Eileen McNamara
Encyclopedia
Eileen McNamara, is a columnist
for Boston (magazine) and a journalism professor at Brandeis University
. She is a former Boston Globe columnist, where she won the Pulitzer Prize.
A graduate of Barnard College
(1974) and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
(1976), she was a Nieman Fellow
at Harvard for the academic year 1987-88. She began her journalism career at Barnard as a campus correspondent for The Daily News in New York City before graduating to The News-Times of Danbury, CT
and United Press International
in Boston.
During nearly 30 years at The Boston Globe, she covered everything from the night police beat to the United States Congress. First hired as a newsroom secretary, she worked her way up through the general assignment staff, the State House Bureau, the special projects team and the Sunday magazine staff to the position of columnist in 1995.
In addition to the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
(1997), she has been the recipient of writing and public service awards from the American Society of Newspaper Editors
, Sigma Delta Chi, the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation and others for a reporting career that focused on such pressing social issues as infant mortality, domestic violence and juvenile crime. In 2007, she was named a winner of the Yankee Quill Award
, the highest individual honor given by the Academy of New England Journalists.
She is married to Boston Globe NBA beat writer Peter May, and is the mother of three children: Timothy, Patrick and Katherine.
She contributed to the Boston Globe's coverage of the clergy sexual abuse scandal
, for which the Globe won the Pulitzer Prize
for Public Service in 2003.
A regular on local public affairs programs in Boston, she has also appeared on "The Today Show", "Larry King Live
" and "Nightline." She appeared on the Daily Show on September 25, 2006.
McNamara is the author of two books: "Breakdown: Sex, Suicide and the Harvard Psychiatrist" (which was an Edgar Award
finalist in 1994) and "The Parting Glass: A Toast to the Traditional Pubs of Ireland" (with photographer Eric Roth.)
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
for Boston (magazine) and a journalism professor at Brandeis University
Brandeis University
Brandeis University is an American private research university with a liberal arts focus. It is located in the southwestern corner of Waltham, Massachusetts, nine miles west of Boston. The University has an enrollment of approximately 3,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. In 2011, it...
. She is a former Boston Globe columnist, where she won the Pulitzer Prize.
A graduate of Barnard College
Barnard College
Barnard College is a private women's liberal arts college and a member of the Seven Sisters. Founded in 1889, Barnard has been affiliated with Columbia University since 1900. The campus stretches along Broadway between 116th and 120th Streets in the Morningside Heights neighborhood in the borough...
(1974) and the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
(1976), she was a Nieman Fellow
Nieman Fellowship
The Nieman Fellowship is an award given to mid-career journalists by The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. This award allows winners time to reflect on their careers and focus on honing their skills....
at Harvard for the academic year 1987-88. She began her journalism career at Barnard as a campus correspondent for The Daily News in New York City before graduating to The News-Times of Danbury, CT
Danbury, Connecticut
Danbury is a city in northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States. It had population at the 2010 census of 80,893. Danbury is the fourth largest city in Fairfield County and is the seventh largest city in Connecticut....
and United Press International
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...
in Boston.
During nearly 30 years at The Boston Globe, she covered everything from the night police beat to the United States Congress. First hired as a newsroom secretary, she worked her way up through the general assignment staff, the State House Bureau, the special projects team and the Sunday magazine staff to the position of columnist in 1995.
In addition to the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
Pulitzer Prize for Commentary
The Pulitzer Prize for Commentary has been awarded since 1970. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their official citations:...
(1997), she has been the recipient of writing and public service awards from the American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
, Sigma Delta Chi, the Robert F. Kennedy Foundation and others for a reporting career that focused on such pressing social issues as infant mortality, domestic violence and juvenile crime. In 2007, she was named a winner of 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...
, the highest individual honor given by the Academy of New England Journalists.
She is married to Boston Globe NBA beat writer Peter May, and is the mother of three children: Timothy, Patrick and Katherine.
She contributed to the Boston Globe's coverage of the clergy sexual abuse scandal
Roman Catholic sex abuse cases
The Catholic sex abuse cases are a series of convictions, trials and ongoing investigations into allegations of sex crimes committed by Catholic priests and members of religious orders. These cases began receiving public attention beginning in the mid-1980s...
, for which the Globe won 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 Public Service in 2003.
A regular on local public affairs programs in Boston, she has also appeared on "The Today Show", "Larry King Live
Larry King Live
Larry King Live is an American talk show hosted by Larry King on CNN from 1985 to 2010. It was CNN's most watched and longest-running program, with over one million viewers nightly....
" and "Nightline." She appeared on the Daily Show on September 25, 2006.
McNamara is the author of two books: "Breakdown: Sex, Suicide and the Harvard Psychiatrist" (which was an Edgar Award
Edgar Award
The Edgar Allan Poe Awards , named after Edgar Allan Poe, are presented every year by the Mystery Writers of America...
finalist in 1994) and "The Parting Glass: A Toast to the Traditional Pubs of Ireland" (with photographer Eric Roth.)