COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS CONGRATULATES ALUMNA CYNTHIA TUCKER ON PULITZER

The College of Liberal Arts wishes to congratulate journalism alumna Cynthia Tucker on winning the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in Journalism for Commentary.

Tucker, a 1976 Journalism grad, was recently awarded the Pulitzer for her distinguished commentary and, according to the Pulitzer Prize judges, "for her courageous, clear-headed columns that evince a strong sense of mortality and persuasive knowledge of the community."

Tucker is a syndicated columnist and the editorial page editor for the Atlanta Journal Constitution. She is also a frequent guest commentator on television news shows.

"Cynthia is a fierce and diligent journalist," College of Liberal Arts Dean Anna Gramberg said. "She is a leader in every sense of the word and our sincerest congratulations go out to Cynthia. Needless to say we are very proud that she is a graduate of our Journalism program. She sets an extraordinary example to journalists everywhere, as well to all of our students here in the college."

Tucker's dedication and personality has won the respect of many of her colleagues. Fellow journalism alumna Rheta Grimsley Johnson, 77, is an award-winning journalist and columnist for King Features Syndicate and worked at the AJC in 1994, shortly after Tucker became the editorial page editor. Grimsley Johnson was a finalist for the1991 Pulitzer Prize in Commentary.

"Cynthia Tucker is tough, tenacious and dedicated to her native region and print journalism," Grimsley Johnson said. "Pretty enough for television, talented enough to work anywhere, she has not been seduced or sidetracked. She (has) stuck with a newspaper career and with the South. Her columns are well-crafted and fair. Cynthia is long overdue for the Pulitzer. I'm proud for her and proud to know her."

As busy as the Monroeville, Ala., native is in Atlanta, Tucker has managed to keep an Auburn connection through Emeritus Journalism Professor Jack Simms. Simms has maintained contact with Tucker since she graduated and says that he has followed her career with pride, admiration and celebration.

"I'm thrilled that she won. It's a well-deserved award for all her work over the years." Simms said. "She was in the first class I taught at Auburn. She loves Auburn and Im very proud of her for that, too."

The College of Liberal Arts is working on a reception in Tucker's honor on June 29, 2007, in Atlanta. A journalism scholarship in her name is also being developed by the college.

Cynthia Tucker was named Journalist of the Year in 2006 by the National Association of Black Journalists. She began working as a journalist at AJC shortly after graduating from Auburn University in 1976. She left the AJC to work as a reporter for The Philadelphia Inquirer from 1980-1983, and then spent six months doing freelance reporting from Africa. She came back to the AJC to work as an editorial writer and columnist and was named the associate editorial page editor in 1986. She received a Nieman Fellowship at Harvard University in 1988-1989 and was named editorial page editor of the AJC in 1992.

"Cynthia Tucker represents all that is good about our program," Mary Helen Brown, Chair of the Department of Communication and Journalism, said. "Her passion as a journalist, her service to the profession, and her commitment to honesty combine to create the perfect role model for our students."

Tucker was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 2004 and 2006. She won the Pulitzer this year for 10 columns she wrote which covered such issues as immigration, racism, and voting rights.

Tucker also won the American Society of Newspaper Editors Distinguished Writing Award for her commentary in 2000, and is a four-time Cox Newspapers award winner.

To find out more about Tucker's Pulitzer nomination, visit www.pulitzer.org/index.html.