Phil Bronstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Phil Bronstein
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| Born | October 4, 1950 (age 74) |
| Occupation | Executive Chair, Center for Investigative Reporting |
| Known for | Journalism |
| Spouse(s) |
Gillian Wallace
(div. 1984)Christine Borders
(m. 2006) |
| Children | 3 |
Phil Bronstein (born October 4, 1950) is an American journalist and editor. He is known for his work as a war correspondent and investigative reporter. He also held important leadership jobs at major newspapers. Today, he helps lead the Center for Investigative Reporting in Berkeley, California.
Contents
Early Life and First Steps in Journalism
Phil Bronstein was born in Atlanta, Georgia, on October 4, 1950. His family moved often when he was young. He spent a lot of his childhood in Montreal, Canada. Later, he settled in California.
He went to the University of California, Davis. While there, he started his journalism career. He wrote movie reviews for the school newspaper. This was his first experience writing for a public audience.
A Career in Reporting and Editing
Reporting from Around the World
Bronstein's first professional job was at KQED-TV in San Francisco. In 1980, The San Francisco Examiner hired him as a reporter. He became a foreign correspondent, reporting from many conflict zones. For eight years, he covered events in places like Peru, the Middle East, El Salvador, and the Philippines.
In 1986, he was recognized for his reporting. He covered the fall of Ferdinand Marcos, who was the leader of the Philippines. His work earned him a nomination for the Pulitzer Prize. This is a very important award for journalists.
Leading Major Newspapers
In 1991, Bronstein became the executive editor at the Examiner. He stayed in this role until 2000. He even tried to help when an alligator escaped into a city lake in 1996! He showed up in scuba gear, ready to assist. However, the police told him to stay back.
In 2000, the Examiner's parent company, Hearst Corporation, bought the San Francisco Chronicle. The Chronicle was another big newspaper in the San Francisco Bay Area. Hearst decided to combine the two newsrooms. Bronstein became the senior vice president and executive editor of the Chronicle.
This was a challenging time for newspapers. Many were struggling as people started getting news online. Bronstein worked to update the Chronicle. He made changes to the staff and added new features. He also tried to bring the newspaper into the Internet age. All this was done while keeping the unique Bay Area culture in the paper.
New Roles and Investigative Work
In 2008, Bronstein took on a new role. He became editor-at-large for the Chronicle and other Hearst Newspapers. In this job, he wrote a weekly column for the Chronicle. He also wrote for SFGate.com, an online news site.
In 2011, he was named chairman of the board for the Center for Investigative Reporting. This organization focuses on deep, important investigations. He left Hearst Newspapers and the Chronicle in 2012. His role at the Center for Investigative Reporting then became even bigger.
Personal Life
Family and Adoption
Phil Bronstein married actress Sharon Stone in 1998. They adopted a baby boy named Roan Joseph Bronstein in 2000. The couple later separated in 2003 and divorced in 2004. In 2008, a judge gave Bronstein full custody of their son, Roan.
In 2006, Bronstein married Christine Borders. She is the daughter of Louis Borders, who helped start Borders Book Store. Christine Borders also founded "A Band of Wives," a social network for women. They have two children together.
An Unusual Encounter
In 2001, Bronstein had a very unusual experience. He was attacked by a Komodo dragon at the Los Angeles Zoo. He was on a private tour. A zookeeper had invited him into the Komodo dragon's area. The keeper told him to take off his white shoes and socks. This was because the dragon might think they were the same color as the white rats it ate. However, the dragon still bit his bare foot. Bronstein needed surgery to fix several tendons in his foot.
Awards and Recognition
Phil Bronstein has received many awards for his journalism. In 1986, he was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. This was for his reporting on the change in leadership in the Philippines. His work in the Philippines also earned him awards from:
- The Associated Press
- The Overseas Press Club
- The World Affairs Council
- The Media Alliance
