C. J. Chivers
Encyclopedia
Christopher John Chivers is an American
journalist
and author who reports for The New York Times
. In the summer of 2007, he was named the newspaper's Moscow
bureau chief, replacing Steven Lee Myers. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 as part of a team of New York Times reporters and photographers awarded for their dispatches from Pakistan and Afghanistan. His book, The Gun, a work of history published under the Simon & Schuster imprint, was released in October, 2010.
Chivers attended the school of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. At Cornell, Chivers played Defensive Line for Sprint Football all four years, and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega
fraternity. After graduating in 1987 from Cornell University
, Chivers served as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1994. He graduated from the United States Army's Ranger School
, was in the first Gulf War
and in peacekeeping operations during the Los Angeles riots in 1992 before being honorably discharged as a captain.
Following graduation from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
, Chivers reported for the Providence Journal on the Providence
city government from 1995 to 1999.
For the Times, Chivers covered the New York Police Department from 1999 to 2001, when he became a foreign correspondent. He has reported from Afghanistan
, Israel
, Iraq
and all of the former Soviet nations. In Russia he has covered Chechnya
and Beslan
. In Uzbekistan, he covered the Andijan massacre
in 2005.
In 2010 his work in The Times from Afghanistan and Iraq, with that of the reporter Dexter Filkins and the photographer Tyler Hicks, was recognized by New York University as one of the Top Ten Works of Journalism of the Decade.
for International Reporting for a series published in the Providence Journal-Bulletin on the collapse of commercial fishing in the North Atlantic.
for coverage of the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis
in the Times.
For Reporting for his reconstruction of the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis
written for Esquire
magazine. That Esquire article has been optioned for a feature film by Imagine Entertainment
. He is also the 2007 winner of the Jesse Laventhol Prize for Deadline Reporting, awarded by the American Society of Newspaper Editors
for his account in the Times of a Navy corpsman's efforts to save a Marine wounded by a sniper in Anbar Province, Iraq
.
Chivers won the 2007 Golden Verb award for excellence from MediaSoyuz, a Russian journalism society, for coverage of Chechnya and an honorable mention from the Overseas Press Club
for best newspaper reporting from abroad, for "Marines in Iraq."
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
and author who reports 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...
. In the summer of 2007, he was named the newspaper's Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
bureau chief, replacing Steven Lee Myers. He won a Pulitzer Prize in 2009 as part of a team of New York Times reporters and photographers awarded for their dispatches from Pakistan and Afghanistan. His book, The Gun, a work of history published under the Simon & Schuster imprint, was released in October, 2010.
Chivers attended the school of Arts and Sciences at Cornell University. At Cornell, Chivers played Defensive Line for Sprint Football all four years, and was a member of Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega
Alpha Tau Omega is a secret American leadership and social fraternity.The Fraternity has more than 250 active and inactive chapters, more than 200,000 initiates, and over 7,000 active undergraduate members. The 200,000th member was initiated in early 2009...
fraternity. After graduating in 1987 from Cornell University
Cornell University
Cornell University is an Ivy League university located in Ithaca, New York, United States. It is a private land-grant university, receiving annual funding from the State of New York for certain educational missions...
, Chivers served as an Infantry Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps until 1994. He graduated from the United States Army's Ranger School
Ranger School
The United States Army Ranger School is an intense 61-day combat leadership course oriented towards small-unit tactics. It has been called the "toughest combat course in the world" and "is the most physically and mentally demanding leadership school the Army has to offer". The course is conducted...
, was in the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
and in peacekeeping operations during the Los Angeles riots in 1992 before being honorably discharged as a captain.
Following graduation from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
, Chivers reported for the Providence Journal on the Providence
Providence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
city government from 1995 to 1999.
For the Times, Chivers covered the New York Police Department from 1999 to 2001, when he became a foreign correspondent. He has reported from Afghanistan
Afghanistan
Afghanistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, is a landlocked country located in the centre of Asia, forming South Asia, Central Asia and the Middle East. With a population of about 29 million, it has an area of , making it the 42nd most populous and 41st largest nation in the world...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and all of the former Soviet nations. In Russia he has covered Chechnya
Chechnya
The Chechen Republic , commonly referred to as Chechnya , also spelled Chechnia or Chechenia, sometimes referred to as Ichkeria , is a federal subject of Russia . It is located in the southeastern part of Europe in the Northern Caucasus mountains. The capital of the republic is the city of Grozny...
and Beslan
Beslan
Beslan is a town and the administrative center of Pravoberezhny District of the Republic of North Ossetia–Alania, Russia. In terms of population, Beslan is the third largest town in the republic behind Vladikavkaz and Mozdok...
. In Uzbekistan, he covered the Andijan massacre
Andijan massacre
The Andijan massacre occurred when Uzbek Interior Ministry and National Security Service troops fired into a crowd of protesters in Andijan, Uzbekistan on 13 May 2005. Estimates of those killed on 13 May range from between 187, the official count of the government, and 5,000 people, with most...
in 2005.
In 2010 his work in The Times from Afghanistan and Iraq, with that of the reporter Dexter Filkins and the photographer Tyler Hicks, was recognized by New York University as one of the Top Ten Works of Journalism of the Decade.
1996
In 1996, Chivers received the Livingston AwardLivingston Award
The Livingston Awards are American journalism awards issued to media professionals under the age of 35 for local, national, and international reporting...
for International Reporting for a series published in the Providence Journal-Bulletin on the collapse of commercial fishing in the North Atlantic.
2002
Two of Chivers' stories from Afghanistan were cited in the 2002 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service.2004
With Steven Lee Myers, Chivers received a citation for best newspaper reporting from abroad from the Overseas Press ClubOverseas Press Club
The Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member...
for coverage of the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis
Beslan school hostage crisis
The Beslan school hostage crisis of early September 2004 was a three-day hostage-taking of over 1,100 people which ended in the deaths of over 380...
in the Times.
2007
Chivers is the recipient of the 2007 Michael Kelly Award and the National Magazine AwardNational Magazine Award
The National Magazine Awards are a series of US awards that honor excellence in the magazine industry. They are administered by the American Society of Magazine Editors and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City...
For Reporting for his reconstruction of the 2004 Beslan school hostage crisis
Beslan school hostage crisis
The Beslan school hostage crisis of early September 2004 was a three-day hostage-taking of over 1,100 people which ended in the deaths of over 380...
written for Esquire
Esquire (magazine)
Esquire is a men's magazine, published in the U.S. by the Hearst Corporation. Founded in 1932, it flourished during the Great Depression under the guidance of founder and editor Arnold Gingrich.-History:...
magazine. That Esquire article has been optioned for a feature film by Imagine Entertainment
Imagine Entertainment
Imagine Entertainment is a film and television production company founded in 1986 by director Ron Howard and producer Brian Grazer.Its productions include the television series 24 and Arrested Development and the films Apollo 13 , A Beautiful Mind and The Da Vinci Code .-Organization:Karen...
. He is also the 2007 winner of the Jesse Laventhol Prize for Deadline Reporting, awarded by 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...
for his account in the Times of a Navy corpsman's efforts to save a Marine wounded by a sniper in Anbar Province, Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
.
Chivers won the 2007 Golden Verb award for excellence from MediaSoyuz, a Russian journalism society, for coverage of Chechnya and an honorable mention from the Overseas Press Club
Overseas Press Club
The Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member...
for best newspaper reporting from abroad, for "Marines in Iraq."