David Halberstam, a journalist, author, and historian, was killed in an auto accident near San Francisco, California. His reportage and books covered a wide range of subjects, most notably the civil rights movement, the Vietnam War, the American automobile industry, and professional sports. At the time of this death, he was conducting research for a book about the 1958 NFL championship game between the New York Giants and Baltimore Colts.
Halberstam, 73, was one of the founding members of the Committee of Concerned Journalists, a consortium of reporters, editors, producers, owners and academics that was administered by PEJ from 1997 until 2006. Bill Kovach, CCJ’s founding chairman and senior counsel for PEJ, was a colleague of Halberstam at The Tennessean (Nashville) in the late 1950s.
PEJ has compiled a collection of tributes remembering Halberstam’s life and career. Over the next few days, we will continue to add to this list, including his writings on the craft of the journalism profession. If there is a piece you would like to contribute to our website, please email us at mail@journalism.org.
"Suddenly gone, but Halberstam's words will live on"
Mitch Albom, Detroit Free Press, April 24, 2007
"A Journalist For Whom There Were Not Enough Words"
Henry Allen, Washington Post, April 25, 2007
"Colleagues say Halberstam's quest started in Nashville"
Jennifer Brooks and Colby Sledge, The Tennessean, April 24, 2007
"David Halberstam: Witness to War"
Roy Peter Clark, Poynter, April 24, 2007
"A Sad Day for Journalism"
Committee of Concerned Journalists, April 24, 2007
"One of a kind: Halberstam leaves legacy of hard work, passion"
Frank Deford, Sports Illustrated, April 24, 2007
"A Skeptical Vietnam Voice Still Echoes in the Fog of Iraq"
Dexter Filkins, New York Times, April 25, 2007
"Halberstam leaves chasm in journalism"
Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, April 25, 2007
"David Halberstam was my journalistic hero"
Jon Friedman, MarketWatch, April 24, 2007
"'Greatest journalist of my lifetime'"
Peter Gammons, ESPN, April 24, 2007
"Saying goodbye to a mentor and friend"
Steve Kelley, Seattle Times, April 24, 2007
"Full of sound, fury and brilliance"
Julia Keller, Chicago Tribune, April 24, 2007
"CCJ's Bill Kovach Remembers David Halberstam"
Bill Kovach, Committee for Concerned Journalists, April 24, 2007
"David Halberstam on Poetry, Bush, and Baseball"
New York Magazine, April 24, 2007
"Halberstam In His Own Words -- A Special To CCJ From William Prochnau"
William Prochnau, Special to Committee for Concerned Journalists, April 25, 2007
"Halberstam's beat was his country"
Tim Rutten, Los Angeles Times, April 25, 2007
"Halberstam remembered for his grace, compassion"
Steve Sheppard, The Nantucket Independent, April 25, 2007
"Halberstam Gave Good Quotes -- And Autographs"
Joe Strupp, Editor & Publisher, April 24, 2007
"A Truth-Teller"
Evan Thomas, Newsweek, April 24, 2007
"David Halberstam, 73, Reporter and Author, Dies"
Clyde Haberman, New York Times, April 24, 2007
"Author Uncloaked Vietnam Blunders"
Martin Weil and Yvonne Shinhoster Lamb, Washington Post, April 24, 2007
"Pulitzer Prize-Winning Writer David Halberstam, 73, Dies"
John M. Glionna and Stuart Silverstein, Los Angeles Times, April 24, 2007
"Famed Vietnam War reporter Halberstam dies"
Adam Tanner, Reuters, April 24, 2007
"Writer Halberstam is killed in car crash"
Joseph P. Kahn, Boston Globe, April 24, 2007
"Author David Halberstam Killed in Crash"
Lisa Leff, Associated Press, April 24, 2007
"DAVID HALBERSTAM: 1934-2007 -- Author was on his way to an interview"
John Cote and Matthew B. Stannard, San Francisco Chronicle, April 24, 2007
"Veteran Reporter Dies in Crash"
Jamison A Hill, The Harvard Crimson, April 24, 2007
"Student relished chance to drive Halberstam"
Associated Press, April 25, 2007
"How Do You Get Readers Interested In A Story?"
David Halberstam, from notes taken by CCJ Founding Chairman Bill Kovach, November 8, 1996
"Tip On Book Writing From David Halberstam"
David Halberstam, from notes taken by CCJ Founding Chairman Bill Kovach, November 8, 1996
"David Halberstam – Columbia Journalism Award"
Columbia University Journalism School, May 18, 2005