James Warren (journalist)
Encyclopedia
James C. Warren is an American journalist
who served as the managing editor for features at the Chicago Tribune
until he left the paper in 2008. He previously was the Tribune's Washington bureau chief from 1993 to 2001, and he appeared on CNN's "The Capitol Gang" as part of that job. He currently writes for the Huffington Post, the Atlantic Monthly and the Chicago News Cooperative
, and is the publisher of the Chicago Reader alternative weekly newspaper.
in 1974. He later earned a master's degree from Roosevelt University
in Chicago.
, where he worked as a business reporter, a general assignment reporter, a legal affairs reporter and a labor reporter.
In 1984, Warren joined the Chicago Tribune as its labor and legal affairs writer. He later became the paper's media writer.
In mid-1992, Warren was named editor of the Tribune's Tempo lifestyle section.
In mid-December 1993, Warren was chosen to become the Tribune's Washington, D.C. bureau chief. Almost immediately after arriving in town, Warren attracted attention with his brash talk. "I have absolutely no desire to make this a long-term thing," he told the Chicago Reader in December 1992. "I have no desire to be there in five or ten years as part of the Gridiron Show
, prancing around onstage, singing to the president, or whatever the fuck they do."
Warren also quickly attracted attention in D.C. by exposing the clubby ways of the star journalists in Washington. Warren in particular targeted broadcast journalists who were paid to give speeches to the organizations that they covered, including Lesley Stahl
, Tim Russert
and Jack Nelson. Warren saved his heaviest vitriol, however, for Cokie Roberts
, whose speechifying Warren tracked regularly in his weekly Tribune column in a feature he dubbed "Cokie Watch."
Warren himself wound up on TV for three years while living and working in D.C. From 1995 until 1998, Warren became a regular panelist on CNN
's political talk show Capital Gang Sunday, which was an offshoot of its show at the time, Capital Gang.
In 1997, Warren also began co-hosting a Sunday night radio show on WGN-AM with Michael Tackett titled Unconventional Wisdom. The show aired until early 2006, when WGN canceled it as part of a total overhaul of the station's weekend schedule.
The Washingtonian
magazine chose Warren as one of the 50 best and most influential journalists in 2001.
In 2001, Warren returned to Chicago as the Tribune's associate managing editor for features. In 2002, Warren became the Tribune's deputy managing editor for features. In 2006, Warren became the paper's managing editor for features.
Warren left the Chicago Tribune in a power struggle in August 2008 after the paper got a new editor, Gerould W. Kern, and a new managing editor, Jane Hirt.
After leaving the Tribune, Warren began writing for the Huffington Post, continuing his longstanding practice of reviewing magazine articles. He also started writing for the Atlantic Monthly. In October 2009, Warren was named the publisher of the Chicago Reader alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago.
In November 2009, Warren began writing a regular column for the Chicago News Cooperative
that appeared in The New York Times
.
In March 2010, Warren stepped down as publisher of the Chicago Reader to focus more on the Chicago News Cooperative.
Warren also works as a political analyst for MSNBC
.
in 2001. They have two sons, Blair and Elliot, and live in the Graceland West area of the Ravenswood
neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.
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...
who served as the managing editor for features at the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
until he left the paper in 2008. He previously was the Tribune's Washington bureau chief from 1993 to 2001, and he appeared on CNN's "The Capitol Gang" as part of that job. He currently writes for the Huffington Post, the Atlantic Monthly and the Chicago News Cooperative
Chicago News Cooperative
The Chicago News Cooperative is a not-for-profit, Chicago-based cooperative that was created to produce news stories about Chicago for various media organizations...
, and is the publisher of the Chicago Reader alternative weekly newspaper.
Early life and education
Born in New York City and the son of a stockbroker, Warren earned a bachelor's degree in English from Amherst CollegeAmherst College
Amherst College is a private liberal arts college located in Amherst, Massachusetts, United States. Amherst is an exclusively undergraduate four-year institution and enrolled 1,744 students in the fall of 2009...
in 1974. He later earned a master's degree from Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University
Roosevelt University is a coeducational, private university with campuses in Chicago, Illinois and Schaumburg, Illinois. Founded in 1945, the university is named in honor of both former President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and First Lady Eleanor Roosevelt. The university's curriculum is based on...
in Chicago.
Professional career
Warren began his journalism career in the mid-1970s working as a reporter for the Newark Star-Ledger. In 1977, he joined the financial section of the Chicago Sun-TimesChicago Sun-Times
The Chicago Sun-Times is an American daily newspaper published in Chicago, Illinois. It is the flagship paper of the Sun-Times Media Group.-History:The Chicago Sun-Times is the oldest continuously published daily newspaper in the city...
