Rick Bragg
Encyclopedia
Rick Bragg is an American author and journalist known for his non-fiction books, especially those on his family in Alabama. Bragg won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
in 1996 for his work at The New York Times
.
in northeastern Alabama
and grew up in the small community of Possum Trot near Jacksonville
. He credited his ability to write to listening to his family tell stories. He was raised primarily by his mother, as his father was an alcoholic and was almost never home. His relatives were also very involved in his young life, and greatly influenced his personal and emotional development.
as a metro reporter, then wrote about the Oklahoma City bombing
, the Jonesboro killings, the Susan Smith trial
and more as a national correspondent based in Atlanta. He later became the paper's Miami bureau chief just in time for Elián González
's arrival and the international controversy surrounding the Cuban
boy. Bragg won the Pulitzer for his work.
Bragg has authored five books: All Over but the Shoutin, Ava's Man, The Prince of Frogtown, I Am a Soldier Too: The Jessica Lynch Story, the authorized biography of American POW Jessica Lynch
, and The Most They Ever Had.
Arguably his most famous book, "All Over but the Shoutin" tells the story of Bragg's childhood in Alabama, his rise to being a notable journalist, his personal struggles and the stories of the people he cares about. The book pays special attention to Bragg's struggles with his abusive alcoholic father, and the story of his mother who raised Bragg and his two brothers on her own. A powerful memoir, the book is credited with bringing Bragg his initial fame as a writer, and remains his most famous book to this day.
, Bragg resigned in protest from the Times. The story which sparked the controversy was a story Bragg wrote about Florida
Gulf Coast oystermen. He wrote a narrative first person story of how he experienced oystermen culture. Bragg spent a day in Apalachicola
and used his experience, along with research and interviews from a stringer who was working with Bragg for the summer.
Bragg's defense—that it is common for Times correspondents to slip in and out of cities to "get the dateline" while relying on the work of stringers, researchers, interns and clerks—sparked "more passionate disagreement than the clear-cut fraud and plagiarism committed by fellow reporter Jayson Blair
."
's journalism program in its College of Communications and Information Sciences.
His 2008 book, The Prince of Frogtown, explores his father's life in Bragg's hometown of Jacksonville, Alabama.
, he has received more than 50 writing awards in 20 years, including the prestigious American Society of Newspaper Editors
Distinguished Writing Award twice. In 1992, he was awarded a Nieman Fellowship
at Harvard University
.
Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing
The Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing has been awarded since 1979 for a distinguished example of feature writing giving prime consideration to high literary quality and originality. The Pulitzer Committee issues an official citation explaining the reasons for the award.-List of winners and their...
in 1996 for his work at 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...
.
Early life
Bragg was born in the small city of PiedmontPiedmont, Alabama
Piedmont is a city in Calhoun and Cherokee counties in the U.S. state of Alabama. The population was 5,120 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford, Alabama Metropolitan Statistical Area. Many surrounding communities utilize the 36272 ZIP code, including Spring Garden, Rock Run,...
in northeastern Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and grew up in the small community of Possum Trot near Jacksonville
Jacksonville, Alabama
Jacksonville is a city in Calhoun County, Alabama, United States. which is a 49% increase since 2000. It is included in the Anniston-Oxford Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. He credited his ability to write to listening to his family tell stories. He was raised primarily by his mother, as his father was an alcoholic and was almost never home. His relatives were also very involved in his young life, and greatly influenced his personal and emotional development.
Career
Bragg worked at several newspapers before joining the New York Times in 1994. He covered murders and unrest in HaitiHaiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
as a metro reporter, then wrote about the Oklahoma City bombing
Oklahoma City bombing
The Oklahoma City bombing was a terrorist bomb attack on the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City on April 19, 1995. It was the most destructive act of terrorism on American soil until the September 11, 2001 attacks. The Oklahoma blast claimed 168 lives, including 19...
