Barbara Walsh (journalist)
Encyclopedia
Barbara Walsh is a Pulitzer Prize
winning American journalist
, and author of non-fiction
and children's literature
. She has worked for the The Eagle-Tribune, Portland Press Herald
, and South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and has taught journalism at Florida International University
, University of Southern Maine
, and University of Maine at Augusta
. Walsh was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1988 for a series she wrote for the Eagle-Tribune in Lawrence, Massachusetts
, about the Massachusetts prison system
. Barbara has also worked as an international speaker for the U. S. State Department
.
passed a statute limiting furlough
days. The series was awarded the Pulitzer Prize
for General News Reporting in 1988.
After winning the Pulitzer Prize, Barbara moved to Florida, where she covered courts and social services for seven years for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale. Moving to Portland, Maine
in 1996, she began investigating major social issues, and in 1997 led a four-person team that produced "The Deadliest Drug: Maine's Addiction to Alcohol," which won the Pew Center
for Civic Journalism’s Batten Award. In 1999 her series "A Stolen Soul," about a woman's struggle to bring her son's murderer to justice, won the national Dart Award for excellence in reporting on victims of violence.
In 2000 and 2001 Walsh spent 15 months interviewing hundreds of Maine teenagers for a series of print and online pieces called "On the Verge." "On the Verge" won the Casey Medal, the top national prize for coverage of children and families. It also received an honorable mention for the Batten Award for excellence in civic journalism; the Pew Center called the stories "a stunningly framed and written series about teens that broke free of stereotypes."
In 2003 Walsh won more awards for "Castaway Children: Maine's Most Vulnerable Kids," which showed the need for more children's mental health services in Maine. The stories led to hearings and legislative changes at both the state and federal levels. The series won the national Anna Quindlen Award for Excellence in Journalism in Behalf of Children and Families. These projects and others—including "Death Too Soon," on youth suicide, and "Crisis in the Courts" on the way faulty record-keeping deters justice—have also won numerous state and regional awards and led to many local initiatives.
In 2007, Barbara won the Yankee Quill Award
for her lifetime contribution toward excellence in journalism in New England
. Judges commended Walsh for being "a feisty project reporter who writes about important public matters and issues and whose work has changed society for the better." The award is bestowed annually by the Academy of New England Journalists, and administered by the New England Society of Newspaper Editors. It is considered the highest individual honor awarded by fellow journalists in the region.
painter, Jamie Wyeth
. A Publishers Weekly
reviewer described the book as "...a model of good mourning, it's a fruitful resource; as an account of loss, it goes to the pit of the stomach."
fishing
community and an infamous storm
that killed four members of her extended family was released in October, 2011. A Kirkus Reviews
reviewer described the book as "A celebration of traditional family values and reconciliation."
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 American 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 author of non-fiction
Non-fiction
Non-fiction is the form of any narrative, account, or other communicative work whose assertions and descriptions are understood to be fact...
and children's literature
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
. She has worked for the The Eagle-Tribune, Portland Press Herald
Portland Press Herald
The Portland Press Herald publish daily newspapers in Portland, Maine, USA...
, and South Florida Sun-Sentinel, and has taught journalism at Florida International University
Florida International University
Florida International University is an American public research university in metropolitan Miami, Florida, in the United States, with its main campus in University Park...
, University of Southern Maine
University of Southern Maine
The University of Southern Maine is a multi-campus public urban comprehensive university and part of the University of Maine System. USM's three primary campuses are located in Portland, Gorham, and Lewiston...
, and University of Maine at Augusta
University of Maine at Augusta
The University of Maine at Augusta is located in the state capital of Augusta, Maine, and is a part of the University of Maine System. UMA is a regional state university providing baccalaureate and select associate degrees to meet the educational, economic and cultural needs of Central Maine...
. Walsh was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for journalism in 1988 for a series she wrote for the Eagle-Tribune in Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence, Massachusetts
Lawrence is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States on the Merrimack River. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 76,377. Surrounding communities include Methuen to the north, Andover to the southwest, and North Andover to the southeast. It and Salem are...
, about the Massachusetts prison system
Massachusetts Department of Correction
The Massachusetts Department of Correction is responsible for operating the prison system of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, US Massachusetts houses over 11,500 inmates throughout 18 correctional facilities and employs over 5,000 employees...
. Barbara has also worked as an international speaker for the U. S. State Department
United States Department of State
The United States Department of State , is the United States federal executive department responsible for international relations of the United States, equivalent to the foreign ministries of other countries...
.
