Former Executive Editor for The New York Times Dean Baquet and NPR International Correspondent Emily Feng will receive this year’s Hugo Shong Awards, presented by the Department of Journalism at Boston University’s College of Communication (COM).
“Dean has been a transformative figure at The New York Times, meaning he’s been a transformative figure in all of journalism,” said Brian McGrory, chair of COM’s Department of Journalism. “Emily is in a class by herself in terms of her ability to make sense of some of the most challenging and complicated issues in the world.”
Baquet, who was the executive editor of The New York Times from 2014-2022, is the recipient of the Hugo Shong Lifetime Journalism Achievement Award which “honors the journalist whose body of work and contributions to the field exemplify the highest quality of reporting and analysis, outstanding accomplishments and ethical standards of the journalistic profession.”
At the Times, Baquet has worked in various editing roles since 1990, namely as the Washington bureau chief, managing editor, and others. He is currently the Local Investigative Times Fellowship Lead.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award, especially given some of the past winners,” Baquet said. “I am indebted to a lot of people, who helped me in my career, including two great editors I sorely miss, the late Joe Lelyveld and the late John Carroll. Our profession has challenges, but awards like this are a reminder of how vital reporting is to our country and our world.”
Feng is the recipient of the Hugo Shong Reporting on Asia Award for displaying “the highest standards of international journalism in a series of reports on matters of importance specific to Asia.”
“Reporting on and from Asia has been a dream, and to be recognized for that work is an extra privilege,” Feng says. “It’s been tough personally and professionally to report on China, and so I’m really thrilled to be honored with this award.”
Feng has worked at NPR since 2019, reporting on social, economic and political trends in China and Taiwan. She previously worked at the Financial Times.
Named after award-winning journalist and COM (‘87) alum Hugo Shong, the awards highlight outstanding journalists and their work to uphold the highest standards of the profession. Past winners of the Hugo Shong Awards include Ted Koppel, Pete Souza, and Carol Guzy.
Shong is a Boston University Trustee and a member of COM’s Dean’s Advisory Board.
“By his example in his own journalism, and in his generosity, Hugo Shong inspires excellence in reporting and also in supporting that reporting,” said Mariette DiChristina, COM’s dean. “The world needs great journalism more than ever, and we are grateful to recognize it with the Hugo Shong Awards.”
As part of the awards celebration, Baquet will give the closing keynote talk for COM’s annual Power of Narrative conference on Saturday, March 23 at 4:45 p.m. in Metcalf Hall in the George Sherman Union at Boston University. His presentation is free and open to Boston University students, staff and faculty.