The Michigan Interscholastic Press Association has honored Brian Roberts, coordinator of instructional technology at Central Michigan University and former photo instructor at MIPA’s Summer Journalism Workshop, as the recipient of its 2020 John V. Field Award for his long-time support of student journalism.
The award recognizes a person or organization who is not currently a student media adviser for their significant contributions to scholastic journalism in Michigan. It was first given in 1972 to John Field, a University of Michigan journalism professor who served as the executive director of MIPA for more than 20 years when it was based on the Ann Arbor campus.
Roberts was honored as part of an online ceremony on April 23.
“Every day, Brian Roberts helps teachers use technology to do their jobs better,” said Jeremy Steele, executive director of MIPA and a specialist in the School of Journalism. “But he’s also a proven educator in his own right, and is passionate about helping student photographers and journalists.”
For more than 16 years, Roberts shared his experiences, knowledge and skills with students at the MIPA Summer Journalism Workshop, where he was a photo instructor and technology wizard until 2014.
In 2017, Roberts rallied together donations from other former MIPA workshop faculty and friends to provide a scholarship to student to attend our program at Michigan State University. It’s a tradition he continued in 2018 and 2019.
“Brian is more apt to give praise and credit to the people around him than to accept it for himself,” Steele said. “But the facts are clear. Scholastic journalism in Michigan is stronger because of Brian’s passion and support for students and photojournalism.”
Roberts lives in Mount Pleasant with his wife, Courtney, and daughter, Avery.
ABOUT THE MICHIGAN INTERSCHOLASTIC PRESS ASSOCIATION
Founded in 1921 and housed in the Michigan State University School of Journalism, the Michigan Interscholastic Press Association is a nonprofit organization composed of scholastic journalism teachers and publications advisers and their students. MIPA is committed to promoting and recognizing excellence in scholastic journalism at all levels through education, training and support of student journalists and their advisers.