Serge Schmemann facts for kids

Serge Schmemann (born April 12, 1945) is an American writer who was born in France. He is known for his work as a journalist and editor for the famous newspaper The New York Times. He focuses on writing about events happening around the world.

For many years, Schmemann was an important editor for the International Herald Tribune. This was the global version of The New York Times based in Paris. Before that, he worked for the Associated Press and was a top editor for The New York Times.

A Journalist's Journey

Serge Schmemann was born in France to a family with Russian roots. His father was the writer Alexander Schmemann. Although his family spoke Russian at home, he did not visit Russia until 1980. He went there as a reporter for the Associated Press.

In 1951, when he was a young boy, his family moved to the United States. He grew up in America and went to college at Harvard University and Columbia University.

A Career in Writing

Schmemann became a respected journalist. He worked for The New York Times, one of the most well-known newspapers in the world.

In 1991, he won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting. This is a very famous award for journalists. He won it for his articles about the German reunification, which was when East and West Germany joined together to become one country again.

Later, he wrote a front-page article about the September 11 attacks for The New York Times. In 2003, he won an Emmy Award for writing a documentary for the Discovery Channel.

Awards and Recognition

• 1991: Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for his coverage of Germany's reunification.
• 1998: PEN/Martha Albrand Award for his book Echoes of a Native Land.