Jacqui Banaszynski

Jacqui Banaszynski is a distinguished American journalist and educator, born on April 17, 1952, in Pulaski, Wisconsin. She has had a prolific career in journalism, marked by significant achievements and contributions to the field.

Education and Early Career

Banaszynski graduated magna cum laude from Marquette University in 1974 with a degree in journalism. Her journalism career began in high school, where she served as the associate editor of her school newspaper. She later worked for the St. Paul Pioneer Press Dispatch, where she gained recognition for her reporting on various social issues, including a notable series on AIDS that won her the Pulitzer Prize for Feature Writing in 1988.1 2

Notable Achievements

Pulitzer Prize Winner: Banaszynski's series "AIDS in the Heartland," which humanized the struggles of two gay farmers afflicted by AIDS, was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1988.
International Reporting: Her work on famine in Sudan was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting in 1986.
Career at The Seattle Times: She served as the Associate Managing Editor for special projects at The Seattle Times from 1997 until 2003.1 2

Academic Role

Banaszynski has been a prominent figure in journalism education. She holds the John S. and James L. Knight Chair at the University of Missouri School of Journalism, where she focuses on editing and storytelling techniques. In addition to her role at Missouri, she has been involved with The Poynter Institute as a faculty member.3 4 5

Legacy and Influence

In 2008, Banaszynski was inducted into the American Society of Sunday and Feature Editors Hall of Fame, recognizing her influence and contributions to feature journalism. She is known for mentoring young journalists and advocating for quality storytelling in modern media.1 2 3

Banaszynski continues to be an influential voice in journalism education and practice, shaping the next generation of storytellers through her teaching and editorial work.