Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications journalism professor Walter Middlebrook will be a 2023 inductee into the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame. Middlebrook’s formal induction will be in April, according to a release.

The Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame aims to recognize outstanding individuals who have helped further a free and responsible press and have helped to uplift journalism in Michigan. Middlebrook is one of six people to be recognized in this year’s class.

The Memphis, Tennessee, native joined the College of Communications in 2018 as a professional-in-residence. Middlebrook joined the Department of Journalism during the 2020-2021 academic year, where he currently serves as the Foster Professor of Practice and coordinates the annual Foster-Foreman Conference of Distinguished Writers.

Prior to his time at Penn State, Middlebrook acted as assistant managing editor for The Detroit News for 11 years, where he supervised an award-winning investigations team. Middlebrook also spent time at outlets, including the Minneapolis Star, The New York Times, and USA Today, among others.

Previously, Middlebrook was the recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Detroit chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists in 2018.