AMES - Jeff Stein, a Wartburg College professor, has received Iowa broadcast journalism's highest honor.

Stein, the R.J. McElroy Chair and executive-in-residence in communication arts, was given the Iowa Broadcast News Association's Jack Shelley Award for outstanding contributions in Iowa broadcast journalism at its May 2 convention.

Shelley, 97, the former WHO television and radio news director and Iowa State University professor emeritus of journalism, made the presentation.

"This was a complete surprise," Stein said. "I cannot tell you how much this means to me, and to receive it from Jack Shelley himself makes it even more special."

Stein began his broadcasting career as a high school student at KFJB radio in Marshalltown. He was an anchor and producer for Iowa Public Radio station WSUI while earning undergraduate and law degrees from the University of Iowa.

He serves as political analyst for KWWL in Waterloo. His commentary was part of its election night reporting that won IBNA's Best Political Coverage award. Stein also comments on media and politics on KASI radio in Ames and KSTP radio in St. Paul-Minneapolis.

"Citizens need good, responsible broadcast journalism now more than ever, and it's our job as professionals and educators to make sure we work every day to serve the public interest," he said.

Stein is faculty adviser for WTV8, the national award-winning Wartburg student TV station, and teaches courses on media law and ethics, electronic media history and television. He also is administrator and co-founder of the Archives of Iowa Broadcasting and author of "Making Waves: The People and Places of Iowa Broadcasting."

Dave Busiek, news director at KCCI in Des Moines and a Shelley award winner, nominated Stein. "There's no question about Jeff's commitment to furthering the cause of broadcast journalism in Iowa," he wrote. "Through his roles as a journalism professor at Wartburg and his outstanding service to the IBNA, he helps train young journalists and helps boost the issues we all care about."

"Jeff Stein has been a tireless advocate of quality broadcast journalism in Iowa for more than two decades," wrote Derrick Hinds, Northwest Broadcast News Foundation executive director and a former Minnesota news director and anchor.

Stein is the 38th recipient of the Shelley Award. Others with Wartburg ties include Professor Cliff Brockman, former professors Grant Price and Liz Mathis and Dave Shay, a member of the Archives of Iowa Broadcasting national advisory board.