Martin Baron
Editor who led Pulitzer-winning investigations at two major newspapers.
Martin Baron (born October 24, 1954) is an American journalist. He was the editor of *The Washington Post* from December 31, 2012, until his retirement on February 28, 2021. Before that, he served as editor of *The Boston Globe* from 2001 to 2012, where the paper’s reporting on the Boston Catholic sexual abuse scandal won a Pulitzer Prize.
Baron was born to a Jewish family in Tampa, Florida; his father emigrated from Israel, and his mother was from the United States. He attended Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, working on the student paper, and later went to Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. There, he edited *The Brown and White* student newspaper, wrote his own column, and took graduate classes as an undergraduate. He graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and later earned an MBA with honors. He is fluent in Spanish.
After graduation in 1976, Baron started at *The Miami Herald*. He moved to *The Los Angeles Times* in 1979 and joined *The New York Times* in 1996. He returned to *The Miami Herald* as executive editor in January 2000, overseeing coverage of Elián González’s return to Cuba and the 2000 election, and served in that role until July 2001.
In July 2001, Baron succeeded Matthew V. Storin as executive editor of *The Boston Globe*. His tenure shifted the paper’s focus from international news toward local investigative journalism. The *Globe*’s coverage of the Boston Catholic sexual abuse scandal won a Pulitzer Prize in 2003. In 2012, he was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
On December 31, 2012, Baron succeeded Marcus Brauchli as executive editor of *The Washington Post*. Under his leadership, the *Post* won multiple Pulitzers: in 2014, for public service (revelations of secret NSA surveillance) and explanatory journalism (food stamps in America); in 2015, for national reporting (security lapses in the Secret Service); in 2016, for national reporting (chronicling every police killing in 2015, and exposing Donald Trump’s charitable claims and the *Access Hollywood* tape); and in 2018, for investigative reporting (allegations of sexual misconduct by Roy Moore) and national reporting (Russian interference in the 2016 election). The 2016 biography *Trump Revealed: An American Journey of Ambition, Ego, Money, and Power* was written by *Post* reporters including Michael Kranish and Marc Fisher, bu
- born
- October 24, 1954
- field
- Journalism
- nationality
- American
- known_for
- Editor of The Washington Post and The Boston Globe; oversaw Pulitzer Prize-winning investigations
Lore & Background
Martin Baron was born to a Jewish family in Tampa, Florida, to a father who emigrated from Israel and a mother from the United States. He attended Berkeley Preparatory School, where he worked on the student paper, and later Lehigh University, where he was editor of The Brown and White student newspaper. He graduated in 1976 with a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and later earned an MBA with honors, and is fluent in Spanish.
Baron began his career at The Miami Herald in 1976, moved to The Los Angeles Times in 1979, joined The New York Times in 1996, and returned to the Miami Herald as executive editor in January 2000, serving until July 2001. In July 2001, he became executive editor of The Boston Globe, shifting its focus to locally centered investigative journalism. The Globe's coverage of the Boston Catholic sexual abuse scandal earned a Pulitzer Prize in 2003. He was inducted into the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 2012
Reader's Guide
Martin Baron's significance lies in his leadership of two major American newspapers during periods of high-impact investigative journalism. At The Boston Globe, he directed the Spotlight team's coverage of the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, which won a Pulitzer Prize and was dramatized in the 2015 film Spotlight. At The Washington Post, he oversaw a period of intense growth in investigative reporting, with the paper winning multiple Pulitzer Prizes for stories on national security, policing, and political corruption. His tenure coincided with the Post's acquisition by Jeff Bezos and the paper's expanded role in covering the Trump administration. Baron also took public positions on press freedom, defending WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and criticizing his own paper's decision to not endorse a presidential candidate in 2024. His legacy is tied to the institutional strength of investigative journalism and the defense of First Amendment principles.
Did You Know?
- Baron earned a Bachelor of Arts in journalism and an MBA with honors in four years from Lehigh University.
- He is fluent in Spanish.
- In the 2015 film Spotlight, Baron was played by Liev Schreiber.
- Baron authored the 2023 book Collision of Power: Trump, Bezos, and The Washington Post.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Martin Baron?
Martin Baron is an American journalist best known for serving as the top editor at two of the country's most prominent newspapers. He led The Boston Globe and later The Washington Post, overseeing major investigative reporting efforts during both stints.
What Pulitzer Prize-winning work is Martin Baron associated with?
While he was editor of The Boston Globe, the paper's team produced the landmark investigation into Catholic clergy sexual abuse in the Boston archdiocese. That reporting earned the newspaper a Pulitzer Prize and brought national attention to the scandal.
When did Martin Baron retire from journalism?
Baron stepped down as editor of The Washington Post on February 28, 2021, after roughly eight years in that role. His tenure at the Post had begun on December 31, 2012.
Where was Martin Baron born and what shaped his early interest in journalism?
He was born on October 24, 1954, in Tampa, Florida, to a Jewish family with roots in both the United States and Israel. During his time at Berkeley Preparatory School, he contributed to the student newspaper, an early sign of his lifelong commitment to the craft.
Why is Martin Baron considered significant in investigative journalism?
He is one of the few editors to have helmed Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative work at two major national papers. His leadership at both The Boston Globe and The Washington Post helped shape some of the most consequential reporting in American journalism.
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