Career and awards
Walsh worked with Susan Forrest to publish over 175 articles for the Eagle-Tribune on the Massachusetts furlough system that was in place in the state's prison system. The system allowed convicted felons to leave prison for short periods. After the series appeared, the Massachusetts legislatureMassachusetts General Court
The Massachusetts General Court is the state legislature of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The name "General Court" is a hold-over from the Colonial Era, when this body also sat in judgment of judicial appeals cases...
passed a statute limiting furlough
Furlough
In the United States a furlough is a temporary unpaid leave of some employees due to special needs of a company, which may be due to economic conditions at the specific employer or in the economy as a whole...
days. The series was awarded the 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 General News Reporting in 1988.
After winning the Pulitzer Prize, Barbara moved to Florida, where she covered courts and social services for seven years for the South Florida Sun-Sentinel of Fort Lauderdale. Moving to Portland, Maine
Portland, Maine
Portland is the largest city in Maine and is the county seat of Cumberland County. The 2010 city population was 66,194, growing 3 percent since the census of 2000...
in 1996, she began investigating major social issues, and in 1997 led a four-person team that produced "The Deadliest Drug: Maine's Addiction to Alcohol," which won the Pew Center
Pew Research Center
The Pew Research Center is an American think tank organization based in Washington, D.C. that provides information on issues, attitudes and trends shaping the United States and the world. The Center and its projects receive funding from The Pew Charitable Trusts. In 1990, Donald S...
for Civic Journalism’s Batten Award. In 1999 her series "A Stolen Soul," about a woman's struggle to bring her son's murderer to justice, won the national Dart Award for excellence in reporting on victims of violence.
In 2000 and 2001 Walsh spent 15 months interviewing hundreds of Maine teenagers for a series of print and online pieces called "On the Verge." "On the Verge" won the Casey Medal, the top national prize for coverage of children and families. It also received an honorable mention for the Batten Award for excellence in civic journalism; the Pew Center called the stories "a stunningly framed and written series about teens that broke free of stereotypes."
In 2003 Walsh won more awards for "Castaway Children: Maine's Most Vulnerable Kids," which showed the need for more children's mental health services in Maine. The stories led to hearings and legislative changes at both the state and federal levels. The series won the national Anna Quindlen Award for Excellence in Journalism in Behalf of Children and Families. These projects and others—including "Death Too Soon," on youth suicide, and "Crisis in the Courts" on the way faulty record-keeping deters justice—have also won numerous state and regional awards and led to many local initiatives.
In 2007, Barbara won the Yankee Quill Award
Yankee Quill Award
The Yankee Quill Award is a regional American journalism award that recognizes a lifetime contribution toward excellence in journalism in New England. The award is bestowed annually by the Academy of New England Journalists, and administered by the New England Society of Newspaper Editors...
for her lifetime contribution toward excellence in journalism in New England
New England
New England is a region in the northeastern corner of the United States consisting of the six states of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Connecticut...
. Judges commended Walsh for being "a feisty project reporter who writes about important public matters and issues and whose work has changed society for the better." The award is bestowed annually by the Academy of New England Journalists, and administered by the New England Society of Newspaper Editors. It is considered the highest individual honor awarded by fellow journalists in the region.
Personal
Barbara and her husband, journalist Eric Conrad, and their two daughters live in Winthrop, Maine.Sammy in the Sky
Barbara's first children's book about the death of a family dog was released in August, 2011 and features paintings by the internationally known contemporary American realistRealism (arts)
Realism in the visual arts and literature refers to the general attempt to depict subjects "in accordance with secular, empirical rules", as they are considered to exist in third person objective reality, without embellishment or interpretation...
painter, Jamie Wyeth
Jamie Wyeth
James Browning Wyeth is a contemporary American realist painter. He was raised in Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania, son of Andrew Wyeth and grandson of N.C. Wyeth...
. A Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
reviewer described the book as "...a model of good mourning, it's a fruitful resource; as an account of loss, it goes to the pit of the stomach."
August Gale
Barabra's new book about the NewfoundlandNewfoundland and Labrador
Newfoundland and Labrador is the easternmost province of Canada. Situated in the country's Atlantic region, it incorporates the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador with a combined area of . As of April 2011, the province's estimated population is 508,400...
fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
community and an infamous storm
Storm
A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface, and strongly implying severe weather...
that killed four members of her extended family was released in October, 2011. A Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews
Kirkus Reviews is an American book review magazine founded in 1933 by Virginia Kirkus . Kirkus serves the book and literary trade sector, including libraries, publishers, literary and film agents, film and TV producers and booksellers. Kirkus Reviews is published on the first and 15th of each month...
reviewer described the book as "A celebration of traditional family values and reconciliation."