Fred Hiatt
Encyclopedia
Frederick Samuel "Fred" Hiatt (born April 30, 1955) is the editorial page editor of The Washington Post
. He also writes editorials for the page, as well as a biweekly column that appears on Mondays.
, and Doris Bieringer, a librarian who co-founded a reference publication for high school libraries. He graduated from Harvard University
in 1977. Hiatt is married to Washington Post editor and writer Margaret "Pooh" Shapiro; they live in Chevy Chase, Maryland
and have three children: Alexandra, Joseph and Nathaniel.
. When the latter ceased publication in 1981, Hiatt was hired by the Washington Post. At the Post, Hiatt initially reported on government, politics, development and other topics in Fairfax County and statewide in Virginia
. Later, after joining the newspaper’s national staff, he focused on military and national security affairs. From 1987 to 1990, he and his wife served as co-bureau chiefs of The Post’s Tokyo
bureau. Following this, from 1991 to 1995, the couple served as correspondents and co-bureau chiefs in Moscow
.
and a short interim editorship under Stephen S. Rosenfeld, Hiatt was named editorial page editor.
During Hiatt's tenure, the Post's editorial stance has been perceived by several veteran media watchers as shifting towards a neoconservative position on foreign policy issues and a more conservative stance on domestic issues. Once called "Pravda on the Potomac" by critics, an allusion to the official newspaper
of the Soviet communist party
due to what they deemed its left-wing bias, the Post has in the last decade supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, warmed to President George W. Bush
's proposal to partially privatize Social Security
, opposed a deadline for U.S. withdrawal from the Iraq War, and advocated free trade
agreements, including CAFTA and the Korean Free Trade Agreement. In "Buying the War" on PBS, Bill Moyers noted 27 editorials supporting George W. Bush
's ambitions to invade Iraq. On environmental issues, the Post in 2011 came out in support of the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
, despite widespread condemnation of the project from environmental protection groups. Hiatt himself came under fire for refusing to hold Post columnist George F. Will accountable for misrepresenting scientific evidence in a column in which Will attacked the veracity of global warming. The column drew criticism from several other Post columnists, the Post's scientific reporters, and Post's ombudsman, as well as from numerous environmental scientists and climatologists.
Despite this, the Post's editorial stance has remained traditionally liberal on many issues, and Hiatt was listed as one of the most influential liberals in the U.S. media by both the Daily Beast and the conservative Forbes Magazine. Under Hiatt's tenure, the Post's editorial page has called for a more progressive tax structure, full and equal rights for homosexuals, has supported legislation to alleviate climate change, and has pressed for comprehensive immigration reform that would include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. With the conspicuous exception of the support several of its columnists (Charles Krauthammer
, Richard Cohen
, and Marc Thiessen
) have expressed for the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques
", the Post's editorial page has generally been a strong supporter of human rights
around the world, and was chosen by Freedom House
in 2011 for its Raising Awareness award. In 1999 Hiatt was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize
for what the prize committee called "his elegantly-written editorials urging America's continued commitment to international human rights issues." http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/1999
Under Hiatt, the Post has added many new columnists, both on the left and right, to the Post's op-ed
page, including Eugene Robinson
and Kathleen Parker
, both of whom won Pulitzer Prizes for their Post work, Anne Applebaum
, Michael Gerson
, Ruth Marcus
and Harold Meyerson
. Hiatt also intensified the online presence of the Washington Post opinions sections, with the addition of bloggers such as Greg Sargent, Jennifer Rubin
, Alexandra Petri, Jonathan Capehart.
, and has presided over events hosted by the organization.
In September 2009, Hiatt served as a panel moderator http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/node/12819 for a conference held by the Foreign Policy Initiative
, a neoconservative think tank. In December, 2009, Hiatt was a featured speaker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmoY75EstZg at the Tokyo Foundation
conference entitled "Japan after the Change: Perspectives of Western Opinion Leaders". In October 2010, he moderated a panel on US-Russia relations at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. He also has spoken or moderated at the Aspen Ideas Festival http://www.aifestival.org/speaker/fred-hiatt and the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul.
The Washington Post
The Washington Post is Washington, D.C.'s largest newspaper and its oldest still-existing paper, founded in 1877. Located in the capital of the United States, The Post has a particular emphasis on national politics. D.C., Maryland, and Virginia editions are printed for daily circulation...
. He also writes editorials for the page, as well as a biweekly column that appears on Mondays.
