Gene Roberts (journalist)

Gene Roberts
Born
Eugene Leslie Roberts Jr.

(1932-06-15) June 15, 1932 (age 92)
Goldsboro, North Carolina, U.S.
Occupation(s)Journalist, professor of journalism
Notable credit(s)The New York Times, The Philadelphia Inquirer; books: The Race Beat (with Hank Klibanoff), The Censors and the Schools (with Jack Nelson), Assignment America (with David Jones), Leaving Readers Behind (with Thomas Kunkel and Charles Layton), Breach of Faith (with Thomas Kunkel)
TitleProfessor of Journalism, Philip Merrill College of Journalism, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
SpouseSusan McLamb Roberts
ChildrenLeslie Roberts, Maggie Roberts, Elizabeth Roberts, Polly Roberts
Relativessister, Peggy Ellis; grandchildren, Emma Roberts Zevin; Wiley Roberts Guillot

Eugene Leslie Roberts Jr. (born June 15, 1932)[1] is an American journalist and professor of journalism. He has been a national editor of The New York Times, executive editor of The Philadelphia Inquirer from 1972 to 1990, and managing editor of The New York Times from 1994 to 1997. Roberts is most known for presiding over The Inquirer's "Golden Age",[2] a time in which the newspaper was given increased freedom and resources, won 17 Pulitzer Prizes in 18 years,[3] displaced The Philadelphia Bulletin as the city's "paper of record", and was considered to be Knight Ridder's crown jewel as a profitable enterprise and an influential regional paper.[4]

  1. ^ For birthdate and full name, Library of Congress Authorities cites Contemporary Authors, which may be derived from earlier LC CIP data.
  2. ^ Shapiro, Michael (2007). "Heartbreak on Wheels: The Philadelphia Inquirer". In Charles M. Madigan (ed.). 30: The Collapse of the Great American Newspaper (Hardback). Chicago: Ivan R. Lee. p. 156. ISBN 978-1-56663-742-8.
  3. ^ Cauchon, Dennis (August 1, 1990). "Roberts to leave 'Inquirer'". USA Today.
  4. ^ Williams, Marjorie (August 1, 1990). "Philadelphia Inquirer's Top Editor Resigns". The Washington Post.