Joe Grimm

Joe Grimm has established himself as a transformative figure in journalism education and diversity advocacy since joining Michigan State University's School of Journalism as visiting editor in residence in 2008. His 25-year career at the Detroit Free Press, where he served as recruitment and development editor, helped establish it as one of the nation's most diverse major metro newsrooms. At MSU, he teaches innovative courses including community news coverage, professional branding, and his signature "Bias Busters" class, which has produced over 20 cultural competence guides addressing various ethnicities, faiths, and cultures. His commitment to diversity and inclusion has earned him numerous accolades, including the Michigan State University Excellence in Diversity award and the Macomb Immigrant Service Center's "E Pluribus Unum" Lifetime Achievement Award. As a prolific author and editor, he has published more than a dozen books, including works on Michigan culture, journalism careers, and cultural understanding. His international influence extends to lecturing at universities across the United States and at Saudi Aramco in Saudi Arabia. Under his guidance, the "Bias Busters" series has become a groundbreaking initiative, with students producing comprehensive guides that address cultural stereotypes and promote understanding, available across multiple platforms including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and iTunes. A member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame, Grimm continues to shape the future of journalism through his roles as adviser to the MSU chapter of the National Association of Black Journalists and his work developing the Fair Chance Reporting process.