Howell Raines
Encyclopedia
Howell Hiram Raines was Executive Editor of The New York Times
from 2001 until he left in 2003 in the wake of the Jayson Blair
scandal. He is the father of Jeff Raines, one of the founding members of the rock band Galactic
. He is currently a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio
, writing the magazine's media column.
in 1964 and later a master's in English from The University of Alabama. The University of Alabama also awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1993. In 1964, Raines began his newspaper career as a reporter for the Tuscaloosa News in Alabama. He also reported for WBRC-TV in Birmingham. After a year as a reporter at the Birmingham News, Raines became political editor of the Atlanta Constitution in 1971. His position at the newspaper lasted until 1976, when he became political editor at the St. Petersburg Times
.
correspondent for The Times. His ascent within management continued in 1985, when he became deputy Washington editor. In 1987, Raines transferred to London
and worked as the newspaper's London bureau chief. The next year, he returned to Washington D.C. to become the Washington bureau chief. In 1992, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
. His longest lasting assignment within The Times began in 1993, when he left Washington for New York to become the paper's editorial page editor. He was appointed to Executive Editor in September 2001.
Paul Krugman
, a Times columnist, stated in his book, The Great Unraveling
, that it was Raines who made the decision to hire Jayson Blair.
Raines was lauded by many for instituting a program to increase diversity and to revive advocacy journalism
. Although there was a period in the early unfolding of the Enron
story regarding that energy company's corrupt practices when the Times had to play 'catch up' to the Wall Street Journal, the Times did later develop some hard-hitting articles on that subject, a highly praised accomplishment due in part to Raines' insistence on aggressive investigations.
Following the Jayson Blair scandal, Raines resigned his position at the Times.
Raines appeared as a guest on the television show The Colbert Report on July 24, 2006. He and Colbert's discussion touched on subjects including the release of his new book and the Jayson Blair scandal.
On January 14, 2008, it was announced that Raines will become a media columnist for Condé Nast Portfolio. His first column was published in the March issue of the magazine, and analyzed the possibilities of Rupert Murdoch
buying, and therewith, from Raines' point of view, damaging The New York Times.
Raines penned an op-ed
in the March 14, 2010 edition of The Washington Post
that was highly critical of Fox News Channel
and the fact that journalists leave Fox's journalism largely unchecked, without mentioning his role in the Jayson Blair incident.
and Whiskey Man in 1977 and Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis in 1993. He contributed to Campaign Money, published in 1976. The One that Got Away: A Memoir was published in 2006.
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...
from 2001 until he left in 2003 in the wake of the Jayson Blair
Jayson Blair
Jayson Blair is an American reporter formerly with The New York Times. He resigned from the newspaper in May 2003 in the wake of the discovery of plagiarism and fabrication in his stories. Since 2007 he has worked as a life coach in the field of mental health.-Background:Blair was born in...
scandal. He is the father of Jeff Raines, one of the founding members of the rock band Galactic
Galactic
Galactic is a funk and jazz jam band from New Orleans, Louisiana, United States.-Origins and background:Originally formed in 1994 as an octet and including singer Chris Lane and guitarist Rob Gowen, the group was soon pared down to a sextet of: guitarist Jeff Raines, bassist Robert Mercurio,...
. He is currently a contributing editor for Condé Nast Portfolio
Condé Nast Portfolio
Portfolio.com is a website published by American City Business Journals that provides news and information for small to mid-sized businesses. It was formerly the website for the monthly business magazine Condé Nast Portfolio, published by Condé Nast from 2007 to 2009.Portfolio.com is continually...
, writing the magazine's media column.
Early career
Raines earned a bachelor's degree from Birmingham-Southern CollegeBirmingham-Southern College
Birmingham–Southern College is a 4-year, private liberal arts college located three miles northwest of downtown Birmingham. Founded in 1856, it is affiliated with the United Methodist Church. Approximately 1400 students from 30 states and 23 foreign countries attend the college...
in 1964 and later a master's in English from The University of Alabama. The University of Alabama also awarded him an honorary doctorate in 1993. In 1964, Raines began his newspaper career as a reporter for the Tuscaloosa News in Alabama. He also reported for WBRC-TV in Birmingham. After a year as a reporter at the Birmingham News, Raines became political editor of the Atlanta Constitution in 1971. His position at the newspaper lasted until 1976, when he became political editor at the St. Petersburg Times
St. Petersburg Times
The St. Petersburg Times is a United States newspaper. It is one of two major publications serving the Tampa Bay Area, the other being The Tampa Tribune, which the Times tops in both circulation and readership. Based in St...
