of Western's Public Radio Service, has won several significant awards from the Associated Press and other news organizations.

For more information, contact Jo-Ann Albers, director of the School of Journalism and Broadcasting, at (270) 745-4143.