HATTIESBURG, Miss. -- Bill Phalen, CEO of Cities West Publishing and a University of Southern Mississippi journalism graduate, will address students at the School of Mass Communication and Journalism Awards Banquet Tuesday (April 22). He also will be inducted into the school’s Hall of Fame at the banquet that begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center’s Ballroom III.

Cities West Publishing, which Phalen founded in 1997, publishes two highly regarded regional magazines, Phoenix and Phoenix Home and Garden.

Before founding Cities West, Phalen, a 34-year resident of Arizona, founded and co-founded three broadcasting companies that acquired 24 radio stations throughout the United States from 1970 through 1996.

He was inducted into the Southern Miss Alumni Hall of Fame in October 2007.

“We’re thrilled to have Mr. Phalen come to campus to visit with students,” said Chris Campbell, director of the School of Mass Communication and Journalism. “He’s accomplished so much since he left Southern Miss.  What an outstanding role model.”

Phalen is past president of the Tucson Broadcasters Association and was a member of the advisory board of the ABC Radio Network and the Walter Cronkite Endowment Board of Trustees at Arizona State University. He also served on the National Advisory Board of the Sedona Cultural Park. All told, Phalen has served on five corporate boards and has been active in charitable board work such as Junior Achievement, where he played a major role in fund drives.

For more information or tickets to the MCJ Awards Banquet, call 601.266.4196.

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About The University of Southern Mississippi
The University of Southern Mississippi, founded in 1910, is a comprehensive doctoral and research-extensive university fulfilling its mission of being a leading university in engaging and empowering individuals to transform lives and communities.  In a tradition of leadership for student development, Southern Miss is educating a 21st century work force providing intellectual capital, cultural enrichment and innovation to Mississippi and the world.  Southern Miss is located in Hattiesburg, Miss., with an additional campus and teaching and research sites on the Mississippi Gulf Coast; further information is found at www.usm.edu.