Roger Tatarian
Encyclopedia
H. Roger Tatarian was vice-president and editor-in-chief of United Press International
, a worldwide news-reporting service that supplied stories to thousands of newspapers, magazines, and broadcast outlets.
, Turkey
. The son of a shoemaker, he grew up in Fresno, California
amid the same Armenian-American community that produced Pulitzer Prize
-winning playwright William Saroyan
. At Longfellow Junior High School, Tatarian's English teacher asked him to write for the school paper, the Longfellow Poet. He became sports editor and set his sights on a career in journalism.
in 1938 with a degree in political science. He went to work for UPI that same year and became a war correspondent during World War II
. His career as a news reporter and editor took him to farflung outposts. Over 34 years with UPI, he worked his way up through the organization, becoming general news manager for Europe
, the Middle East
, and Africa
; bureau chief in both London and Rome; and news editor in Washington, D.C.
(During his residency in Rome he became fluent in Italian
.) Tatarian eventually became the top editor of the news service, which at the time was a rival to the Associated Press
.
nomination juror in 1960, 1961, and 1985. Awards and honors included the Elijah Parrish Lovejoy Award, a special citation by Ohio University
, and an honorary doctorate in law from Colby College
in Maine
in 1980. He was named a fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists-Sigma Delta Chi in 1972 and was among the first group inducted to the Hall of Fame of the society's New York chapter.
. He also served as a writing coach and consultant to newspapers, notably the hometown Fresno Bee. He wrote a regular column for the paper and delivered commentary on local public television. He also served as advisor to various local and state governmental boards. Tatarian was especially well known for reaching out to talented young news professionals with advice and encouragement.
Tatarian wrote Day of Mourning, Day of Shame, a collection of essays published by Word Dancer Press.
He and wife Eunice were married for 55 years until his death. They had one child, a son, Allan.
United Press International
United Press International is a once-major international news agency, whose newswires, photo, news film and audio services provided news material to thousands of newspapers, magazines and radio and television stations for most of the twentieth century...
, a worldwide news-reporting service that supplied stories to thousands of newspapers, magazines, and broadcast outlets.
Background and youth
Tatarian's family came to the United States from BitlisBitlis
Bitlis is a town in eastern Turkey and the capital of Bitlis Province. The town is located at an elevation of 1,400 metres, 15 km from Lake Van, in the steep-sided valley of the Bitlis River, a tributary of the Tigris. The local economy is mainly based on agricultural products which include...
, Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
. The son of a shoemaker, he grew up in Fresno, California
Fresno, California
Fresno is a city in central California, United States, the county seat of Fresno County. As of the 2010 census, the city's population was 510,365, making it the fifth largest city in California, the largest inland city in California, and the 34th largest in the nation...
amid the same Armenian-American community that produced Pulitzer Prize
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 playwright William Saroyan
William Saroyan
William Saroyan was an Armenian American dramatist and author. The setting of many of his stories and plays is the center of Armenian-American life in California in his native Fresno.-Early years:...
. At Longfellow Junior High School, Tatarian's English teacher asked him to write for the school paper, the Longfellow Poet. He became sports editor and set his sights on a career in journalism.
With UPI
Tatarian graduated from Fresno State CollegeCalifornia State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
in 1938 with a degree in political science. He went to work for UPI that same year and became a war correspondent during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His career as a news reporter and editor took him to farflung outposts. Over 34 years with UPI, he worked his way up through the organization, becoming general news manager for Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
, and Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
; bureau chief in both London and Rome; and news editor in 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....
(During his residency in Rome he became fluent in Italian
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
.) Tatarian eventually became the top editor of the news service, which at the time was a rival to the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
.
Recognition
Tatarian served as a Pulitzer PrizePulitzer 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...
nomination juror in 1960, 1961, and 1985. Awards and honors included the Elijah Parrish Lovejoy Award, a special citation by Ohio University
Ohio University
Ohio University is a public university located in the Midwestern United States in Athens, Ohio, situated on an campus...
, and an honorary doctorate in law 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...
in Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in 1980. He was named a fellow of the Society of Professional Journalists-Sigma Delta Chi in 1972 and was among the first group inducted to the Hall of Fame of the society's New York chapter.
Active retirement
After his retirement from UPI, Tatarian returned to his hometown and joined the journalism faculty of California State University, FresnoCalifornia State University, Fresno
California State University, Fresno, often referred to as Fresno State University and synonymously known in athletics as Fresno State , is one of the leading campuses of the California State University system, located at the northeast edge of Fresno, California, USA.The campus sits at the foot of...
. He also served as a writing coach and consultant to newspapers, notably the hometown Fresno Bee. He wrote a regular column for the paper and delivered commentary on local public television. He also served as advisor to various local and state governmental boards. Tatarian was especially well known for reaching out to talented young news professionals with advice and encouragement.
Tatarian wrote Day of Mourning, Day of Shame, a collection of essays published by Word Dancer Press.
He and wife Eunice were married for 55 years until his death. They had one child, a son, Allan.
External links
- Roger Tatarian Chair in Journalism http://www.fresnostatenews.com/2003/July/TatarianChair.html
- Colby College honorary degree http://www.colby.edu/lovejoy/citation/tatarian_c.shtml