Alexandra Berzon
Encyclopedia
Alexandra Berzon is an American reporter for The Wall Street Journal
covering Las Vegas, Nevada
. She is best known for a series of investigative stories on construction worker deaths on the Las Vegas Strip for which her paper, the Las Vegas Sun
, received a 2009 Pulitzer Prize
for Public Service, and 2009 The Hillman Prize
.
Berzon was given special recognition by the Pulitzer committee for her reporting on “Construction Deaths,” a four-part series on worker fatalities on the Las Vegas Strip
. Berzon began her investigation after nine construction workers died in eight separate accidents. Her series exposed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
’s lax enforcement of regulations and highlighted the cozy relationship between safety regulators and builders.
The series was cited in Congressional hearings examining OSHA’s record and led to changes in policy and improved safety conditions.
In addition to the Pulitzer, Berzon has won Story of the Year, News Feature of the Year and the First Amendment Award from the Nevada Press Association.
Before the Sun, Berzon was a reporter for Red Herring
, a business and technology magazine, and worked for the Anchorage Daily News
and San Antonio Express-News
. She has also reported for Salon.com
, NPR
and American Public Media
’s American RadioWorks. Her coverage of South Pacific islanders who had emigrated to New Zealand due to fears of sea level rise was part of series that won the George Polk Award for Radio Reporting in 2007.
Berzon graduated from Vassar College in 2001 and earned a master’s in journalism from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
. She grew up in Berkeley, California. Her mother, Marsha S. Berzon, is a circuit judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
covering Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. She is best known for a series of investigative stories on construction worker deaths on the Las Vegas Strip for which her paper, the Las Vegas Sun
Las Vegas Sun
The Las Vegas Sun is a Pulitzer Prize-winning newspaper. It is one of Las Vegas, Nevada's two daily newspapers. It is owned by the Greenspun family and is affiliated with Greenspun Media Group....
, received a 2009 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...
for Public Service, and 2009 The Hillman Prize
The Hillman Prize
The Hillman Prize is a journalism award given out annually by the Sidney Hillman Foundation, named for the noted American labor leader. It is given to "journalists, writers and public figures who pursue social justice and public policy for the common good." Murray Kempton was the first recipient,...
.
Berzon was given special recognition by the Pulitzer committee for her reporting on “Construction Deaths,” a four-part series on worker fatalities on the Las Vegas Strip
Las Vegas Strip
The Las Vegas Strip is an approximately stretch of Las Vegas Boulevard in Clark County, Nevada; adjacent to, but outside the city limits of Las Vegas proper. The Strip lies within the unincorporated townships of Paradise and Winchester...
. Berzon began her investigation after nine construction workers died in eight separate accidents. Her series exposed the Occupational Safety and Health Administration
Occupational Safety and Health Administration
The United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. It was created by Congress of the United States under the Occupational Safety and Health Act, signed by President Richard M. Nixon, on December 29, 1970...
’s lax enforcement of regulations and highlighted the cozy relationship between safety regulators and builders.
The series was cited in Congressional hearings examining OSHA’s record and led to changes in policy and improved safety conditions.
In addition to the Pulitzer, Berzon has won Story of the Year, News Feature of the Year and the First Amendment Award from the Nevada Press Association.
Before the Sun, Berzon was a reporter for Red Herring
Red herring
A red herring is a deliberate attempt to divert attention.Red herring may refer to:* Red herring , the informal fallacy of presenting an argument that may in itself be valid, but does not address the issue in question....
, a business and technology magazine, and worked for the Anchorage Daily News
Anchorage Daily News
The Anchorage Daily News is a daily newspaper based in Anchorage, Alaska, in the United States. It is often referred to colloquially as either "the Daily News" or "the ADN"...
and San Antonio Express-News
San Antonio Express-News
The San Antonio Express-News is the daily newspaper of San Antonio, Texas. It is ranked as the third-largest daily newspaper in the state of Texas in terms of circulation, and is one of the leading news sources of South Texas, with offices in Austin, Brownsville, Laredo, and Mexico City...
. She has also reported for Salon.com
Salon.com
Salon.com, part of Salon Media Group , often just called Salon, is an online liberal magazine, with content updated each weekday. Salon was founded by David Talbot and launched on November 20, 1995. It was the internet's first online-only commercial publication. The magazine focuses on U.S...
, NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
and American Public Media
American Public Media
American Public Media is the second largest producer of public radio programs in the United States of America after NPR. Its non-profit parent, American Public Media Group, also owns and operates radio stations in Minnesota, California, and Florida. Its station brands are Minnesota Public Radio,...
’s American RadioWorks. Her coverage of South Pacific islanders who had emigrated to New Zealand due to fears of sea level rise was part of series that won the George Polk Award for Radio Reporting in 2007.
Berzon graduated from Vassar College in 2001 and earned a master’s in journalism from the UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism
The UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism is a graduate professional school on the campus of University of California, Berkeley. It is among the top graduate journalism schools in the United States, and is designed to produce journalists with a two-year Master of Journalism degree.The program...
. She grew up in Berkeley, California. Her mother, Marsha S. Berzon, is a circuit judge on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.