Early life and family
Hiatt was born in Washington, DC. He is the son of Howard Haim Hiatt, a medical researcher and former dean of the Harvard School of Public HealthHarvard School of Public Health
The Harvard School of Public Health is one of the professional graduate schools of Harvard University, located in the Longwood Area of the Boston, Massachusetts neighborhood of Mission Hill, which is next to Harvard Medical School. HSPH is considered a significant school focusing on health in the...
, and Doris Bieringer, a librarian who co-founded a reference publication for high school libraries. He graduated from Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
in 1977. Hiatt is married to Washington Post editor and writer Margaret "Pooh" Shapiro; they live in Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase, Maryland
Chevy Chase is the name of both a town and an unincorporated census-designated place in Montgomery County, Maryland. In addition, a number of villages in the same area of Montgomery County include "Chevy Chase" in their names...
and have three children: Alexandra, Joseph and Nathaniel.
Reporter
Hiatt first reported for the Atlanta Journal and the Washington StarWashington Star
The Washington Star, previously known as the Washington Star-News and the Washington Evening Star, was a daily afternoon newspaper published in Washington, D.C. between 1852 and 1981. For most of that time, it was the city's newspaper of record, and the longtime home to columnist Mary McGrory and...
. When the latter ceased publication in 1981, Hiatt was hired by the Washington Post. At the Post, Hiatt initially reported on government, politics, development and other topics in Fairfax County and statewide in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
. Later, after joining the newspaper’s national staff, he focused on military and national security affairs. From 1987 to 1990, he and his wife served as co-bureau chiefs of The Post’s Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
bureau. Following this, from 1991 to 1995, the couple served as correspondents and co-bureau chiefs in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
.
Editorial page editor
In 1996, Hiatt joined the Post's editorial board. In 2000, following the death of long-time editor Meg GreenfieldMeg Greenfield
Mary Ellen Greenfield was a Washington Post and Newsweek editorial writer and a Washington, D.C. insider known for her wit and for being reclusive....
and a short interim editorship under Stephen S. Rosenfeld, Hiatt was named editorial page editor.
During Hiatt's tenure, the Post's editorial stance has been perceived by several veteran media watchers as shifting towards a neoconservative position on foreign policy issues and a more conservative stance on domestic issues. Once called "Pravda on the Potomac" by critics, an allusion to the official newspaper
Pravda
Pravda was a leading newspaper of the Soviet Union and an official organ of the Central Committee of the Communist Party between 1912 and 1991....
of the Soviet communist party
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
due to what they deemed its left-wing bias, the Post has in the last decade supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq, warmed to President George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's proposal to partially privatize Social Security
Social Security (United States)
In the United States, Social Security refers to the federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program.The original Social Security Act and the current version of the Act, as amended encompass several social welfare and social insurance programs...
, opposed a deadline for U.S. withdrawal from the Iraq War, and advocated free trade
Free trade
Under a free trade policy, prices emerge from supply and demand, and are the sole determinant of resource allocation. 'Free' trade differs from other forms of trade policy where the allocation of goods and services among trading countries are determined by price strategies that may differ from...
agreements, including CAFTA and the Korean Free Trade Agreement. In "Buying the War" on PBS, Bill Moyers noted 27 editorials supporting George W. Bush
George W. Bush
George Walker Bush is an American politician who served as the 43rd President of the United States, from 2001 to 2009. Before that, he was the 46th Governor of Texas, having served from 1995 to 2000....
's ambitions to invade Iraq. On environmental issues, the Post in 2011 came out in support of the Keystone XL Tar Sands Pipeline
Keystone Pipeline
The Keystone Pipeline System is a pipeline system to transport synthetic crude oil and diluted bitumen from the Athabasca Oil Sands in northeastern Alberta, Canada to multiple destinations in the United States, which include refineries in Illinois, Cushing oil distribution hub in Oklahoma, and...
, despite widespread condemnation of the project from environmental protection groups. Hiatt himself came under fire for refusing to hold Post columnist George F. Will accountable for misrepresenting scientific evidence in a column in which Will attacked the veracity of global warming. The column drew criticism from several other Post columnists, the Post's scientific reporters, and Post's ombudsman, as well as from numerous environmental scientists and climatologists.
Despite this, the Post's editorial stance has remained traditionally liberal on many issues, and Hiatt was listed as one of the most influential liberals in the U.S. media by both the Daily Beast and the conservative Forbes Magazine. Under Hiatt's tenure, the Post's editorial page has called for a more progressive tax structure, full and equal rights for homosexuals, has supported legislation to alleviate climate change, and has pressed for comprehensive immigration reform that would include a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants. With the conspicuous exception of the support several of its columnists (Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer
Charles Krauthammer, MD is an American Pulitzer Prize–winning syndicated columnist, political commentator, and physician. His weekly column appears in The Washington Post and is syndicated to more than 275 newspapers and media outlets. He is a contributing editor to the Weekly Standard and The New...
