Bob Herbert
Encyclopedia
Robert “Bob” Herbert is an American journalist op-ed
columnist
who wrote for The New York Times
. His column was syndicated to other newspapers around the country. Herbert frequently writes on poverty
, the Iraq war, racism
and American political apathy towards race issues. He is now a fellow at Demos
.
, New York
, and was raised primarily in Montclair, New Jersey
, where his parents owned a number of upholstery
shops. He was drafted during the buildup to the Vietnam War
, but was ultimately sent to Korea
. Always having had an interest in politics and writing, Herbert decided shortly after the war to go into journalism
.
Herbert received a Bachelor of Science, Journalism
from the State University of New York
(Empire State College
) in 1988.
in New Jersey
in 1970. Herbert went on to work as a reporter and editor at the New York Daily News
from 1976 until 1985, when he became a political columnist and editor, and began attracting attention for his editorial work. This led to a position on WCBS-TV in New York, as a founding panelist of Sunday Edition in 1990, as well as becoming host of Hotline
, a weekly issues program on New York public television. He later served as a national correspondent
on NBC from 1991 to 1993, with regular appearances on The Today Show and NBC Nightly News.
Herbert's journalistic awards include the Meyer Berger Award for coverage of New York City and the American Society of Newspaper Editors
award for distinguished newspaper writing.
Herbert chaired the Pulitzer Prize jury for spot news reporting in 1993. He is author of Promises Betrayed: Waking Up From The American Dream, published by Henry Holt & Company in 2005.
Herbert left The New York Times on March 25, 2011 with his last column titled, "Losing Our Way."
In June 2011, Herbert joined the national think-tank Demos as a Distinguished Senior Fellow. At the time his fellowship was announced, it was also revealed that he will write for the Demos blog PolicyShop as well as The American Prospect magazine, which merged with Demos in 2010.
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
who wrote for The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
. His column was syndicated to other newspapers around the country. Herbert frequently writes on poverty
Poverty
Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...
, the Iraq war, racism
Racism
Racism is the belief that inherent different traits in human racial groups justify discrimination. In the modern English language, the term "racism" is used predominantly as a pejorative epithet. It is applied especially to the practice or advocacy of racial discrimination of a pernicious nature...
and American political apathy towards race issues. He is now a fellow at Demos
Demos (U.S. think tank)
Demos is a United States-based research and policy center that was founded in 2000. Based on its widely cited work in the media and growing impact on national and state policy, Demos continues to influence North American debate about election reform and economic security, with a particular emphasis...
.
Early years
Herbert was born in BrooklynBrooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, and was raised primarily in Montclair, New Jersey
Montclair, New Jersey
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 38,977 people, 15,020 households, and 9,687 families residing in the township. The population density was 6,183.6 people per square mile . There were 15,531 housing units at an average density of 2,464.0 per square mile...
, where his parents owned a number of upholstery
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
shops. He was drafted during the buildup to the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
, but was ultimately sent to Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. Always having had an interest in politics and writing, Herbert decided shortly after the war to go into journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
.
Herbert received a Bachelor of Science, Journalism
Bachelor of Journalism
The Bachelor of Journalism degree is a professional degree awarded at some universities to students who have studied journalism in a three or four year undergraduate program. In the United States, some schools that do not award the B.J...
from the State University of New York
State University of New York
The State University of New York, abbreviated SUNY , is a system of public institutions of higher education in New York, United States. It is the largest comprehensive system of universities, colleges, and community colleges in the United States, with a total enrollment of 465,000 students, plus...
(Empire State College
Empire State College
Empire State College, one of the thirteen arts and science colleges of the State University of New York, is a multi-site institution offering associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees. It is primarily oriented towards the adult learner...
) in 1988.
Career
Herbert's journalistic career began with The Star-LedgerThe Star-Ledger
The Star-Ledger is the largest circulated newspaper in the U.S. state of New Jersey and is based in Newark. It is a sister paper to The Jersey Journal of Jersey City, The Times of Trenton and the Staten Island Advance, all of which are owned by Advance Publications.The Newark Star-Ledgers daily...
in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
in 1970. Herbert went on to work as a reporter and editor at the New York Daily News
New York Daily News
The Daily News of New York City is the fourth most widely circulated daily newspaper in the United States with a daily circulation of 605,677, as of November 1, 2011....
from 1976 until 1985, when he became a political columnist and editor, and began attracting attention for his editorial work. This led to a position on WCBS-TV in New York, as a founding panelist of Sunday Edition in 1990, as well as becoming host of Hotline
Hotline
In telecommunication, a hotline is a point-to-point communications link in which a call is automatically directed to the preselected destination without any additional action by the user when the end instrument goes off-hook...
, a weekly issues program on New York public television. He later served as a national correspondent
Correspondent
A correspondent or on-the-scene reporter is a journalist or commentator, or more general speaking, an agent who contributes reports to a newspaper, or radio or television news, or another type of company, from a remote, often distant, location. A foreign correspondent is stationed in a foreign...
on NBC from 1991 to 1993, with regular appearances on The Today Show and NBC Nightly News.
Herbert's journalistic awards include the Meyer Berger Award for coverage of New York City and the American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
award for distinguished newspaper writing.
Herbert chaired the Pulitzer Prize jury for spot news reporting in 1993. He is author of Promises Betrayed: Waking Up From The American Dream, published by Henry Holt & Company in 2005.
Herbert left The New York Times on March 25, 2011 with his last column titled, "Losing Our Way."
In June 2011, Herbert joined the national think-tank Demos as a Distinguished Senior Fellow. At the time his fellowship was announced, it was also revealed that he will write for the Demos blog PolicyShop as well as The American Prospect magazine, which merged with Demos in 2010.
External links
- "Meet Bob Herbert", New York Times biographical video interview
- Bob Herbert's New York Times Columnist Page
- Interview at Democracy Now
- 1995 Interview with The Progressive, at FindArticles