John Burns British journalist Date of Birth: 04.10.1944 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Reporting in China and Canada
3. Joining The New York Times
4. Covering Africa and Language Acquisition
5. Moscow and Beijing
6. Toronto and Sarajevo
7. New Delhi and Afghanistan
8. Iraq and London
9. Television Appearances and Accusations
10. Personal Life

Early Life and Education

John F. Burns, a renowned British journalist and two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, was born in Nottingham, England on October 4, 1944. His family later relocated to Canada, where he pursued his higher education at McGill University in Montreal.

Reporting in China and Canada

Burns immersed himself in Chinese culture during his stay in Beijing from 1971 to 1975. He reported on contemporary Chinese life, politics, and social issues while contributing to the Toronto-based newspaper The Globe and Mail. Upon returning to Canada, he continued his reporting career for the same newspaper, covering domestic news.

Joining The New York Times

In 1975, Burns joined The New York Times, initially working in the metropolitan division. He subsequently rose to the position of foreign correspondent.

Covering Africa and Language Acquisition

From 1976 to 1981, Burns reported from Johannesburg, South Africa, covering the complexities of the African continent. Along with his colleagues John Darnton and Michael T. Kaufman, he received the George Polk Award in 1978 for their reporting on Africa. Throughout his travels, Burns prioritized language acquisition, studying French, German, Russian at Harvard in 1980-1881, and Chinese at Cambridge in 1984.

Moscow and Beijing

Burns served as The New York Times Moscow bureau chief from 1981 to 1984. In 1984, he moved to Beijing to head the Times bureau there. In July 1986, he was falsely accused of espionage and imprisoned for six days. After an investigation, the charges were dropped, but Burns was expelled from China.

Toronto and Sarajevo

From 1987 to 1991, Burns led The Times Toronto bureau. His reporting on the Bosnian War, particularly his dispatches from Sarajevo, earned him his first Pulitzer Prize in 1993.

New Delhi and Afghanistan

In 1994, Burns became the Times bureau chief in New Delhi. His fearless coverage of the Taliban regime in Afghanistan led him to receive his second Pulitzer Prize in 1997.

Iraq and London

Burns reported from Baghdad during the 2003 Iraq War and its aftermath. In July 2007, he became the London bureau chief, succeeding Alan Cowell. Colby College awarded him an honorary Doctor of Laws degree on September 30, 2007.

Television Appearances and Accusations

Burns regularly appeared on PBS NewsHour and The Charlie Rose Show. He reported on the U.S. wars in Afghanistan and Iraq via satellite. In an October 2008 interview with Russian envoy to Afghanistan Zamir Kabulov, Burns accused him of being a former KGB agent.

Personal Life

Burns' wife, Jane Scott Long, is a fellow journalist who has served as the Times bureau chief in Baghdad. They have two sons and a daughter.