, Richard Cohen
Richard Cohen
Richard Cohen may refer to:*Richard Cohen , syndicated columnist for the Washington Post*Richard Cohen , a British Olympic fencer and author of Chasing the Sun*Richard A. Cohen, advocate of conversion therapy...
, and Marc Thiessen
Marc Thiessen
Marc A. Thiessen is an American author, columnist and political commentator, who served as a speechwriter for United States President George W. Bush and Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld...
) have expressed for the use of "enhanced interrogation techniques
Enhanced interrogation techniques
Enhanced interrogation techniques or alternative set of procedures are terms adopted by the George W. Bush administration in the United States to describe certain severe interrogation methods, often described as torture...
", the Post's editorial page has generally been a strong supporter of human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
around the world, and was chosen by Freedom House
Freedom House
Freedom House is an international non-governmental organization based in Washington, D.C. that conducts research and advocacy on democracy, political freedom and human rights...
in 2011 for its Raising Awareness award. In 1999 Hiatt was a finalist for 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 what the prize committee called "his elegantly-written editorials urging America's continued commitment to international human rights issues." http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/1999
Under Hiatt, the Post has added many new columnists, both on the left and right, to the Post's op-ed
Op-ed
An op-ed, abbreviated from opposite the editorial page , is a newspaper article that expresses the opinions of a named writer who is usually unaffiliated with the newspaper's editorial board...
page, including Eugene Robinson
Eugene Robinson
Eugene Keefe Robinson is a former professional American football player who played free safety. He played collegiately at Colgate University...
and Kathleen Parker
Kathleen Parker
Kathleen Parker is an American syndicated columnist. Her columns are syndicated nationally by The Washington Post. Parker is a consulting faculty member at the Buckley School of Public Speaking, and is a regular guest on television shows like The O'Reilly Factor and The Chris Matthews Show....
, both of whom won Pulitzer Prizes for their Post work, Anne Applebaum
Anne Applebaum
Anne Elizabeth Applebaum is a journalist and Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has written extensively about communism and the development of civil society in Central and Eastern Europe. She has been an editor at The Economist, and a member of the editorial board of The Washington Post...
, Michael Gerson
Michael Gerson
Michael John Gerson is an op-ed columnist for The Washington Post, a Policy Fellow with the ONE Campaign, and a former senior fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. He served as President George W...
, Ruth Marcus
Ruth Marcus
Ruth Marcus may refer to:*Ruth Barcan Marcus, professor of philosophy*Ruth Marcus , opinion columnist for the Washington Post...
and Harold Meyerson
Harold Meyerson
Harold Meyerson is an American journalist and opinion columnist. In 2009 The Atlantic Monthly named him one of "the most influential commentators in the nation" as part of their list "The Atlantic 50."...
. Hiatt also intensified the online presence of the Washington Post opinions sections, with the addition of bloggers such as Greg Sargent, Jennifer Rubin
Jennifer Rubin (journalist)
Jennifer Rubin is an American columnist and a blogger for the Washington Post. Previously she worked at Commentary Magazine, the Pajamas Media, Human Events, and the Weekly Standard...
, Alexandra Petri, Jonathan Capehart.
Speaker and moderator
Hiatt is a member of the Council on Foreign RelationsCouncil on Foreign Relations
The Council on Foreign Relations is an American nonprofit nonpartisan membership organization, publisher, and think tank specializing in U.S. foreign policy and international affairs...
, and has presided over events hosted by the organization.
In September 2009, Hiatt served as a panel moderator http://www.foreignpolicyi.org/node/12819 for a conference held by the Foreign Policy Initiative
Foreign Policy Initiative
The Foreign Policy Initiative is a non-profit, non-partisan, tax-exempt organization under Section 501 of the U.S. Internal Revenue Code. FPI seeks to promote an active U.S...
, a neoconservative think tank. In December, 2009, Hiatt was a featured speaker http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GmoY75EstZg at the Tokyo Foundation
Tokyo Foundation
is a think tank. It was established in 1997 as the Institute for the mission of becoming the private organization devoted to analyzing domestical and international issues for the future of Japan.- History :Leadership...
conference entitled "Japan after the Change: Perspectives of Western Opinion Leaders". In October 2010, he moderated a panel on US-Russia relations at the Center for American Progress, a liberal think tank. He also has spoken or moderated at the Aspen Ideas Festival http://www.aifestival.org/speaker/fred-hiatt and the World Knowledge Forum in Seoul.