Ron Fournier
Encyclopedia
Ron Fournier is an American
national political journalist
currently of the National Journal
. In June, 2010 Fournier left the Associated Press
(AP) where he served as Washington bureau chief.
Fournier is a native of Detroit, Michigan
. He attended the University of Detroit.
Fournier began his journalism career in 1985 at The Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs, Arkansas
. Two years later, he moved to the Arkansas Democrat in Little Rock, Arkansas
. He stayed there for another two years before joining the Little Rock bureau of the AP in 1989. While there, he covered Bill Clinton
during his final term as Governor. When Clinton was elected President, Fournier moved to the AP's Washington bureau.
Fournier left the AP in 2004 to take a Harvard Institute of Politics
fellowship. During this period, he also co-wrote the book Applebee's America with Matthew Dowd
, a Republican strategist, and Doug Sosnik
, a Democratic strategist. In 2006, he took a position as editor-in-chief of a new Internet website called Hotsoup.com, which aimed to foster discussion on a number of topics including politics. The site failed to catch on, however, and Fournier returned to the AP in March 2007 as its Online Political Editor, after considering “a senior advisory role” with John McCain
's presidential campaign.
In May 2008, Fournier was named the acting Washington bureau chief, replacing his "mentor" Sandy Johnson. Since taking over the position, Fournier has led a dramatic shift in the AP's policy, moving it away from the neutral and objective tone it had become known for and toward a more opinionated style that would make judgments when conflicting opinions were presented in a story.
On August 23, 2008, following U.S. Senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama
's announcement of his selection of Senator Joe Biden
as a running mate, Fournier wrote a widely circulated piece titled "Analysis: Biden pick shows lack of confidence". A Washington Monthly columnist described the piece as "mirror[ing] the Republican line with minimal variation". Editor & Publisher
noted that Fournier's article "gained wide linkage at the Drudge Report, Hot Air and numerous other conservative sites...."
While investigators for the House Oversight Committee were looking into the death of Pat Tillman
, they uncovered an email from Fournier to Karl Rove
encouraging him to "keep up the fight." Critics such as Eric Boehlert
have lambasted Fournier for his apparent bias.
Fournier has won the Society of Professional Journalists
' 2000 Sigma Delta Chi Award
for coverage of the United States presidential election, 2000
. He is also a three-time winner of the White House Correspondents' Association
Merriman Smith award.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
national political 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...
currently of the National Journal
National Journal
National Journal is a nonpartisan American weekly magazine that reports on the current political environment and emerging political and policy trends. National Journal was first published in 1969. Times Mirror owned the magazine from 1986 to 1997, when it was purchased by David G. Bradley...
. In June, 2010 Fournier left the Associated Press
Associated Press
The Associated Press is an American news agency. The AP is a cooperative owned by its contributing newspapers, radio and television stations in the United States, which both contribute stories to the AP and use material written by its staff journalists...
(AP) where he served as Washington bureau chief.
Fournier is a native of Detroit, Michigan
Detroit, Michigan
Detroit is the major city among the primary cultural, financial, and transportation centers in the Metro Detroit area, a region of 5.2 million people. As the seat of Wayne County, the city of Detroit is the largest city in the U.S. state of Michigan and serves as a major port on the Detroit River...
. He attended the University of Detroit.
Fournier began his journalism career in 1985 at The Sentinel-Record in Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs, Arkansas
Hot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
. Two years later, he moved to the Arkansas Democrat in Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock, Arkansas
Little Rock is the capital and the largest city of the U.S. state of Arkansas. The Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 699,757 people in the 2010 census...
. He stayed there for another two years before joining the Little Rock bureau of the AP in 1989. While there, he covered Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
during his final term as Governor. When Clinton was elected President, Fournier moved to the AP's Washington bureau.
Fournier left the AP in 2004 to take a Harvard Institute of Politics
Harvard Institute of Politics
Harvard Institute of Politics was created to serve as a living memorial to President John F. Kennedy and inspire Harvard students into careers in politics and public service, much as President Kennedy was inspired during his days as a student at Harvard. The IOP also brings together the academic...
fellowship. During this period, he also co-wrote the book Applebee's America with Matthew Dowd
Matthew Dowd
Matthew John Dowd is an American political consultant who was the chief strategist for the Bush-Cheney '04 presidential campaign. In December 2007, he was introduced on ABC's Good Morning America as its new political contributor...
