The National Association of Black Journalists selected the late Dale R. Wright, an Ohio State alumnus, as the recipient of its 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award.  During his time at Ohio State, Wright served as the news editor of The Lantern and was the first African American inducted into Ohio State's chapter of Sigma Delta Chi, the national professional journalism fraternity.

Wright was the first African American reporter to work at The New York World-Telegram and Sun and focused on investigative journalism. Among his most important works was a series on migrant workers entitled "The Forgotten People." The piece was nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 1962, reprinted in part in The Negro Digest and later published as a book. Prior to his work at the World-Telegram, Wright was an associate editor at Johnson Publishing Company's EBONY and JET magazines.

After working as a print journalist, Wright went on to work in government and for NBC's news desk in Washington, D.C., as part of the early wave of African Americans to explore opportunities in broadcasting. Eventually, he began his own business, Dale Wright Associates, where he provided media relations counsel primarily to black businesses. Additionally, he provided his media and communications skills to a group of New York's most notable public officials including former New York City Mayor Edward I. Koch, former Sen. Jacob K. Javits  and former Gov. Nelson A. Rockefeller.