.
The New York Times
Raines' affiliation with The New York Times began in 1978, when he joined as a national correspondent based in Atlanta. By 1979, Raines was the bureau chief in Atlanta, a position he remained in until 1981, when he became a national political correspondent. By the next year, Raines had been promoted to a White HouseWhite House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
correspondent for The Times. His ascent within management continued in 1985, when he became deputy Washington editor. In 1987, Raines transferred to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and worked as the newspaper's London bureau chief. The next year, he returned to Washington D.C. to become the Washington bureau chief. In 1992, he was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
The Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing has been awarded since 1979 for a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their...
. His longest lasting assignment within The Times began in 1993, when he left Washington for New York to become the paper's editorial page editor. He was appointed to Executive Editor in September 2001.
Paul Krugman
Paul Krugman
Paul Robin Krugman is an American economist, professor of Economics and International Affairs at the Woodrow Wilson School of Public and International Affairs at Princeton University, Centenary Professor at the London School of Economics, and an op-ed columnist for The New York Times...
, a Times columnist, stated in his book, The Great Unraveling
The Great Unraveling
The Great Unraveling: Losing Our Way in the New Century is a book by Paul Krugman, consisting of a collection of his columns for the New York Times . The collected columns were concerned mainly with the US economy in the early 2000s, and about the economic and foreign policies of the George W...
, that it was Raines who made the decision to hire Jayson Blair.
Raines was lauded by many for instituting a program to increase diversity and to revive advocacy journalism
Advocacy journalism
Advocacy journalism is a genre of journalism that intentionally and transparently adopts a non-objective viewpoint, usually for some social or political purpose. Because it is intended to be factual, it is distinguished from propaganda...
. Although there was a period in the early unfolding of the Enron
Enron
Enron Corporation was an American energy, commodities, and services company based in Houston, Texas. Before its bankruptcy on December 2, 2001, Enron employed approximately 22,000 staff and was one of the world's leading electricity, natural gas, communications, and pulp and paper companies, with...
story regarding that energy company's corrupt practices when the Times had to play 'catch up' to the Wall Street Journal, the Times did later develop some hard-hitting articles on that subject, a highly praised accomplishment due in part to Raines' insistence on aggressive investigations.
Following the Jayson Blair scandal, Raines resigned his position at the Times.
Current activities
Raines took a look at his tenure as Executive Editor in "My Times", published in the Atlantic Monthly, and again in his memoir The One that Got Away, which came out in 2006. In it, Raines juxtaposes fishing stories with his journalism career, with particular attention to what led up to the Jayson Blair scandal.Raines appeared as a guest on the television show The Colbert Report on July 24, 2006. He and Colbert's discussion touched on subjects including the release of his new book and the Jayson Blair scandal.
On January 14, 2008, it was announced that Raines will become a media columnist for Condé Nast Portfolio. His first column was published in the March issue of the magazine, and analyzed the possibilities of Rupert Murdoch
Rupert Murdoch
Keith Rupert Murdoch, AC, KSG is an Australian-American business magnate. He is the founder and Chairman and CEO of , the world's second-largest media conglomerate....
buying, and therewith, from Raines' point of view, damaging The New York Times.
Raines penned an op-ed
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...
in the March 14, 2010 edition of The Washington Post
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
that was highly critical of Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel
Fox News Channel , often called Fox News, is a cable and satellite television news channel owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a subsidiary of News Corporation...
and the fact that journalists leave Fox's journalism largely unchecked, without mentioning his role in the Jayson Blair incident.
Books
In addition to his work as a journalist, Raines has published several books; My Soul Is RestedMy Soul Is Rested
My Soul Is Rested: Movement Days in the Deep South Remembered is a book of oral history regarding the American Civil Rights Movement by journalist Howell Raines...
and Whiskey Man in 1977 and Fly Fishing Through the Midlife Crisis in 1993. He contributed to Campaign Money, published in 1976. The One that Got Away: A Memoir was published in 2006.