Nicholas Kristof facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Nicholas Kristof
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Kristof in 2010
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Nicholas Donabet Kristof
April 27, 1959 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
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| Years active | 1984–present |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Children | 3 |
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Nicholas Donabet Kristof (born April 27, 1959) is an American journalist and writer. He is known for writing about important issues around the world. He has won two Pulitzer Prizes, one of the highest awards in journalism. Kristof often appears on CNN and writes opinion articles, called op-eds, for The New York Times.
Kristof was born in Chicago but grew up on a farm in Yamhill, Oregon. His parents were both professors at Portland State University. He went to Harvard University and then joined The New York Times in 1984.
He describes himself as a progressive, which means he supports social improvement and change. Kristof is famous for his focus on human rights and social problems, like the conflict in Darfur. Archbishop Desmond Tutu once called him an "honorary African" for bringing attention to overlooked problems on the continent.
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Early Life and Schooling
Nicholas Kristof was born in Chicago, Illinois. He spent his childhood on his family's sheep and cherry farm in Yamhill, Oregon. His parents, Jane and Ladis Kristof, were both professors at Portland State University. His father came to the United States from Europe after World War II.
Kristof was the student body president at Yamhill Carlton High School. He later went to Harvard College, where he studied government. After Harvard, he studied law at Magdalen College, Oxford, in England as a Rhodes Scholar. He also studied Arabic in Egypt for a year.
A Career in Journalism
Kristof started working at The New York Times in 1984. He began by writing about economics. Later, he became a correspondent, reporting from cities like Hong Kong, Beijing, and Tokyo. He eventually became an associate managing editor for the newspaper.
His columns often explore global health, poverty, and issues affecting women and girls in developing countries. He has traveled to more than 140 countries for his work.
Reporting on World Issues
Kristof is well-known for his reporting on the Darfur region of Sudan. Starting in 2004, he wrote many columns about the conflict there. He visited the area 11 times to report on what was happening.
Many people have praised his work. Former President Bill Clinton said in 2009 that Kristof helped show how poor people around the world live. In 2020, Darren Walker of the Ford Foundation called Kristof "journalism's North Star on issues of poverty, dignity and justice."
Campaign for Governor of Oregon
In 2021, Kristof decided to leave The New York Times to run for governor of his home state, Oregon. He officially announced his campaign in October 2021 as a member of the Democratic Party.
However, in January 2022, Oregon's Secretary of State ruled that he was not eligible to run. The reason was that he did not meet the state's three-year residency requirement. Kristof challenged this decision, but the Oregon Supreme Court agreed with the ruling.
After his campaign ended, Kristof announced in August 2022 that he would return to his job as a columnist for The New York Times.
Awards and Recognition
Nicholas Kristof has won many awards for his journalism.
- Pulitzer Prizes: In 1990, he and his wife, Sheryl WuDunn, won a Pulitzer Prize for their reporting on protests in China. In 2006, he won a second Pulitzer for his columns about the genocide in Darfur. He has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize seven times.
- Dayton Literary Peace Prize: He and his wife received a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2009.
- Goldsmith Award: In 2013, Harvard University gave him this award for his career in journalism.
- Emmy Award: In 2021, he and a video team from The New York Times won an Emmy for a video about healthcare workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Books Written with His Wife
Kristof has written several bestselling books with his wife, Sheryl WuDunn.
- China Wakes: The Struggle for the Soul of a Rising Power (1994)
- Thunder from the East: Portrait of a Rising Asia (1999)
- Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide (2009)
- A Path Appears: Transforming Lives, Creating Opportunity (2014)
- Tightrope: Americans Reaching for Hope (2020)
Their book Half the Sky became very popular. It discusses the challenges women and girls face around the world. The book also highlights ways to help them find opportunities. A reviewer for The Seattle Times said the book could "ignite a grass-roots revolution." It was later made into a documentary.
Opinions and Views
As a columnist, Kristof shares his opinions on many topics.
Iraq War
Kristof was against the Iraq War that began in 2003. He worried about the cost of the war and the risks to American soldiers. He also questioned whether the reasons for the invasion were based on true information.
Sweatshops
Kristof has written that while sweatshops have harsh conditions, they can be a step up for people in very poor countries. He argues that these jobs can help countries build their economies. He suggests that instead of boycotting products, buying more from these factories could help the poorest workers.
Israeli–Palestinian Conflict
Kristof supports peace talks to solve the Israeli–Palestinian conflict. He believes that negotiation is the best way to find a lasting solution. He has written about the need for fairness and justice for both Israelis and Palestinians.
Win-a-Trip with Nick Kristof
Since 2006, Kristof has run a contest for college students. The winner gets to travel with him on a reporting trip to another country. The goal is to inspire young people to learn about global issues.
The first winner, Casey Parks, traveled with him to Africa in 2006. In 2007, two winners went with him to Rwanda, Burundi, and Congo. Their trip was filmed for a documentary called Reporter, which was shown on HBO. The contest continues to give students a chance to see journalism in action.
Personal Life
Kristof married Sheryl WuDunn in 1988. She is also a journalist and author. They have three children.
In 2018, Kristof and his wife began turning his family's cherry farm in Yamhill, Oregon, into an apple orchard and vineyard. He continues to split his time between his work in New York and his home in Oregon.
See also
