Leonard Pitts (Inducted 2004)

Leonard Pitts Jr. joined the Miami Herald in 1991 as its pop music critic. Since 1994, he has penned a syndicated column of commentary on pop culture, social issues and family life. His most recent book, “Becoming Dad: Black Men and the Journey to Fatherhood,’’ was released in May 1999.

Pitts has been writing professionally since 1976 when, as an 18-year-old college student, he began doing freelance reviews and profiles for SOUL, a national black entertainment tabloid. Two years later, he was its editor. In the years since then, Pitts’ work has appeared in such publications as Musician, Spin, TV Guide, Reader’s Digest and Parenting.

Pitts recently was awarded the 2004 Pulitzer Prize for commentary. He was also a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 1992. This is also the year Pitts was awarded first place in commentary in the annual AASFE writing contest in division four (newspapers with a circulation of over 300,000). He has received honors from the Society of Professional Journalists, the National Association o Black Journalists and Simon Wiesenthal Center, among others. He is a three-time recipient of the National Headliners Award. In 2001, he received the American Society of Newspaper Editors prestigious ASNE Award for Commentary Writing and was named Feature of the Year – Columnist by Editor and Publisher magazine. In 2002, the National Society of Newspaper Columnists awarded Pitts its inaugural Columnist of the year award. Also in 2002, GLAAD Media awarded Pitts the Outstanding Newspaper Columnist award.

Pitts was born and raised in Southern California. Since 1995, he has lived in Bowie, Md., with his wife and five children.