Jack White Excellence in Journalism Scholarship Honors Late SD News Anchor
New scholarship supporting the next generation of journalists is accepting contributions in Jack White’s memory.
by Aleesia Benkey
August 22, 2022
Jack White was the face of San Diego news from the late 1960s until his retirement in 2002. The iconic local news anchor was known for his generosity and professionalism during his 35 years on KGTV Channel 10.
Since his passing in October of 2020, his wife Lynn Stedd, an SDSU alumna, has worked to honor his legacy by establishing the Jack White Excellence in Journalism Scholarship.
Stedd recalls her time at SDSU as creating the building blocks for her successful career in public relations, communications and marketing. She looks forward to developing the scholarship to support students in reaching their goals and will proliferate White’s love of writing, the industry, and people.
Beyond his passion for being an anchor, White would describe himself as simply a writer. He was a charter member of the San Diego Press Club, where he connected with local media professionals and reveled in the tight-knit community.
“There was never a dull moment with Jack. He made me laugh every single day,” shares Stedd. “He was my everything.”
In his obituary for the San Diego Union Tribune, Pam Kragen wrote “To viewers, White was the well-groomed and unflappable professional who could cover everything from a plane crash to a telethon to where to find the best bowl of chili in town.”
“To Channel 10 colleagues and friends, White was a kind man, an egoless mentor and a positive thinker whose spirits never flagged.…”
The Jack White Excellence in Journalism Scholarship is currently accepting contributions to support the next generation of journalists, and plans to open applications by early 2023 to Journalism and Media Studies students at SDSU.
The content within this article has been edited by Lizbeth Persons.
More PSFA Stories