, the Jonesboro killings, the Susan Smith trial
Susan Smith
Susan Leigh Vaughan Smith is an American woman sentenced to life in prison for murdering her children. Born in Union, South Carolina, and a former student of the University of South Carolina Union, she was convicted on July 22, 1995 of murdering her two sons, 3-year-old Michael Daniel Smith, born...
and more as a national correspondent based in Atlanta. He later became the paper's Miami bureau chief just in time for Elián González
Elián González
The custody and immigration status of a young Cuban boy, Elián González , was at the center of a heated 2000 controversy involving the governments of Cuba and the United States, González's father, Juan Miguel González Quintana, González's other relatives in Miami, Florida, and in Cuba, and Miami's...
's arrival and the international controversy surrounding the Cuban
Cubans
Cubans or Cuban people are the inhabitants or citizens of Cuba. Cuba is a multi-ethnic nation, home to people of different ethnic and national backgrounds...
boy. Bragg won the Pulitzer for his work.
Bragg has authored five books: All Over but the Shoutin, Ava's Man, The Prince of Frogtown, I Am a Soldier Too: The Jessica Lynch Story, the authorized biography of American POW Jessica Lynch
Jessica Lynch
Jessica Dawn Lynch is a former Private First Class in the United States Army Quartermaster Corps. Lynch served in Iraq during the 2003 invasion by U.S. and allied forces. On March 23, 2003 she was injured and captured by Iraqi forces but was recovered on April 1 by U.S...
, and The Most They Ever Had.
Arguably his most famous book, "All Over but the Shoutin" tells the story of Bragg's childhood in Alabama, his rise to being a notable journalist, his personal struggles and the stories of the people he cares about. The book pays special attention to Bragg's struggles with his abusive alcoholic father, and the story of his mother who raised Bragg and his two brothers on her own. A powerful memoir, the book is credited with bringing Bragg his initial fame as a writer, and remains his most famous book to this day.
Controversy
On May 29, 2003, after being given a two-week suspension for writing a story that used some research from a stringerStringer (journalism)
In journalism, a stringer is a type of freelance journalist or photographer who contributes reports or photos to a news organization on an ongoing basis but is paid individually for each piece of published or broadcast work....
, Bragg resigned in protest from the Times. The story which sparked the controversy was a story Bragg wrote about Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
Gulf Coast oystermen. He wrote a narrative first person story of how he experienced oystermen culture. Bragg spent a day in Apalachicola
Apalachicola, Florida
Apalachicola is a city in Franklin County, Florida, on US 98 about southwest of Tallahassee. The population was 2,334 at the 2000 census. The 2005 census estimated the city's population at 2,340...
and used his experience, along with research and interviews from a stringer who was working with Bragg for the summer.
Bragg's defense—that it is common for Times correspondents to slip in and out of cities to "get the dateline" while relying on the work of stringers, researchers, interns and clerks—sparked "more passionate disagreement than the clear-cut fraud and plagiarism committed by fellow reporter Jayson Blair
Jayson Blair
Jayson Blair is an American reporter formerly with The New York Times. He resigned from the newspaper in May 2003 in the wake of the discovery of plagiarism and fabrication in his stories. Since 2007 he has worked as a life coach in the field of mental health.-Background:Blair was born in...
."
Later career
He has taught writing in colleges and in newspaper newsrooms and now works as a writing professor at the University of AlabamaUniversity of Alabama
The University of Alabama is a public coeducational university located in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, United States....
's journalism program in its College of Communications and Information Sciences.
His 2008 book, The Prince of Frogtown, explores his father's life in Bragg's hometown of Jacksonville, Alabama.
Awards
Besides winning a Pulitzer PrizePulitzer 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...
, he has received more than 50 writing awards in 20 years, including the prestigious American Society of Newspaper Editors
American Society of Newspaper Editors
The American Society of News Editors is a membership organization for editors, producers or directors in charge of journalistic organizations or departments, deans or faculty at university journalism schools, and leaders and faculty of media-related foundations and training organizations...
Distinguished Writing Award twice. In 1992, he was awarded a Nieman Fellowship
Nieman Fellowship
The Nieman Fellowship is an award given to mid-career journalists by The Nieman Foundation for Journalism at Harvard University. This award allows winners time to reflect on their careers and focus on honing their skills....
at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.