Lewis Diuguid to Offer Dialogue on African Americans and Journalism

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — Lewis W. Diuguid, vice president for community resources at The Kansas City Star, will visit campus Tuesday, Nov. 1, to speak at 3:30 p.m. in Giffels Auditorium on African Americans and journalism in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. His lecture, sponsored by the Lemke Department of Journalism and the African American Studies Program in Fulbright College, is free and open to the public.

He serves on the editorial board of The Star, writes two columns a week for the opinion section and is responsible for The Star's philanthropic efforts in the community. Since 1995 he has co-chaired the diversity initiative at The Star and since 1993 has trained company staff in diversity workshops.

Diuguid joined the staff of The Kansas City Star-Times in May 1977 after graduating from the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Journalism. He has worked as a reporter, photographer, copy editor, automotive editor, assistant bureau chief, bureau chief, assistant city editor, associate editor and columnist. He has written a column for The Star since 1987.

Diuguid is the author of the 2004 award-winning book, "A Teacher’s Cry: Expose the Truth About Education Today." The book offers ways to improve public schools, particularly in urban areas. "A Teacher’s Cry" is rooted in his studies with the class of 1999 at Washington High School in Kansas City, Kan., beginning with the students’ freshman year and following until graduation. He wrote about 100 columns for The Star chronicling what it is like to be a teenager and teacher today.

Diuguid is a founding member, treasurer, newsletter editor and Media Awards Committee chairman of the Kansas City Association of Black Journalists. He is a member of the National Association of Black Journalists, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the Monroe Trotter Group of Black Voices in Commentary, and serves on the board of directors of the University of Missouri Alumni Association. He is a certified diversity facilitator with the Newspaper Association of America. He has received several awards, including the 2000 Missouri Honor Medal for Distinguished Service in Journalism.

Born and reared in St. Louis, Diuguid has been married to Valerie G. Words since October 1977. They have two children, Adrianne and Leslie.