John Noble Wilford
Encyclopedia
John Noble Wilford is an author and award-winning journalist
for The New York Times
.
Wilford's professional career began in 1956 at the Wall Street Journal, where he was a general assignment reporter and (after a two-year military tour of duty) a medical reporter. In 1962, he joined Time
to work as a contributing science editor, then moved in 1965 to The New York Times (NYT) to be a science reporter. While at the NYT he also worked as assistant national news editor (1973–1975) and director of science news (1975–1979).
Wilford wrote his newspaper's front-page article about mankind's first walk on the moon
. His was the only byline on the front page, beneath the headline "Men Walk On Moon" and under the subheading "A Powdery Surface is Closely Explored.". Upon the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Wilford's article was lauded by journalist Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics
. Dubner emphasized Wilford's skill in the use of data in his 1969 article. The data of which Dubner speaks is used in the following way by Wilford: "Although Mr. Armstrong is known as a man of few words, his heartbeats told of his excitement upon leading man’s first landing on the moon. At the time of the descent rocket ignition, his heartbeat rate registered 110 a minute — 77 is normal for him — and it shot up to 156 at touchdown." Dubner argues that this is one of the most elegant uses of data to have been ever used in journalism.
Wilford won two Pulitzer Prize
s, one in 1984
for reporting on "scientific topics of national import"
and one in 1987
as part of a NYT team reporting on the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
. He has also won the G.M. Loeb Achievement Award from the University of Connecticut
, the National Space Club Press Award, and two awards from the Aviation-Space Writers Association. John Noble Wilford is also the 2008 recipient of the University of Tennessee's Hileman Disinguished Alumni Award (http://cci.utk.edu/AlumDevel/hileman).
and attended Grove High School across the border in nearby Paris, Tennessee
. After high school graduation, he attended Lambuth College for a year, then in fall 1952 transferred to the University of Tennessee
(UT). He received a B.S. in journalism
from UT in 1955 and an M.A. in political science
from Syracuse University
.
After graduation from Syracuse, Wilford spent two years with the U.S. Army in West Germany.
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...
for 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...
.
Wilford's professional career began in 1956 at the Wall Street Journal, where he was a general assignment reporter and (after a two-year military tour of duty) a medical reporter. In 1962, he joined Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
to work as a contributing science editor, then moved in 1965 to The New York Times (NYT) to be a science reporter. While at the NYT he also worked as assistant national news editor (1973–1975) and director of science news (1975–1979).
Wilford wrote his newspaper's front-page article about mankind's first walk on the moon
Apollo 11
In early 1969, Bill Anders accepted a job with the National Space Council effective in August 1969 and announced his retirement as an astronaut. At that point Ken Mattingly was moved from the support crew into parallel training with Anders as backup Command Module Pilot in case Apollo 11 was...
. His was the only byline on the front page, beneath the headline "Men Walk On Moon" and under the subheading "A Powdery Surface is Closely Explored.". Upon the 40th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing, Wilford's article was lauded by journalist Stephen Dubner, co-author of Freakonomics
Freakonomics
Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything is a 2005 non-fiction book by University of Chicago economist Steven Levitt and New York Times journalist Stephen J. Dubner. The book has been described as melding pop culture with economics, but has also been described as...
. Dubner emphasized Wilford's skill in the use of data in his 1969 article. The data of which Dubner speaks is used in the following way by Wilford: "Although Mr. Armstrong is known as a man of few words, his heartbeats told of his excitement upon leading man’s first landing on the moon. At the time of the descent rocket ignition, his heartbeat rate registered 110 a minute — 77 is normal for him — and it shot up to 156 at touchdown." Dubner argues that this is one of the most elegant uses of data to have been ever used in journalism.
Wilford won two 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...
s, one in 1984
1984 Pulitzer Prize
The Pulitzer Prize is an award given to the best authors in all aspects of writing for authoring pieces of exceptionally high quality. In 1984, the recipients were:- Journalism :- Letters, Drama, and Music :...
for reporting on "scientific topics of national import"
Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting
The Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting has been awarded since 1948 for a distinguished example of reporting on national affairs. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award....
and one in 1987
1987 Pulitzer Prize
-Journalism:*Public service: Pittsburgh Press**"For reporting by Andrew Schneider and Matthew Brelis which revealed the inadequacy of the FAA's medical screening of airline pilots and led to significant reforms."...
as part of a NYT team reporting on the Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
Space Shuttle Challenger disaster
The Space Shuttle Challenger disaster occurred on January 28, 1986, when Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight, leading to the deaths of its seven crew members. The spacecraft disintegrated over the Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of central Florida at 11:38 am EST...
. He has also won the G.M. Loeb Achievement Award from the University of Connecticut
University of Connecticut
The admission rate to the University of Connecticut is about 50% and has been steadily decreasing, with about 28,000 prospective students applying for admission to the freshman class in recent years. Approximately 40,000 prospective students tour the main campus in Storrs annually...
, the National Space Club Press Award, and two awards from the Aviation-Space Writers Association. John Noble Wilford is also the 2008 recipient of the University of Tennessee's Hileman Disinguished Alumni Award (http://cci.utk.edu/AlumDevel/hileman).
Personal life and education
Wilford was born October 4, 1933, in Murray, KentuckyMurray, Kentucky
Murray is a city in Calloway County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 17,741 at the 2010 census and has a micropolitan area population of 37,191. It is the 22nd largest city in Kentucky...
and attended Grove High School across the border in nearby Paris, Tennessee
Paris, Tennessee
Paris is a city in Henry County, Tennessee, United States, west of Nashville, on a fork of the West Sandy River. In 1900, 2,018 people lived in Paris, Tennessee; in 1910, 3,881; and in 1940, 6,395. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 9,763. It is the county seat of Henry...
. After high school graduation, he attended Lambuth College for a year, then in fall 1952 transferred to the University of Tennessee
University of Tennessee
The University of Tennessee is a public land-grant university headquartered at Knoxville, Tennessee, United States...
(UT). He received a B.S. in journalism
Journalism
Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...
from UT in 1955 and an M.A. in political science
Political science
Political Science is a social science discipline concerned with the study of the state, government and politics. Aristotle defined it as the study of the state. It deals extensively with the theory and practice of politics, and the analysis of political systems and political behavior...
from Syracuse University
Syracuse University
Syracuse University is a private research university located in Syracuse, New York, United States. Its roots can be traced back to Genesee Wesleyan Seminary, founded by the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1832, which also later founded Genesee College...
.
After graduation from Syracuse, Wilford spent two years with the U.S. Army in West Germany.
External links
- Recent and archived news articles by Wilford, from The New York Times