April 6, 2007
Dr. Ed Mullins, retired journalism professor and volunteer associate at the Center for Community-Based Partnerships, received the 2007 Distinguished Special Achievement in Journalism Award from Auburn University’s Journalism Advisory Council at an awards luncheon at the AU Conference Center on April 6.
Mullins is a former dean of the College of Communication and Information Sciences, which he led to national prominence from 1983-2006. He continues to serve the University as an instructor in the Knight Fellows Teaching Newspaper program at The Anniston Star and as a volunteer for various community projects.
The award cites Mullins’ work in community journalism at both the UA campus and at The Star and his work as a founder of Alabama Center for Open Government. He was also recognized for more than 30 years as a journalism educator and administrator.
Carrollton native Roy Bain, former journalist at the St. Petersburg Times and former adjunct journalism faculty member at the University when Mullins was chair of the department, is chair of the AU Advisory Council’s Honors Committee which presents the annual awards.
“Dr. Mullins fully represents what the Distinguished Special Achievement in Journalism award intends to recognize: a distinguished career that supports, enhances and beneficially influences the practice of journalism in Alabama,” said Bain. “He has been a force in Alabama journalism for 30 years, and in particular in Community journalism and in statewide journalism leadership. He has been a trend setter for our state. He richly deserves this award and his recognition raises the bar by which future recipients will be evaluated.”
“I am honored to be recognized by Auburn’s journalism program,” Mullins said. “My father, one of my brothers and many of my nieces and nephews are graduates of Auburn, and over the years I have worked with many AU journalism faculty ““ taught a few of them, in fact ““ in the press association and in open government work.”
As a volunteer with the Center for Community-Based Partnerships, Mullins works with students who extend their classroom experience by conducting research and working as community journalists in Alabama’s Black Belt.