Connie Schultz (born July 21, 1957) is an American writer, journalist, and educator. Schultz has been a columnist for several publications. After several years as a freelance writer, Schultz became a columnist at Cleveland's daily newspaper, The Plain Dealer, a role she held from 1993 to 2011, winning the 2005 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary[6] for "her pungent columns that provided a voice for the underdog and underprivileged". She also wrote for USA Today and had a syndicated column for Creators Syndicate.
Connie Schultz | |
---|---|
Born | July 21, 1957 (age 67)[1][2][citation needed] |
Alma mater | Kent State University[4] |
Spouse | [5] |
Awards | Pulitzer Prize (2005) Scripps Howard Award (2005) |
Schultz is also a journalism professor. After several years at Kent State University, her alma mater, Schultz now teaches journalism at Denison University.
Early life
editConnie Schultz was born to Alvina Jane (née BeBout)[1] and Charles Craig Schultz.[7] She is the oldest of four siblings.[8] In 1975, Schultz graduated from Ashtabula High School.[9] In 1979, Schultz received a B.A. in journalism and political science[10] from Kent State University.[11]
Career
editSchultz started her career as a freelance writer (from 1978 to 1993)[11] and then became a columnist for The Plain Dealer in 1993, a role she held until 2011.[10]
Schultz is married to Sherrod Brown, Democratic U.S. Senator from Ohio. Because of her husband's 2006 Senate campaign, Schultz took a leave of absence from The Plain Dealer to campaign for his election. She returned to The Plain Dealer in January 2007.[12] On September 19, 2011, Schultz again resigned from the paper, having written in a note to colleagues that "in recent weeks, it has become painfully clear that my independence, professionally and personally, is possible only if I'm no longer writing for the newspaper that covers my husband's Senate race on a daily basis".[13]
After leaving The Plain Dealer, Schultz wrote a column called "Views" for Parade.[14] She also contributed to the online political blog The Huffington Post.[15] For a number of years, she wrote a weekly print column, syndicated through Creators Syndicate.[16] In June 2021, Schultz became an opinion columnist for USA Today.[17] Schultz is a frequent guest on various cable news programs, including on C-SPAN (see "External Links" below).
Schultz taught journalism at her alma mater, Kent State University, for seven years, departing at the conclusion of the spring 2023 semester; as of the fall 2023 semester, she joined the faculty at Denison University, in Granville, Ohio. [18]
Books
editSchultz's first book, Life Happens: And Other Unavoidable Truths, a collection of her previously published columns, was printed in 2006. Her second book, ... and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man, a journal of her experiences on the campaign trail, was released in 2007.
Her third book and first novel, The Daughters of Erietown, was published in June 2020. The novel is set in northeastern Ohio, and follows the lives of three generations of women.
In February 2024, Schultz's first children's book, Lola and the Troll, was published.[19]
Recognition
editSchultz won the 2004 Batten Medal.[20] In 2005, for commentary, Schultz won the Pulitzer Prize,[21] the Scripps Howard Award, and the National Headliners Award.[11]
On May 18, 2014, Schultz was presented with an honorary doctor of letters degree from Otterbein University. Along with her husband, Schultz gave a keynote address at the undergraduate commencement.[22]
Personal life
editSchultz' first marriage, to a law professor at Cleveland State Law school where she was a law student, ended in divorce. Schultz later left law school without a degree. Schultz married Sherrod Brown in 2004; Schultz and Brown each brought two children to the relationship, which included a stepchild from Schultz’ first marriage.[23] She has seven grandchildren, and is a self-professed practicing Christian.[24]
Works
edit- Life Happens: And Other Unavoidable Truths, Random House (April 18, 2006) ISBN 978-1-4000-6497-7
- ... and His Lovely Wife: A Memoir from the Woman Beside the Man, Random House (June 19, 2007) ISBN 978-1-4000-6573-8
- The Daughters of Erietown: A Novel, Random House (June 9, 2020) ISBN 978-0-5254-7935-2
References
edit- ^ a b Schultz, Connie (December 17, 2016). "Another day, another abortion restriction". Northern Virginia Daily. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "Connie Schultz". Ohio Center for the Book. Cleveland Public Library. June 27, 2017. Retrieved September 10, 2024.
- ^ Terry, Shelley (November 30, 2018). "Ashtabula native Connie Schultz honored with signs". Star Beacon. Retrieved December 25, 2018.
- ^ "Connie Schultz". Kent State University. June 7, 2020. Retrieved September 3, 2021.
- ^ Schultz, Connie (July 15, 2014). "Why I Came Home to Cleveland". Politico.
- ^ "The 2005 Pulitzer Prize Winner in Commentary: Connie Schultz of The Plain Dealer, Cleveland".
- ^ Schultz, Connie. "The Place My Father Didn't Want Me to See". Parade. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "Obituary of Charles Craig Schultz, Jr". Zaback-Williams-Ducro Funeral Home. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "Connie Schultz". Class of 1975, Ashtabula High School. The High School Network. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ a b "Connie Schultz". School of Media and Journalism. Kent State University. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Schultz, Connie 1958(?)–". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "Connie Schultz column archive at The Plain Dealer". Archived from the original on December 15, 2007. Retrieved March 5, 2007.
- ^ Romenesko, Jim (September 19, 2011). "Connie Schultz resigns from Cleveland Plain Dealer". Poynter Institute. Archived from the original on September 25, 2011. Retrieved September 22, 2011.
- ^ "Connie Schultz column archive at Parade". Retrieved June 29, 2015.
- ^ "My Husband, the African-American Woman". HuffPost. June 22, 2007. Retrieved August 31, 2021.
- ^ "Connie Schultz column archive at Creators Syndicate". Retrieved August 3, 2012.
- ^ DelGuzzi, Kristen. "Connie Schultz, best-selling author, Pulitzer-winning columnist, to write weekly USA TODAY Opinion column". USA TODAY. Retrieved June 5, 2021.
- ^ Andrus, Emma. "Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist Connie Schultz to depart from Kent State". Kent Wired. Kent State Student Media. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ Trujillo, Laura (February 6, 2024). "Connie Schultz's 'Lola and the Troll' fights bullies with a new picture book for children". USA Today. Retrieved September 27, 2024.
- ^ Romenesko, Jim (April 22, 2004). "Plain Dealer columnist Schultz wins 2004 Batten Medal". Poynter Institute. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ Schultz, Connie. "Yep, she gets paid to do that". The Pulitzer Prizes. Archived from the original on November 19, 2022. Retrieved November 20, 2022.
- ^ "Senator and Writer Duo Address Commencement". Otterbein Towers (Early Summer 2014): 7. May 29, 2014. Retrieved June 29, 2015.
- ^ Schultz, Connie (August 9, 2013). "Life in the Middle Ages: First Comes Joy, then Comes Marriage". Parade Magazine. Retrieved August 3, 2023.
- ^ Kruse, Michael (December 21, 2018). "'I Am the Woman Trump Hates': Meet Sherrod Brown's Louder Half". Politico Magazine. Retrieved August 3, 2023.