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Career

Miami Herald
1995–present
"In My Opinion" news columnist, nationally syndicated via Knight Ridder News Service News Division, Miami, Florida, USA
19911995
Music critic and writer Arts Section, Miami, Florida, USA
EDUCATOR AND LECTURER
2013
Visiting Professor George Washington University
2011
Visiting Professor - taught a course in writing about race Princeton University
2004
Scripps Howard Visiting Professional Hampton University
Teacher Virginia Commonwealth University
Teacher University of Maryland
Teacher Ohio University
PUBLISHED AUTHOR
2012
Author: Freeman Publisher: Agate Bolden
2009
Author: Before I Forget Publisher: Agate Bolden
2009
Author: Daily Triumphs, Tragedies, and Curiosities Publisher: Agate Bolden
2009
Author: Forward from This Moment: Selected Columns, 1994-2008 Publisher: Agate Bolden
1999
Author: Becoming Dad - Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood Publisher: Longstreet Press
Westwood One, Inc.
19891991
Staff writer for the music countdown show American Top 40 and its legendary host, Casey Kasem Culver City, California, USA
DOCUMENTARIAN:
1990
Radio Special Event: Young Black Men: A Lost Generation?
1988
Writer, producer of this 1989 CEBA (Communications Excellence to Black Audiences) first place award winner Radio Special Event: Who We Are - The Life and Times of Black America
1986
Writer, co-producer of this 1987 CEBA (Communications Excellence to Black Audiences) second place award winner Radio Special Event: King - From Atlanta to the Mountaintop
FREELANCE WRITER
19831986
Freelance music critic and writer Spin, a Los Angeles-based music magazine
19831986
Freelance music critic and writer Record Review, a Los Angeles-based music magazine
19831986
Freelance music critic and writer Right On!, a Los Angeles-based music magazine
19831986
Co-creator, and editor Radioscope, a radio entertainment news magazine
Music reviewer Reader's Digest
Music reviewer Musician
19801983
Writer, news and features KFWB Radio, Los Angeles, California USA

Professional memberships

Florida Society of Newspaper Editors
Atlantic City Press Club
American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors
National Association of Black Journalists

Accomplishments of note

2001
Writer: "We'll Go Forth From This Moment" An open letter to the 9/11 terrorists in his nationally-syndicate column the day after their murderous attacks This column reportedly drew upwards of 30,000 emails; it was subsequently set to music, reprinted in poster form, read on-air by television hosts and quoted by politicians

Professional honors and awards

2009
Outstanding Newspaper Columnist GLAAD Media
2008
Journalist of the Year National Association of Black Journalists
2004
Pulitzer Prize Pulitzer Prize Board (administered by Columbia University) Commentary
2002
Columnist of the Year Award, the inaugural year for this award National Society of Newspaper Columnists For his 9/12/2001 column -"We'll Go Forth From This Moment"
2002
Outstanding Newspaper Columnist GLAAD Media
2001
ASNE Award for Commentary Writing American Society of Newspaper Editors For his 9/12/2001 column - "We'll Go Forth From This Moment"
2001
Feature of the Year Editor and Publisher magazine Columnist
1997
First Place, Ninth Annual Writing Award American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors Commentary - Division Four
Award of Excellence National Association of Black Journalist Commentary (3 time recipient)
Green Eyeshade Award Society of Professional Journalists Commentary (7 time recipient)
National Headliner Award Atlantic City Press Club Arts criticism (5 time recipient)
Florida Society of Newspaper Editors Award Florida Society of Newspaper Editors Arts criticism
1991
International Radio Festival Award
1991
American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors Award American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors Arts Criticism

Community

Nationality
American
Politics
Democrat
Denomination
Baptist
Hobbies
Reading, computer games of strategy

Education

University
University of Southern California Los Angeles, California, USA Bachelor of Arts English 19731977 Graduated summa cum laude; awarded his degree at the age of 19, having entered USC at 15 on a special honors program
Native language
English

Honorary Degrees

2008
Old Dominion University Norfolk, Virginia USA Doctorate in Humane Letters

Family

Vital statistics

Birth information
October 11, 1957
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Orange, California USA
Marital status
Married

Marriage

1981–present
Marilyn Vernice (Pickens) Pitts 5 children Marlon Pitts Leonard Pitts Onjél Pitts Markise Pickens Monique Pickens

Parents

Father
Leonard Garvey Pitts Sr.
Mother
Agnes (Rowan) Pitts

Ancestry

African-American, of Mende and Songhay forbears in West Africa