News editor honored at Y. awards banquet

PROVO — Deseret Morning News Editor John Hughes received Friday an Honorary Alumni Award from Brigham Young University for his work as an educator and Pulitzer-prize winning journalist.

Hughes, who isn't a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, worked at the church-owned school as a professor of journalism and director of the international media studies program for five years before being asked by President Gordon B. Hinckley in 1997 to oversee the newspaper.

"I consider him to still be a part of the family here," BYU President Cecil O. Samuelson said of Hughes. "It's exciting to honor someone who breaks the mold of everyone else."

Hughes is former editor of the Christian Science Monitor. He also served as U.S. assistant secretary of state, assistant secretary-general of the United Nations and as chairman of presidential and congressional commissions on international broadcasting.

Hughes, born in Wales, has written two books and continues to write a nationally syndicated column.

But Hughes made it clear Friday that he is "on leave" from BYU and plans to teach there again someday.

"I really think (BYU) is a special place," Hughes said. "I'm impressed by the ethical propriety of the students here. If there are problems in journalism — and there most certainly are — who better to bring about a change than people dedicated to high standards and values?"

The annual University Awards banquet is part of BYU's homecoming festivities.

Recipients of the Distinguished Service Award were former LDS Young Women General President Jannette Callister Hales Beckham, former Snow College and BYU-Hawaii University President J. Elliot Cameron, Dr. Lynn Perry and his wife, Norma, and former Utah Teacher of the Year Clay Irvin Petersen.

Family historian Fae Robert Ford and foster parents Whitney and Debbie Kartchner received the Service to Family Award.

---

E-mail: lwarner@desnews.com