Cynthia Tucker
Encyclopedia
Cynthia Tucker is an American columnist and blogger for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
, syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate
. She received a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
in 2007
"for her courageous, clear-headed columns that evince a strong sense of morality and persuasive knowledge of the community." She was also a Pulitzer finalist in 2004 and 2006. Tucker is on the Advisory Council at the International Women's Media Foundation
.
, the daughter of Mary Louise Marshall Tucker, a high school English teacher and John Tucker, a middle-school principal. She was born during the early years of the American Civil Rights movement, in an era of racial segregation
; she did not attend an integrated
school until she was 17. She attended Auburn University
, where she majored in English and journalism and wrote for the student newspaper, The Plainsman
.
. Shortly thereafter, Tucker decided that she wanted to be a foreign correspondent in Africa, but the Inquirer considered her too inexperienced for the assignment. Tucker set out on her own, traveling around Africa and freelancing for six months. She then returned to Atlanta, where she was rehired as a columnist by the AJC.
Tucker was a Nieman Fellow
by Harvard University
in 1988. She was promoted to editorial page editor of the AJC in 1990. In 1993, the National Women’s Political Caucus awarded Tucker their Exceptional Merit Media Award. In 2005, Tucker received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award as well as an honorary Doctor of law
degree from Colby College
.
Tucker blogs regularly and writes two columns a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, for both the print and web versions of the AJC. Her columns are syndicated to over 40 U.S. newspapers. Those columns earned her nominations for the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2004 and 2006 before her win in 2007. She is regarded as politically liberal.
In 2006, Tucker was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists
. In July 2009, Tucker moved to Washington, D.C.
, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitutions political columnist.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the only major daily newspaper in Atlanta, Georgia, United States, and its suburbs. The AJC, as it is called, is the flagship publication of Cox Enterprises. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is the result of the merger between The Atlanta Journal and The Atlanta...
, syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate
Universal Press Syndicate
Universal Press Syndicate, a subsidiary of Andrews McMeel Universal, is the world's largest independent press syndicate. It distributes lifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips and other content. Popular columns include Dear Abby, Ann Coulter, Roger Ebert and News of the Weird...
. She received a Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
The Pulitzer Prize for Commentary has been awarded since 1970. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their official citations:...
in 2007
2007 Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prizes for 2007 were announced on April 16, 2007.In November 2006, the Pulitzer Prize Board announced two changes that would apply for the 2007 awards:...
"for her courageous, clear-headed columns that evince a strong sense of morality and persuasive knowledge of the community." She was also a Pulitzer finalist in 2004 and 2006. Tucker is on the Advisory Council at the International Women's Media Foundation
International Women's Media Foundation
The International Women’s Media Foundation , located in Washington, DC, is a network of thousands of left-wing women journalists working internationally to elevate the status of women in the media. The IWMF has created groundbreaking programs to help women in the media develop practical solutions...
.
Early years
Tucker was born March 13, 1955 in Monroeville, AlabamaMonroeville, Alabama
Monroeville is a city in Monroe County, Alabama, United States, the county seat of Monroe County. At the 2000 census its population was 6,862. It is known as the home town of two prominent writers of the post World War II period, Truman Capote and Harper Lee, who were childhood friends in the...
, the daughter of Mary Louise Marshall Tucker, a high school English teacher and John Tucker, a middle-school principal. She was born during the early years of the American Civil Rights movement, in an era of racial segregation
Racial segregation in the United States
Racial segregation in the United States, as a general term, included the racial segregation or hypersegregation of facilities, services, and opportunities such as housing, medical care, education, employment, and transportation along racial lines...
; she did not attend an integrated
Desegregation
Desegregation is the process of ending the separation of two groups usually referring to races. This is most commonly used in reference to the United States. Desegregation was long a focus of the American Civil Rights Movement, both before and after the United States Supreme Court's decision in...
school until she was 17. She attended Auburn University
Auburn University
Auburn University is a public university located in Auburn, Alabama, United States. With more than 25,000 students and 1,200 faculty members, it is one of the largest universities in the state. Auburn was chartered on February 7, 1856, as the East Alabama Male College, a private liberal arts...
, where she majored in English and journalism and wrote for the student newspaper, The Plainsman
The Plainsman
The Plainsman is a 1936 American Western film directed by Cecil B. DeMille, and starring Gary Cooper and Jean Arthur. The film presents a highly fictionalized account of the adventures and relationships between Wild Bill Hickok, Calamity Jane, Buffalo Bill Cody, and General George Custer, with a...
.
Career
After graduation in 1976, she began work for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution (AJC) as a reporter. In 1980, she left Atlanta and the AJC for a job at The Philadelphia InquirerThe Philadelphia Inquirer
The Philadelphia Inquirer is a morning daily newspaper that serves the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, metropolitan area of the United States. The newspaper was founded by John R. Walker and John Norvell in June 1829 as The Pennsylvania Inquirer and is the third-oldest surviving daily newspaper in the...
. Shortly thereafter, Tucker decided that she wanted to be a foreign correspondent in Africa, but the Inquirer considered her too inexperienced for the assignment. Tucker set out on her own, traveling around Africa and freelancing for six months. She then returned to Atlanta, where she was rehired as a columnist by the AJC.
Tucker was a Nieman Fellow
Nieman Fellowship
The Nieman Fellowship is an award given to mid-career journalists by The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. This award allows winners time to reflect on their careers and focus on honing their skills....
by Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1988. She was promoted to editorial page editor of the AJC in 1990. In 1993, the National Women’s Political Caucus awarded Tucker their Exceptional Merit Media Award. In 2005, Tucker received the Elijah Parish Lovejoy Award as well as an honorary Doctor of law
Doctor of law
Doctor of Law or Doctor of Laws is a doctoral degree in law. The application of the term varies from country to country, and includes degrees such as the LL.D., Ph.D., J.D., J.S.D., and Dr. iur.-Argentina:...
degree from Colby College
Colby College
Colby College is a private liberal arts college located on Mayflower Hill in Waterville, Maine. Founded in 1813, it is the 12th-oldest independent liberal arts college in the United States...
.
Tucker blogs regularly and writes two columns a week, on Wednesdays and Sundays, for both the print and web versions of the AJC. Her columns are syndicated to over 40 U.S. newspapers. Those columns earned her nominations for the Pulitzer Prize for commentary in 2004 and 2006 before her win in 2007. She is regarded as politically liberal.
In 2006, Tucker was named Journalist of the Year by the National Association of Black Journalists
National Association of Black Journalists
The National Association of Black Journalists is an organization of African American journalists, students, and media professionals. Founded in 1975 in Washington, D.C...
. In July 2009, Tucker moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, as the Atlanta Journal-Constitutions political columnist.
External links
- Biography at Universal Press SyndicateUniversal Press SyndicateUniversal Press Syndicate, a subsidiary of Andrews McMeel Universal, is the world's largest independent press syndicate. It distributes lifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips and other content. Popular columns include Dear Abby, Ann Coulter, Roger Ebert and News of the Weird...