Samuel G. Freedman
Encyclopedia
Samuel G. Freedman is an American
author
and journalist
and currently a professor at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
. He has authored six nonfiction books, including most recently Who She Was, a book about his mother's life as a teenager and young woman, and Letters to a Young Journalist. Freedman has also won the National Jewish Book Award in 2000 in the Non-Fiction category for Jew vs. Jew: The Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry., and his book The Inheritance was a finalist for the 1997 Pulitzer Prize
. Additionally, he currently writes The New York Times
column "On Religion" and The Jerusalem Post
column "In the Diaspora."
in New York
, Freedman was raised in Highland Park, New Jersey
, along with his younger brother and sister. His father, David Freedman co-founded the biotech company
New Brunswick Scientific (now a subsidiary of Eppendorf
), and his mother, Eleanor (née
Hatkin) was the subject of his book, Who She Was. A paper boy in his youth, Freedman went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison
after graduating Highland Park High School. After receiving his bachelor's degree in journalism and history in 1977, Freedman went on to work at the now-defunct subsidiary of the Chicago Tribune
, the Suburban Trib
. Before publishing his first book, Small Victories, and gaining his professorship at Columbia University
, Freedman was a staff reporter for the Culture
section of The New York Times.
"There are very few journalists in Sam Freedman's league," notes novelist Robert O'Brian. "His empathy, his intellect, his discipline, experience, and warmth, are immediately apparent even to the casual reader."
His brother is Ken Freedman
, General Manager of radio station WFMU
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
and 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...
and currently a professor at 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...
. He has authored six nonfiction books, including most recently Who She Was, a book about his mother's life as a teenager and young woman, and Letters to a Young Journalist. Freedman has also won the National Jewish Book Award in 2000 in the Non-Fiction category for Jew vs. Jew: The Struggle for the Soul of American Jewry., and his book The Inheritance was a finalist for the 1997 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...
. Additionally, he currently writes 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...
column "On Religion" and The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post
The Jerusalem Post is an Israeli daily English-language broadsheet newspaper, founded on December 1, 1932 by Gershon Agron as The Palestine Post. The daily readership numbers do not approach those of the major Hebrew newspapers....
column "In the Diaspora."
Biography
Born on October 3, 1955 in Lenox Hill HospitalLenox Hill Hospital
Lenox Hill Hospital, on Manhattan's Upper East Side in New York City, is a 652-bed, acute care hospital and a major teaching affiliate of New York University Medical Center. Founded in 1857 as the German Dispensary, today's 10-building Lenox Hill Hospital complex has occupied its present site since...
in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Freedman was raised in Highland Park, New Jersey
Highland Park, New Jersey
Highland Park is a borough in Middlesex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 13,982....
, along with his younger brother and sister. His father, David Freedman co-founded the biotech company
Company
A company is a form of business organization. It is an association or collection of individual real persons and/or other companies, who each provide some form of capital. This group has a common purpose or focus and an aim of gaining profits. This collection, group or association of persons can be...
New Brunswick Scientific (now a subsidiary of Eppendorf
Eppendorf (company)
Eppendorf is a provider of equipment for the field of biotechnology. The company develops, produces and distributes devices and systems for use in life science research laboratories worldwide....
), and his mother, Eleanor (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Hatkin) was the subject of his book, Who She Was. A paper boy in his youth, Freedman went on to attend the University of Wisconsin–Madison
University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Wisconsin–Madison is a public research university located in Madison, Wisconsin, United States. Founded in 1848, UW–Madison is the flagship campus of the University of Wisconsin System. It became a land-grant institution in 1866...
after graduating Highland Park High School. After receiving his bachelor's degree in journalism and history in 1977, Freedman went on to work at the now-defunct subsidiary of 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...
, the Suburban Trib
Suburban Trib
The Suburban Trib was a three-day-a-week newspaper, albeit with its own staff and policies, inserted into suburban issues of the Chicago Tribune. The Suburban Trib operated from 1967 until it was discontinued in 1985 in favor of regional editions of the Chicago Tribune.-References:*Shapiro,...
. Before publishing his first book, Small Victories, and gaining his professorship at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, Freedman was a staff reporter for the Culture
Culture
Culture is a term that has many different inter-related meanings. For example, in 1952, Alfred Kroeber and Clyde Kluckhohn compiled a list of 164 definitions of "culture" in Culture: A Critical Review of Concepts and Definitions...
section of The New York Times.
"There are very few journalists in Sam Freedman's league," notes novelist Robert O'Brian. "His empathy, his intellect, his discipline, experience, and warmth, are immediately apparent even to the casual reader."
His brother is Ken Freedman
Ken Freedman
Ken Freedman is the ongoing General Manager of WFMU, a freeform radio station. He also co-hosts the conceptual comedy program Seven Second Delay with Andy Breckman, as well as hosting his own freeform radio program on Wednesday mornings .Freedman began his radio career as DJ and later station...
, General Manager of radio station WFMU
WFMU
WFMU is a listener-supported, independent community radio station headquartered in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, broadcasting at 91.1 MHz FM, presenting a freeform radio format...
.