He received the first prize Book Award from the New Jersey Council of the Humanities for “The Defining Moment” and was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Award for “The Promise.” His many awards for media criticism include the 1987 Lowell Mellett Award and two New York State Bar Association Media Awards. Alter also received the 1994 Clarion Award from Women in Communications for Best Magazine Opinion Column, and the 1993 National Headliner Award for Consistently Outstanding Feature Column. He received the John Bartlow Martin Award in 2001 for his reporting on the death penalty and first place for commentary in 2007 for a story on the legacy of Martin Luther King from the National Association of Black Journalists. He was also part of the teams of Newsweek reporters and editors awarded the prestigious National Magazine Award for General Excellence in 1993, 2002, 2004. His many awards for his political writing include first prize from the National Headliner Awards for Special Column on One Subject for a series of columns on life after 9/11. Beyond politics and media, he has written extensively over the years about education, fiscal policy, terrorism, anti-Semitism, at-risk children, national service and a wide variety of other issues.Īlter has earned honorary degrees from Western Connecticut State University and Montclair State University. His Newsweek cover stories over the years included everything from Bill Clinton’s first interview after leaving the presidency, to Barack Obama’s first-ever magazine cover, to Alter’s personal story of living with cancer. He has written three New York Times bestsellers: “The Defining Moment: FDR’s Hundred Days and the Triumph of Hope” (2006) (Also a New York Times “Notable Book of the Year”) “The Promise: President Obama, Year One” (2010) and “The Center Holds: Obama and His Enemies” (2013). Bush and President Barack Obama, as well as many other heads of state.

Bush, President Bill Clinton, President George W. Ford, President Jimmy Carter, President George H.W. He has covered Trump on and off since the early 1990s, when Trump threatened to sue him.Ī specialist in the American presidency, Alter has interviewed President Richard M. On MSNBC and in the Daily Beast, he brings broad historical knowledge to analyzing politics and to holding President Trump to account. The 2016 campaign marked the ninth presidential election Alter has covered in print and on television.

The Promise by Jonathan Alter