Sheryl_James

Sheryl James

Sheryl James

Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author

For South African para athlete, see Sheryl James (athlete).

Sheryl Teresa James (born October 7, 1951) is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author.[1] She won the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1991 for a series she wrote in the St. Petersburg Times about a mother who deserted her baby.[2] Her reporting has also been in the Detroit Free Press, the Greensboro News and Record, and City Magazine in Lansing, Michigan.[3]

Quick Facts Born, Occupation ...

Early life

James was born on October 7, 1951, to Reese and Dava James in Detroit, Michigan.[4] After growing up in the area, she attended Eastern Michigan University, where she received a B.S. in English in 1973.[5]

Journalism career

In 1979, James got her first job in journalism at City Magazine in Lansing, Michigan.[3] She worked there as a staff writer and editor for three years, before moving to North Carolina after being hired by the Greensboro News and Record in 1982.[6] She went on to join the St. Petersburg Times as a feature writer in 1986.[4]

During her time in St. Petersburg, Florida, James also worked for the Poynter Institute as a consultant, and provided instruction for high school newspapers in the area.[7]

James was the recipient of the 1991 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing for her series "A Gift Abandoned,"[8] which the Pulitzer board called "a compelling series about a mother who abandoned her newborn child and how it affected her life and those of others."[9]

The following year, James was a finalist in the same category for her series "Life From Death,"[10] which was described by the Pulitzer board as a "gripping account of the effort to transplant the organs of a dead boy and turn the tragedy of his death into a gift of life for others."[11]

James returned to Michigan in 1991 to work as a staff writer for the Detroit Free Press, where she remained for over a decade.[12]

Since 1999, James has written two books about the history of Michigan, which range in subject matter from a biography of local artist Gwen Frostic[13] to the state's folk heritage.[14]

James currently works as a freelance journalist for publications including Michigan Today[15] and the Toledo Blade.[16] She has also worked as a specialist in public relations for the University of Michigan's School of Information.[17]

Personal life

James identifies as Roman Catholic.[3] She married her husband, Eric Vigmostad, in 1974.[18] They have two children, named Teresa and Kelsey.[3] As of 2017, James and Vigmostad lived in Brighton, Michigan.[19]

Books

  • The Life and Wisdom of Gwen Frostic (1999)[20]
  • Michigan Legends: Folktales and Lore from the Great Lakes State (2013)[21]

References

  1. [1]
    "Meet Pulitzer Prize Winning Journalist and Author Sheryl James". www.nicolasbooks.com.
  2. [2]
    "Winners of the 1991 Pulitzer Prizes in the Arts and Journalism". The New York Times. 1991-04-10. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  3. [3]
    Brennan, Elizabeth A.; Clarage, Elizabeth C. (1999). Who's who of Pulitzer Prize Winners. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9781573561112.
  4. [4]
    Fischer, Heinz Dietrich; Fischer, Erika J. (2002). Complete Biographical Encyclopedia of Pulitzer Prize Winners, 1917-2000: Journalists, Writers and Composers on Their Ways to the Coveted Awards. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783598301865.
  5. [5]
    "The Life and Wisdom of Gwen Frostic". www.goodreads.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  6. [6]
    "Alumni award winners include national teacher of the year, Pulitzer winner". www.emich.edu.
  7. [7]
    Fischer, Heinz-D. (2011-05-02). Complete Biographical Encyclopedia of Pulitzer Prize Winners 1917 - 2000: Journalists, writers and composers on their way to the coveted awards. Walter de Gruyter. ISBN 9783110955743.
  8. [8]
    "A Gift Abandoned" (PDF). St. Petersburg Times. April 14, 1991.
  9. [9]
    "Pulitzer Winner: Sheryl James of St. Petersburg (FL) Times". www.pulitzer.org.
  10. [10]
    "Tampa Bay Times from St. Petersburg, Florida on July 28, 1991 · 63". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  11. [11]
    "Pulitzer Finalist: Sheryl James of St. Petersburg Times". www.pulitzer.org.
  12. [12]
    Benfield, Kaid (2011-06-10). "Detroit: The 'Shrinking City' That Isn't Actually Shrinking". The Atlantic. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  13. [13]
    "The wonderful nature of Michigan artist Gwen Frostic". lansingcitypulse.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  14. [14]
    Emily (2013-05-01). "Q&A with Sheryl James, author of 'Michigan Legends'". University of Michigan Press Blog. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  15. [15]
    "One author, two personalities? | Michigan Today". michigantoday.umich.edu. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  16. [16]
    "The forgotten author: Joel Chandler Harris". Toledo Blade. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  17. [17]
    "Sheryl James, School of Information – Michigan IT News". Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  18. [18]
    "Livingston County Daily Press and Argus from Howell, Michigan on January 25, 2005 · 4". Newspapers.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  19. [19]
    "Horror movie 'Elder Island' shot in Brighton". Daily Press & Argus, livingstondaily.com. Retrieved 2019-03-01.
  20. [20]
    James, Sheryl (1999). The Life and Wisdom of Gwen Frostic. Sleeping Bear Press. ISBN 9781886947856.
  21. [21]
    Michigan Legends. ISBN 9780472071746.
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