Ben Burns, Lifelong Journalist, Loses Battle With Leukemia

DETROIT (WWJ) - Ben Burns, a former Detroit News executive editor and Wayne State University professor, has died.

Burns, 72, laid the ground work for the famed Journalism Institute for Media Diversity at WSU.

He opened doors for hundreds of minority journalism students to make their way into newsrooms around the country. Burns spent 30 years in the newspaper business at the Detroit News, Macomb Daily and Daily Tribune of Royal Oak and was a member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame.

Burns died at his home after battling acute myeloid leukemia. Burns was married to Beverly Burns for 38 years, they had four children.

Funeral arrangements are pending.