FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 9/14/2004

New York — Dr. Steven Pasternack has been awarded the 2003 SPJ Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award.

Dr. Pasternack was a journalism professor at New Mexico State University, where he served as the department head from 1994-2002. This June, he died suddenly after returning from a trip to Rwanda. Since 1998, Pasternack made numerous trips to developing countries as a consultant, training journalists and helping develop new media laws. In addition to his 21 years at New Mexico State, his presence as a journalism educator has been felt around the world.

Pasternack received his Bachelor’s degree in English from Queens College in Flushing, N.Y. and his Doctorate degree in Communications and Law from the University of Tennessee.

The Distinguished Teaching in Journalism Award was announced at a luncheon on Saturday, Sept. 11 during the 2004 SPJ national convention in New York City. The award will be presented at a memorial service for Dr. Pasternack on the New Mexico State University campus Sept. 19.

The Society of Professional Journalists works to improve and protect journalism. The organization is the nation’s largest and most broad-based journalism organization, dedicated to encouraging the free practice of journalism and stimulating high standards of ethical behavior. Founded in 1909 as Sigma Delta Chi, SPJ promotes the free flow of information vital to a well-informed citizenry; works to inspire and educate the next generation of journalists; and protects First Amendment guarantees of freedom of speech and press.

"Steve and I kept in touch for many years after QC, but sadly we lost touch with each other during the last ten or so years of his life. Shortly after graduating from QC, Steve took a job with one of the Albuquerque newspapers. After a few years, he went to Iowa State to get a Masters degree in Journalism and then to Texas A&M. (I can't remember why he was at A&M). We saw each other frequently while I was in Austin and Steve was in Albuquerque, Ames, and College Station. Steve took a faculty job at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico and I moved to DC. We saw each other less frequently in those years and then, sadly, we slowly lost touch.

Steve was very passionate about the First Amendment believed strongly in the role of a free press as a guardian of democracy. He traveled frequently to Eastern Europe and Africa to teach journalism and preach the virtues of a strong a vibrant free press. Apparently, during one of his trips to Rwanda (which was recovering from the 1994 genocide), he contracted a blood infection and died shortly afterward. Sadly, I was working in Rwanda for the World Bank at the same time, but Steve and I didn't cross paths there."

by Alfred Watkins