Distinguished alumni picked for induction into Central Michigan University’s Media Hall of Fame

MOUNT PLEASANT, Mich. — Today, Central Michigan University’s School of Communication, Journalism, and Media announced the next seven inductees into its Media Hall of Fame. The group includes alumni who have had distinguished careers in the fields of journalism, public affairs, radio, television, and academia. They will be formally inducted at a gala dinner Saturday, Nov. 1, 2025, at the Bovee Center on the CMU campus.

“This is an extremely impressive group of professionals who have left an indelible mark on the media landscape,” said Heather Polinsky, director of the School of Communication, Journalism, and Media. “They are all fantastic examples of the kind of achievers our programs have produced over the years, and we are thrilled to add them to the Media Hall of Fame.”

This year’s inductees include

Don Cornelli, Class of 1985, Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

Since his first NFL game in 1986, Don has become one of the most iconic handheld camera operators in sports television history. Over the past four decades, the 11-time Emmy Award winner has shot 25 Super Bowls, 35 consecutive NFC Championship games, and worked as a key part of the NFL on FOX main crew from its inception in 1994 through his retirement in February 2025. Known for capturing unforgettable moments, Don's keen instincts and flawless timing have made his shots synonymous with the drama and beauty of professional sports. Beyond the NFL, he has brought his talent to nearly every major sporting event imaginable, from the Masters and NBA Finals to the Olympics and FIFA World Cup. Don was inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2020.

Jim (JJ) Johnson, 1970-1974, Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

Jim attended CMU on a football scholarship from 1970-1974, but it was in radio where his natural talent as a broadcaster blossomed. After brief stints in Flint and Lansing, Jim returned home to Detroit in 1975, where he gained a huge and loyal following on WRIF-FM’s widely-successful “JJ & the Morning Crew” show. During his storied career, he was also heard on Motown’s airwaves at WWWW-FM, WLLZ-FM, WCSZ-FM and WOMC-FM. In the early 1980s, and in addition to his work in radio, Jim became WXYZ-TV’s entertainment editor  and worked as an entertainment reporter for several years on that station’s “Good Afternoon Detroit” program. In later years, Jim appeared as a frequent guest and political commentator on Fox2 Detroit’s “Let It Rip” show. He retired in 2023.

Tim Roberts, Class of 1982, Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

Tim has more than four decades of on-air and radio programming across the U.S. to his credit. As vice president/brand manager and country music format captain, he currently oversees 23 Audacy country stations and the Audacy country network, as well as Audacy exclusive channels, while also actively programming WYCD-FM and WOMC-FM in Detroit and working with WDZH-FM as ops manager. In 2005, Roberts joined the Detroit Audacy cluster (formerly CBS Radio) as operations manager/program director. He is a multi-Country Music Association, Academy of Country Music, and Marconi winner, including in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Tim was voted Radio Ink’s #1 Country Programmer in America multiple times, including in 2023, 2024 and 2025, and named to Radio Ink’s Best PD’s in America list (all formats) again this year. For the last 10 years, he’s been named to Billboard Magazine’s “Power 31” list. In 2006, Tim provided the first major market airplay (at Detroit’s WYCD-FM) of a talented newcomer to the country music scene, a then-unknown singer-songwriter by the name of Taylor Swift. He was inducted into the National Country Radio Hall of Fame in 2016.

Steve Serkaian, Classes of 1978 and 1983, Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

Steve is a nationally recognized communications professional promoting policy initiatives to help improve the lives of everyday Michiganders. From 1977 to 1986, he coordinated Sen. Carl Levin’s Michigan press operation from Washington, D.C. He was assistant press secretary for Levin’s first campaign in 1978 and press secretary for Levin’s 1984 and 1996 reelection bids. From 1987 to 1992, Steve served as press secretary to Speakers Gary Owen and Lew Dodak in the Michigan House of Representatives. During his expansive career, Steve also served in  similar communications roles for Detroit Mayor Dave Bing and the Lansing Board of Water and Light. As a private communications consultant, Steve created the Lansing Works! Keep GM! campaign to retain General Motors in the Lansing area, which helped convince GM to build two new assembly plants in Lansing worth an investment of $1.5 billion. He retired in 2025.

Phil Sgriccia, Class of 1979, Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

Phil is a director, producer, and editor known for his work on Amazon's “The Boys,” “Gen V,” Peacock’s “Twisted Metal” and 14 seasons of Warner Bros.’ “Supernatural.” He began his career as a cameraman in the industrial/corporate sphere, including at Dow Chemical, in Midland, Michigan. His broadcast work began at WZZM-TV, the ABC affiliate in Grand Rapids, Michigan, shooting documentaries, news and commercials, before moving to Chicago to work as a shooter/editor for Corinthian Broadcasting. Shifting to editing, Steve moved to Los Angeles and worked on several notable shows, including “Max Headroom,” “The Wonder Years” and “Reasonable Doubt.” His directing work can be seen on numerous well-known programs including “Lois and Clark: The New Adventures of Superman,” “Xena: Warrior Princess,” “Hercules,” “Smallville,” “JAG,” “Hack,” “Revolution” and many more.

Rick Sykes, Classes of 1973 and 1980, Broadcast and Cinematic Arts

Rick is a professor emeritus at Central Michigan University, retiring in 2020 as a tenured full professor. His teaching career spanned 24 years and included a brief tenure as the assistant director for the School of Broadcast & Cinematic Arts. Rick taught courses in news writing, reporting, producing and sports broadcasting. Rick also oversaw the student-run television news operation, which produced a live newscast several nights a week. Besides winning numerous individual awards, the news operation was instrumental in securing a 17-year string of “Station of the Year” Michigan student broadcasting awards from the Michigan Association of Broadcasters. Prior to joining the faculty at the CMU, he spent 23 years in the communication industry, including 17 years in broadcast news and six years at a regional public relations agency as a senior executive with oversight responsibilities for two account teams. Rick was inducted into the Michigan Broadcasting Hall of Fame in 2020.

Lisa Yanick Litwiller, Class of 2000, Journalism (posthumous)

Lisa joined the Mount Pleasant Morning Sun in 2000 as a photojournalist. She loved hearing people’s stories and being a point-of-contact for the newspaper, both qualities that proved valuable as her role with The Morning Sun evolved. Shrinking resources created a collaborative spirit among newsrooms, and Lisa worked with journalists from metro Detroit and New England, to develop ways to share stories and resources. Lisa joined Hearst’s Massachusetts operation in 2018, primarily using new digital tools to build data important to investigative journalism. She later joined the Center for Public Integrity, and championed the nonprofit organization’s work of partnering with small, under-resourced newsrooms nationwide. Her work fostered data-driven reporting on critical issues, such as examining racial disparities in school police interactions. Earning a reputation as an industry innovator, Lisa joined Bridge Michigan as its executive editor of innovation and news at the start of 2024. Sadly, Lisa was diagnosed with a fast-moving cancer shortly before starting what she called a “dream job.” She passed away in March 2024, leaving a legacy of innovation to help her industry transition to a new model built to thrive in a new environment. Lisa’s reporting had real-world impact and won numerous state and national awards.

Central Michigan University’s Journalism Hall of Fame launched in 2007, and reorganized as the CMU Media Hall of Fame following the merger of the School of Broadcast and Cinematic Arts, the Department of Journalism, and the Department of Communication into the School of Communication, Journalism, and Media (SCJM). With the support of the College of the Arts and Media, SCJM launched the new CMU Media Hall of Fame in November 2023, extending the awards to alumni, former students, and faculty from all programs in the school. Currently 89 members have been enshrined.