Barbara Walsh (journalist) facts for kids

Barbara Ann Walsh (born August 13, 1958) is an American journalist and author who writes books for children. She has worked for several newspapers, including The Eagle-Tribune, the Portland Press Herald, and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

Barbara has also taught journalism at colleges like Florida International University. In 1988, she won a famous award called the Pulitzer Prize for a series of articles she wrote about the Massachusetts prison system. She has also traveled the world to speak about her work for the U.S. Department of State.

A Career in Journalism

Barbara Walsh has used her writing to explore important social issues and help bring about change. Her work has earned her many awards and has helped improve communities.

Investigative Reporting

Early in her career, Barbara and another reporter, Susan Forrest, wrote over 175 articles for the Eagle-Tribune. They investigated the prison system in Massachusetts. At the time, there was a program that let people in prison leave for short periods. This was called a furlough.

Their articles showed that there were serious problems with this system. Because of their reporting, the government of Massachusetts passed a new law to make the furlough program safer. For this important work, the staff of the Eagle-Tribune won a Pulitzer Prize for General News Reporting in 1988. The award recognized them for an "investigation that revealed serious flaws in the Massachusetts prison furlough system and led to significant statewide reforms."

Writing About Families and Children

Barbara later moved to Florida and then to Portland, Maine, where she continued to write about important topics.

In 1999, her series of articles called "A Stolen Soul" won a national award. The stories were about a mother's long journey to get justice for her son. The series was praised for how it showed care and understanding when reporting on victims of violence.

In 2000, Barbara spent 15 months talking to teenagers in Maine for a series called "On the Verge." Her stories helped readers understand the lives of teens without using stereotypes. This series won the Casey Medal, a top national award for reporting about children and families.

In 2003, her series "Castaway Children" showed that Maine needed better mental health services for kids. Her articles led to new laws being created to help children. This series won another national award for excellent journalism that helps children and families.

Lifetime Achievement Award

In 2007, Barbara won the Yankee Quill Award for her amazing career in journalism in New England. This is considered the highest honor a journalist can receive from other journalists in the region. The judges praised her for writing about important issues and making society better through her work.

Personal Life

Barbara Walsh is married to Eric Conrad, who is also a journalist. They have two daughters, Emma and Nora. The family lives in Winthrop, Maine.

Books for All Ages

Besides being a journalist, Barbara is also an author. She has written books for both children and adults.

Sammy in the Sky

Barbara's first children's book, Sammy in the Sky, was published in 2011. It is a picture book about a girl and her beloved dog. The beautiful illustrations were created by the famous American painter Jamie Wyeth. Publishers Weekly, a magazine about books, said the story was a touching and helpful way to understand loss.

August Gale

In 2011, Barbara also published a non-fiction book for adults called August Gale: A Father and Daughter's Journey into the Storm. The book tells the true story of a powerful storm that hit Newfoundland, Canada. It explores her family's history in the fishing industry and how the storm affected them.