, where he worked as a business reporter, a general assignment reporter, a legal affairs reporter and a labor reporter.
In 1984, Warren joined the Chicago Tribune as its labor and legal affairs writer. He later became the paper's media writer.
In mid-1992, Warren was named editor of the Tribune's Tempo lifestyle section.
In mid-December 1993, Warren was chosen to become the Tribune's Washington, D.C. bureau chief. Almost immediately after arriving in town, Warren attracted attention with his brash talk. "I have absolutely no desire to make this a long-term thing," he told the Chicago Reader in December 1992. "I have no desire to be there in five or ten years as part of the Gridiron Show
Gridiron Club
The Gridiron Club and Foundation, founded in 1885, is the oldest and one of the most prestigious journalistic organizations in Washington, D.C. Its 65 active members represent major newspapers, news services, news magazines and broadcast networks. Membership is by invitation only and has...
, prancing around onstage, singing to the president, or whatever the fuck they do."
Warren also quickly attracted attention in D.C. by exposing the clubby ways of the star journalists in Washington. Warren in particular targeted broadcast journalists who were paid to give speeches to the organizations that they covered, including Lesley Stahl
Lesley Stahl
Lesley Rene Stahl is an American television journalist. Since 1991, she has reported for CBS on 60 Minutes.-Personal life:...
, Tim Russert
Tim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
and Jack Nelson. Warren saved his heaviest vitriol, however, for Cokie Roberts
Cokie Roberts
Mary Martha Corinne Morrison Claiborne Roberts , best known as Cokie Roberts, is an American Emmy Award-winning journalist and bestselling author. She is a contributing senior news analyst for National Public Radio as well as a regular roundtable analyst for the current This Week with Christiane...
, whose speechifying Warren tracked regularly in his weekly Tribune column in a feature he dubbed "Cokie Watch."
Warren himself wound up on TV for three years while living and working in D.C. From 1995 until 1998, Warren became a regular panelist on CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
's political talk show Capital Gang Sunday, which was an offshoot of its show at the time, Capital Gang.
In 1997, Warren also began co-hosting a Sunday night radio show on WGN-AM with Michael Tackett titled Unconventional Wisdom. The show aired until early 2006, when WGN canceled it as part of a total overhaul of the station's weekend schedule.
The Washingtonian
Washingtonian (magazine)
Washingtonian is a monthly magazine distributed in the Washington, DC area since 1965. The magazine describes itself as "the magazine Washington lives by." The magazine's core focuses are local feature journalism, guide book-style articles, and real estate advice.-Editorial Content:Washingtonian...
magazine chose Warren as one of the 50 best and most influential journalists in 2001.
In 2001, Warren returned to Chicago as the Tribune's associate managing editor for features. In 2002, Warren became the Tribune's deputy managing editor for features. In 2006, Warren became the paper's managing editor for features.
Warren left the Chicago Tribune in a power struggle in August 2008 after the paper got a new editor, Gerould W. Kern, and a new managing editor, Jane Hirt.
After leaving the Tribune, Warren began writing for the Huffington Post, continuing his longstanding practice of reviewing magazine articles. He also started writing for the Atlantic Monthly. In October 2009, Warren was named the publisher of the Chicago Reader alternative weekly newspaper in Chicago.
In November 2009, Warren began writing a regular column for the Chicago News Cooperative
Chicago News Cooperative
The Chicago News Cooperative is a not-for-profit, Chicago-based cooperative that was created to produce news stories about Chicago for various media organizations...
that appeared in The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
In March 2010, Warren stepped down as publisher of the Chicago Reader to focus more on the Chicago News Cooperative.
Warren also works as a political analyst for MSNBC
MSNBC
MSNBC is a cable news channel based in the United States available in the US, Germany , South Africa, the Middle East and Canada...
.
Personal
Warren married then-Tribune editorial writer Cornelia GrummanCornelia Grumman
Cornelia Grumman, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist, is the Executive Director of the First Five Years Fund . The First Five Years Fund is an education initiative committed to improving the lives of at-risk children by leveraging cost-effective investments in early learning...
in 2001. They have two sons, Blair and Elliot, and live in the Graceland West area of the Ravenswood
Ravenswood, Chicago
Ravenswood is a neighborhood located in the north side of the city of Chicago, Illinois in the Lincoln Square Community Area . According to the Realtors Association, Ravenswood's approximate area is bordered by the north at Foster Avenue, Montrose Avenue on the south, by the west at the Chicago...
neighborhood on Chicago's North Side.