ODU's Jim Raper Inducted into Virginia Communications Hall of Fame

Jim Raper, the editor of Monarch magazine and science writer at Old Dominion University, was inducted into the Virginia Communications Hall of Fame the evening of Thursday, April 12.

Print and broadcast journalists and managers, corporate and advertising executives, educators and a noted photographer were among the 2012 inductees who were honored in Richmond. This was the 25th anniversary of the Hall of Fame.

Raper, the former award-winning Virginian-Pilot journalist and newsroom manager, served for 20 years at Virginia's largest newspaper, most recently as managing editor. The Virginian-Pilot won a Pulitzer Prize for local reporting in 1985 while he was managing editor.

He has served in a number of faculty roles and university communications positions in Virginia, and has been "The Humble Steward" wine columnist for The Virginian-Pilot since 1992. He has worked for ODU's Office of University Relations since 2005.

This year's Hall of Fame honorees were inducted at the John Marshall in Richmond. Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Mass Communications hosted the ceremony. Television journalist Roger Mudd, one of the inaugural inductees in 1986, served as emcee.

The Virginia Communications Hall of Fame recognizes communication professionals with exceptional careers in journalism, public relations, advertising and other media fields. This newest class of 14 inductees will bring the total number of inductees to 140.

"Induction into the Hall of Fame is a very appropriate way to recognize the contributions to excellence in mass communications that these 'superstars' have made, especially as we celebrate our 25th anniversary," said Judy VanSlyke Turk, professor and associate director for special projects in the School of Mass Communications at VCU.

Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Hall of Fame scholarship fund at VCU and the Hall of Fame's endowment.