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With over 53 years of broadcasting experience under his belt, Kansas State School of Journalism and Mass Communication Director Steve Smethers has been nominated for the Distinguished Service Award, as well as a spot in the Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame.

Steve Smethers, director of the A.Q. Miller School of Journalism and Mass Communications, is this year’s recipient of the Distinguished Service Award from the Kansas Association of Broadcasters.  

According to the KAB website, the Distinguished Service Award is the association’s highest honor that is given annually for exemplary service to the community, state and broadcast industry. 

Smethers was introduced to his broadcasting career in 1968, as a news reporter for KALN Radio in Iola at the age of 16. He has since held many positions in the broadcasting field, including becoming an operations manager at KRGI in Grand Island, owning KQNK in Norton and as a professor at a few universities in the midwest. He currently serves on the KAB Foundation Board and promotes broadcast journalism for the Huck Boys Institute at K-State. 

Smethers talks more about his career

path in an interview with Josie Whitaker.  

While this is not a nomination Smethers

sought on his own, he said the achievement

is a product of K-State faculty members,

some emeritus faculty members and alumni

of the JMC department who thought he

deserved it.

“I thought something was weird because I

had people coming in and asking me all

kinds of questions about my career and

things like that,” Smethers said. “They finally

had to come clean on this about two days

before the award nominations were due.” 

As someone who sits on the KAB board, Smethers was unsure that he fit the criteria for this award. His peers proceeded to send the nomination in, which later resulted in a phone call to Gloria Freeland, director of Huck Boyd National Center for Community Media and associate professor.

During the phone call, a KAB representative said Smethers has been selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award, which also means an immediate spot in the Kansas Broadcasting Hall of Fame. 

“Gloria called me and she said, ‘Are you sitting down?’ And I said, ‘No, I'm standing up at the dishwasher.’ And she said, ‘Well, the KAB office just called me and said you've been selected to receive the Distinguished Service Award and be inducted into the Hall of Fame,’ and I couldn't believe it. I just couldn't believe it,” Smethers said. 

The induction ceremony was held on October 9, 2021.

Allison Mazzei, president of KAB, said there is no formal outline when it comes to DSA nominations, however, they ask the applicant to write about their contribution to the profession, their overall career, other recognition and awards and why they think they should be nominated.

“[Receiving the award] really meant it a lot,” Smethers said. “You know, I'm going to retire in June, so this is a good way to go out.”  

Mazzei said Smethers shows great examples of distinguished service.

“Normally, these recognitions go to someone who has spent the majority, if not all of their career, promoting and championing the industry, which Steve has done,” Mazzei said. 

“I think Steve is so deserving of the awards that we gave him and the recognition you're giving him through this project. He's one of the nicest people you’re going to meet and so passionate about what he does,” Mazzei said. “It's an honor to be able to work alongside him.”

As the KAB President, Mazzei is a non-voting member of the board. There are 13 additional members of the committee, who are either general managers or owners of broadcast stations in Kansas. 

More information about KAB and Smethers’ nominations can be found on the association’s website.