Stephen Smith (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Stephen Smith is an American anthropologist, biographer, editor
, historian
, journalist
, and writer
. He is a former editor of the French daily newspaper Libération
and the former deputy editor of the Foreign desk at Le Monde
. For many years he worked as a traveling correspondent for Radio France International and Reuters News Agency
in West and Central Africa.
, Smith studied African law and anthropology at the University of Paris
and history, philosophy, and political science at the Free University of Berlin
. After working as a freelance journalist for a few years, Smith joined the staff of Libération in 1986, replacing Pierre Haski
as the paper's Africa Editor. In 2000 he became the Africa Editor for Le Monde, becoming deputy director there two years later. In 2005 he left the paper to return to work as a freelance journalist.
Smith is the author of numerous books and academic publications related to the anthropology and history of Africa, including books on Burundi
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
, the Ivory Coast, and Somalia
. He has also written a number of biographies on notable African people, including books on General Mohamed Oufkir
(1998), Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa
(2000), and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
(2007). He is currently a visiting professor at Duke University
where he teaches courses in African Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Public Policy.
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
, historian
Historian
A historian is a person who studies and writes about the past and is regarded as an authority on it. Historians are concerned with the continuous, methodical narrative and research of past events as relating to the human race; as well as the study of all history in time. If the individual is...
, 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...
, and writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
. He is a former editor of the French daily newspaper Libération
Libération
Libération is a French daily newspaper founded in Paris by Jean-Paul Sartre and Serge July in 1973 in the wake of the protest movements of May 1968. Originally a leftist newspaper, it has undergone a number of shifts during the 1980s and 1990s...
and the former deputy editor of the Foreign desk at Le Monde
Le Monde
Le Monde is a French daily evening newspaper owned by La Vie-Le Monde Group and edited in Paris. It is one of two French newspapers of record, and has generally been well respected since its first edition under founder Hubert Beuve-Méry on 19 December 1944...
. For many years he worked as a traveling correspondent for Radio France International and Reuters News Agency
Reuters
Reuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
in West and Central Africa.
Biography
Born in ConnecticutConnecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Smith studied African law and anthropology at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
and history, philosophy, and political science at the Free University of Berlin
Free University of Berlin
Freie Universität Berlin is one of the leading and most prestigious research universities in Germany and continental Europe. It distinguishes itself through its modern and international character. It is the largest of the four universities in Berlin. Research at the university is focused on the...
. After working as a freelance journalist for a few years, Smith joined the staff of Libération in 1986, replacing Pierre Haski
Pierre Haski
Pierre Haski is a French journalist, co-founder of Rue 89. He was deputy editor of Libération from January 2006 till his departure in 2007 from the daily.- Life :...
as the paper's Africa Editor. In 2000 he became the Africa Editor for Le Monde, becoming deputy director there two years later. In 2005 he left the paper to return to work as a freelance journalist.
Smith is the author of numerous books and academic publications related to the anthropology and history of Africa, including books on Burundi
Burundi
Burundi , officially the Republic of Burundi , is a landlocked country in the Great Lakes region of Eastern Africa bordered by Rwanda to the north, Tanzania to the east and south, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to the west. Its capital is Bujumbura...
, the Democratic Republic of the Congo
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a state located in Central Africa. It is the second largest country in Africa by area and the eleventh largest in the world...
, the Ivory Coast, and 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...
. He has also written a number of biographies on notable African people, including books on General Mohamed Oufkir
Mohamed Oufkir
General Mohammad Oufkir was a Moroccan Berber politician.As the right hand man of king Hassan II in the 1960s and early 1970s, Oufkir led government supervision of politicians, unionists and the religious establishment...
(1998), Emperor Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Jean-Bédel Bokassa
Jean-Bédel Bokassa , a military officer, was the head of state of the Central African Republic and its successor state, the Central African Empire, from his coup d'état on 1 January 1966 until 20 September 1979...
(2000), and Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela
Winnie Madikizela-Mandela is a South African politician who has held several government positions and headed the African National Congress Women's League. She is currently a member of the ANC's National Executive Committee...
(2007). He is currently a visiting professor at Duke University
Duke University
Duke University is a private research university located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. Founded by Methodists and Quakers in the present day town of Trinity in 1838, the school moved to Durham in 1892. In 1924, tobacco industrialist James B...
where he teaches courses in African Studies, Cultural Anthropology and Public Policy.