, a Republican strategist, and Doug Sosnik
Doug Sosnik
Douglas Brian Sosnik , an American political strategist.Sosnik is a 1978 graduate of Duke University.Sosnik is affiliated with the Democratic Party, and notably served as the political director for President Bill Clinton during his second term. He also was a campaign strategist for Massachusetts...
, a Democratic strategist. In 2006, he took a position as editor-in-chief of a new Internet website called Hotsoup.com, which aimed to foster discussion on a number of topics including politics. The site failed to catch on, however, and Fournier returned to the AP in March 2007 as its Online Political Editor, after considering “a senior advisory role” with John McCain
John McCain
John Sidney McCain III is the senior United States Senator from Arizona. He was the Republican nominee for president in the 2008 United States election....
's presidential campaign.
In May 2008, Fournier was named the acting Washington bureau chief, replacing his "mentor" Sandy Johnson. Since taking over the position, Fournier has led a dramatic shift in the AP's policy, moving it away from the neutral and objective tone it had become known for and toward a more opinionated style that would make judgments when conflicting opinions were presented in a story.
On August 23, 2008, following U.S. Senator and presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Barack Obama
Barack Obama
Barack Hussein Obama II is the 44th and current President of the United States. He is the first African American to hold the office. Obama previously served as a United States Senator from Illinois, from January 2005 until he resigned following his victory in the 2008 presidential election.Born in...
's announcement of his selection of Senator Joe Biden
Joe Biden
Joseph Robinette "Joe" Biden, Jr. is the 47th and current Vice President of the United States, serving under President Barack Obama...
as a running mate, Fournier wrote a widely circulated piece titled "Analysis: Biden pick shows lack of confidence". A Washington Monthly columnist described the piece as "mirror[ing] the Republican line with minimal variation". Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisher
Editor & Publisher is a monthly magazine covering the North American newspaper industry. It is based in New York City. E&P calls itself "America's Oldest Journal Covering the Newspaper Industry" and describes itself on its website as "the authoritative journal covering all aspects of the North...
noted that Fournier's article "gained wide linkage at the Drudge Report, Hot Air and numerous other conservative sites...."
While investigators for the House Oversight Committee were looking into the death of Pat Tillman
Pat Tillman
Corporal Patrick Daniel "Pat" Tillman Jr. was an American football player who left his professional career and enlisted in the United States Army in June 2002 in the aftermath of the September 11, 2001, attacks. He joined the Army Rangers and served several tours in combat before he died in the...
, they uncovered an email from Fournier to Karl Rove
Karl Rove
Karl Christian Rove was Senior Advisor and Deputy Chief of Staff to former President George W. Bush until Rove's resignation on August 31, 2007. He has headed the Office of Political Affairs, the Office of Public Liaison, and the White House Office of Strategic Initiatives...
encouraging him to "keep up the fight." Critics such as Eric Boehlert
Eric Boehlert
Eric Boehlert is an American writer at Media Matters for America. Prior to this he was a senior writer for Salon for five years, and before that a contributing editor to Rolling Stone. At Salon Boehlert won the 2002 American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers' Deems Taylor Award for music...
have lambasted Fournier for his apparent bias.
Fournier has won the Society of Professional Journalists
Society of Professional Journalists
The Society of Professional Journalists , formerly known as Sigma Delta Chi, is one of the oldest organizations representing journalists in the United States. It was established in April 1909 at DePauw University, and its charter was designed by William Meharry Glenn. The ten founding members of...
' 2000 Sigma Delta Chi Award
Sigma Delta Chi Award
The Sigma Delta Chi Awards are presented annually by the Society of Professional Journalists for excellence in journalism.- History :The Awards, according to the SPJ, did not begin in 1932 when the society chose six individuals for their contributions to journalism. In 1939 the awards program began...
for coverage of the United States presidential election, 2000
2000 presidential election
The 2000 presidential election may refer to:* Croatian presidential elections, 2000* Federal Republic of Yugoslavia presidential election, 2000* Fijian presidential election, 2000* Ghanaian presidential election, 2000* Polish presidential election, 2000...
. He is also a three-time winner of the White House Correspondents' Association
White House Correspondents' Association
The White House Correspondents' Association is an organization of journalists who cover the White House and the President of the United States. The WHCA was founded in 1914 by journalists in response to an unfounded rumor that a Congressional committee would select which journalists could attend...
Merriman Smith award.