Rich Robinson, a 1979 Howell High School grad, will be inducted into Central Michigan University’s Media Hall of Fame at a ceremony at 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16, in the Bovee University Center on campus.
Robinson — who spent 40 years as a journalist and publicist in Hollywood, and as a communications strategist for non-profit organizations in Washington, D.C. — was selected as one of six 2024 honorees who have distinguished themselves in their professions.
In 1986, after spending five years studying journalism at CMU and working as an editor in the CM Life newsroom, Robinson moved to Hollywood and began a 20-year career writing, promoting celebrities, and producing Emmy Award-winning television shows. He worked with many renowned showbiz superstars, including the Rolling Stones, Janet Jackson and Quincy Jones. It all began when a friend of his came to Los Angeles to work on the 1984 Olympics.
“I had an amazing, wonderful career in Hollywood, one that others could only imagine,” Robinson said. “When I started advocacy communications in D.C. in 2009, my greatest satisfaction came from helping to strengthen our American democracy. I took a drastic pay cut, but it was an easy price to pay.”
Robinson has written about media and politics in HuffPost and has been quoted in op-ed newspaper pieces across the country. He believes CMU is where his stage was set for success.
“CMU is the kind of place where you can realize your potential,” Robinson said. “It’s not a place where you will get lost in the crowd. It has all the amenities of a major school.”
Robinson is writing a book about all his Hollywood adventures, including managing a successful LA indie rock band of former CMU students, “The Leonards.” He volunteers his time to encourage the public to register to vote and engage with their elected leaders and teaches boys the essentials of scouting.
Robinson is also the organizer of the semi-annual Howell Highlanders Alumni Baseball Game, which began in 2007. https://thelivingstonpost.com/play-ball-again-howell-alumni-baseball-game-takes-the-field-saturday/
