Eric P. Schmitt
Encyclopedia
Eric P. Schmitt is a Pulitzer Prize
winning American
journalist
, widely quoted by other journalists. he writes for the New York Times.
He has twice shared a Pulitzer Prize, in 2009 with some of his New York Times colleagues for international reporting.
. His B.A.
, in political science
and third world
development
, was awarded by Williams College
in 1982.
He worked reporting on education
at the Tri-City Herald
of Kennewick, Washington
for a year.
In 1983 he became an employee of the New York Times, and has remained such since.
For about his first year, his position was as the clerk of James Reston
, the senior columnist
. He covering a variety of areas from 1984 to 1990, including an investigation of HUD
affairs in Puerto Rico
the spring of 1990.
In 1990 he took the title of Pentagon
Correspondent
, including covering the Gulf War
in early 1991, Somalia
in December 1992, and Haiti
in September 1994.
In 1996 he became a domestic correspondent covering areas that included Congress
and immigration
.
Upon the September 11 attacks in 2001, he returned to the Pentagon role, focused on U.S.
national security
. his assignment is the war on terrorism
.
was planning to reverse the Bush
policy of holding captives in extrajudicial detention
in American internment facilities in Afghanistan
, without allowing them to learn why they were being held.
On September 12, 2009 Schmitt, quoting officials who did not want to go on the record by name, that Bagram captives would be allowed to request to review and challenge the allegations that lead to their detention.
In 2004 Schmitt reported that on the fears of rape held by female GIs in Iraq
at the hands of their fellow GIs.
Schmitt was interviewed by National Public Radio on the DoD's response to the GI's fears.
In 2003 and 2004 New York Times journalists played a key role in breaking the case of the homicide of several Afghan captives in US custody in the internment facility at Bagram Air Base
.
Schmitt was one of the reporters who covered that story.
In 2006 Schmitt and a colleague reported on bribery concerns that involved Maj.
Gloria Davis
,
an officer in the United States Army
who was found dead from a gunshot wound shortly thereafter.
Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is a U.S. award for achievements in newspaper and online journalism, literature and musical composition. It was established by American publisher Joseph Pulitzer and is administered by Columbia University in New York City...
winning American
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...
, widely quoted by other journalists. he writes for the New York Times.
He has twice shared a Pulitzer Prize, in 2009 with some of his New York Times colleagues for international reporting.
Biography
Schmitt was born November 2, 1959 in Minneapolis, and raised in the Bay AreaSan Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. His B.A.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
and third world
Third World
The term Third World arose during the Cold War to define countries that remained non-aligned with either capitalism and NATO , or communism and the Soviet Union...
development
Economic development
Economic development generally refers to the sustained, concerted actions of policymakers and communities that promote the standard of living and economic health of a specific area...
, was awarded by Williams College
Williams College
Williams College is a private liberal arts college located in Williamstown, Massachusetts, United States. It was established in 1793 with funds from the estate of Ephraim Williams. Originally a men's college, Williams became co-educational in 1970. Fraternities were also phased out during this...
in 1982.
He worked reporting on education
Education
Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...
at the Tri-City Herald
Tri-City Herald
The Tri-City Herald is a daily newspaper based in Kennewick, Washington, in the United States. Owned by The McClatchy Company, the newspaper serves southeastern Washington, including the three communities of Pasco, Kennewick, and Richland ....
of Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick, Washington
Kennewick is a city in Benton County in the southeastern part of the U.S. state of Washington, near the Hanford nuclear site. It is the most populous of the three cities collectively referred to as the Tri-Cities...
for a year.
In 1983 he became an employee of the New York Times, and has remained such since.
For about his first year, his position was as the clerk of James Reston
James Reston
James Barrett Reston , nicknamed "Scotty," was an American journalist whose career spanned the mid 1930s to the early 1990s. He was associated for many years with the New York Times.-Life:...
, the senior 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....
. He covering a variety of areas from 1984 to 1990, including an investigation of HUD
United States Department of Housing and Urban Development
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development, also known as HUD, is a Cabinet department in the Executive branch of the United States federal government...
affairs in Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
the spring of 1990.
In 1990 he took the title of Pentagon
The Pentagon
The Pentagon is the headquarters of the United States Department of Defense, located in Arlington County, Virginia. As a symbol of the U.S. military, "the Pentagon" is often used metonymically to refer to the Department of Defense rather than the building itself.Designed by the American architect...
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...
, including covering the 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...
in early 1991, Somalia
Somalia
Somalia , officially the Somali Republic and formerly known as the Somali Democratic Republic under Socialist rule, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. Since the outbreak of the Somali Civil War in 1991 there has been no central government control over most of the country's territory...
in December 1992, and Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
in September 1994.
In 1996 he became a domestic correspondent covering areas that included Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
and immigration
Immigration to the United States
Immigration to the United States has been a major source of population growth and cultural change throughout much of the history of the United States. The economic, social, and political aspects of immigration have caused controversy regarding ethnicity, economic benefits, jobs for non-immigrants,...
.
Upon the September 11 attacks in 2001, he returned to the Pentagon role, focused on U.S.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
national security
National security
National security is the requirement to maintain the survival of the state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and political power. The concept developed mostly in the United States of America after World War II...
. his assignment is the war on terrorism
War on Terrorism
The War on Terror is a term commonly applied to an international military campaign led by the United States and the United Kingdom with the support of other North Atlantic Treaty Organisation as well as non-NATO countries...
.
Major reporting
Schmitt is notable for breaking the story that the Obama administrationPresidency of Barack Obama
The Presidency of Barack Obama began at noon EST on January 20, 2009 when he became the 44th President of the United States. Obama was a United States Senator from Illinois at the time of his victory over Arizona Senator John McCain in the 2008 presidential election...
was planning to reverse the Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
policy of holding captives in extrajudicial detention
Extrajudicial detention
Arbitrary or extrajudicial detention is the detention of individuals by a state, without ever laying formal charges against them.Although it has a long history of legitimate use in wartime , detention without charge, sometimes in secret, has been one of the hallmarks of totalitarian states...
in American internment facilities in 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...
, without allowing them to learn why they were being held.
On September 12, 2009 Schmitt, quoting officials who did not want to go on the record by name, that Bagram captives would be allowed to request to review and challenge the allegations that lead to their detention.
In 2004 Schmitt reported that on the fears of rape held by female GIs in 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....
at the hands of their fellow GIs.
Schmitt was interviewed by National Public Radio on the DoD's response to the GI's fears.
In 2003 and 2004 New York Times journalists played a key role in breaking the case of the homicide of several Afghan captives in US custody in the internment facility at Bagram Air Base
Bagram Theater Internment Facility
The Parwan Detention Facility , also called the Bagram Theater Internment Facility, is a United States-run prison located next to Bagram Airfield in the Parwan Province of Afghanistan.It was formerly known as the Bagram Collection Point...
.
Schmitt was one of the reporters who covered that story.
In 2006 Schmitt and a colleague reported on bribery concerns that involved Maj.
Major (United States)
In the United States Army, Air Force, and Marine Corps, major is a field grade military officer rank just above the rank of captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel...
Gloria Davis
Gloria Davis
Gloria Davis may refer to:*Major Gloria D. Davis US Army officer found dead after describing financial improprieties in Iraq*Gloria Davis , member of the New York State legislature, convicted of financial impropriety in 2003...
,
an officer in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
who was found dead from a gunshot wound shortly thereafter.