John Kifner
Encyclopedia
John Kifner was a reporte for the The New York Times
. After serving as an editor on his Williams College
student newspaper, The Williams Record, Kifner joined The New York Times as a copy boy in 1963 and soughtt reporting assignments. John Kifner became a metropolitan reporter with The New York Times in October 1988, after serving as bureau chief in Cairo from October 1985. He also continued to cover both national and foreign stories. In 2003, he covered the initial attacks of the war in Iraq with the Marines and in 2004 he covered the conflict from Falluja. Kifner also covered the first Gulf War
in 1991 with the 101st Airborne Division
. In the past, he has covered wars and conflict in Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia.
Since joining The New York Times in 1963, Kifner has been both a national and a foreign correspondent based first in Chicago and then Boston. He became bureau chief in Beirut in October 1979, then transferred to Warsaw in May 1982, and again was reassigned to Beirut in May 1984.
While in the Middle East, Kifner covered the Iranian Revolution
in 1979 and won a George Polk
Memorial Award that year for his reporting of the event. Throughout his career, Kifner has received numerous awards, including the 1998 John Chancellor Award
for Excellence in Journalism from the Annenberg Public Policy Center
at the University of Pennsylvania
. The award was won for the body of his work, for both foreign and domestic reporting. The Annenberg School for Communication
, which administers the award, cited his ability to translate "complicated changes in the political, economic and cultural landscape for American readers." The award is given in honor of John Chancellor
, the NBC television correspondent and anchor who died in 1996.
Kifner graduated from Williams College in 1963 and attended Harvard University
on a Nieman Fellowship
in 1971 and 1972. He currently resides in New York and still writes occasionally for the Times.
Kifner's deep affection for his Siamese cats, Duke and Studs, is immortalized by New York Times colleague Christopher S. Wren in a passage from his book, The Cat Who Covered the World: The Adventures of Henrietta and Her Foreign Correspondent, (Simon & Schuster
, 2000).
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...
. After serving as an editor on his 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...
student newspaper, The Williams Record, Kifner joined The New York Times as a copy boy in 1963 and soughtt reporting assignments. John Kifner became a metropolitan reporter with The New York Times in October 1988, after serving as bureau chief in Cairo from October 1985. He also continued to cover both national and foreign stories. In 2003, he covered the initial attacks of the war in Iraq with the Marines and in 2004 he covered the conflict from Falluja. Kifner also covered 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...
in 1991 with the 101st Airborne Division
101st Airborne Division
The 101st Airborne Division—the "Screaming Eagles"—is a U.S. Army modular light infantry division trained for air assault operations. During World War II, it was renowned for its role in Operation Overlord, the D-Day landings on 6 June 1944, in Normandy, France, Operation Market Garden, the...
. In the past, he has covered wars and conflict in Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Bosnia, Kosovo and the former Yugoslavia.
Since joining The New York Times in 1963, Kifner has been both a national and a foreign correspondent based first in Chicago and then Boston. He became bureau chief in Beirut in October 1979, then transferred to Warsaw in May 1982, and again was reassigned to Beirut in May 1984.
While in the Middle East, Kifner covered the Iranian Revolution
Iranian Revolution
The Iranian Revolution refers to events involving the overthrow of Iran's monarchy under Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and its replacement with an Islamic republic under Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, the leader of the...
in 1979 and won a George Polk
George Polk
George Polk was an American journalist for CBS who disappeared in Greece and was found dead a few days later on Sunday May 16, 1948, shot at point-blank range in the back of the head, and with hands and feet tied. Polk was covering the civil war in Greece between the right wing government and...
Memorial Award that year for his reporting of the event. Throughout his career, Kifner has received numerous awards, including the 1998 John Chancellor Award
John Chancellor Award
John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism is an annual award of $25,000, selected by a panel of journalists, for quality reporting.Established in 1995, the award was formerly administered by the University of Pennsylvania, and is administered by the Columbia University Graduate School of...
for Excellence in Journalism from the Annenberg Public Policy Center
Annenberg Public Policy Center
The Annenberg Public Policy Center is a center for the study of public policy at the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania. It has offices in Washington, D.C...
at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
. The award was won for the body of his work, for both foreign and domestic reporting. The Annenberg School for Communication
Annenberg School for Communication
There are two schools named Annenberg School for Communication.*University of Southern California Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism*Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania...
, which administers the award, cited his ability to translate "complicated changes in the political, economic and cultural landscape for American readers." The award is given in honor of John Chancellor
John Chancellor
John William Chancellor was a well-known American journalist who spent most of his career with NBC News...
, the NBC television correspondent and anchor who died in 1996.
Kifner graduated from Williams College in 1963 and attended 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...
on a Nieman Fellowship
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....
in 1971 and 1972. He currently resides in New York and still writes occasionally for the Times.
Kifner's deep affection for his Siamese cats, Duke and Studs, is immortalized by New York Times colleague Christopher S. Wren in a passage from his book, The Cat Who Covered the World: The Adventures of Henrietta and Her Foreign Correspondent, (Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster
Simon & Schuster, Inc., a division of CBS Corporation, is a publisher founded in New York City in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster. It is one of the four largest English-language publishers, alongside Random House, Penguin and HarperCollins...
, 2000).
Recent work
- (2008). "Of Turbans and Neckties: Why Past Defines Present". dispatches.