James Risen — LLMpedia

James Risen
Name	James Risen
Birth date	1955
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Occupation	Investigative journalist, author
Employer	The New York Times (former), ProPublica (former), The Intercept (former)
Notable works	Confidential: The Secret History of the CIA, State of War
Awards	Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting (2006)

Contents

James Risen James Risen is an American investigative journalist and author known for reporting on intelligence, national security, and surveillance. He has written for major outlets including The New York Times, The Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, and has authored books published by Houghton Mifflin and Free Press. Risen's work has intersected with figures and institutions such as George W. Bush, Barack Obama, the Central Intelligence Agency, the National Security Agency, and the Department of Justice.

Early life and education

Risen was born in New York City and raised in the United States with formative years that connected him to institutions such as Haverford College and regional schools that led to journalistic training associated with programs like the Pulitzer Prize workshops and newsrooms including The Associated Press and local bureaus. Early exposure to reporting in cities including Boston, Philadelphia, and Baltimore influenced his path toward investigative reporting at outlets such as the Los Angeles Times and later national desks at The New York Times and ProPublica.

Risen's journalism career spans beats at regional and national publications including The Hartford Courant, The Baltimore Sun, and The Los Angeles Times before joining The New York Times where he worked on desks that interfaced with figures like Bob Woodward, Carl Bernstein, and editors from newsrooms such as The Washington Post and The Wall Street Journal. He reported on stories involving institutions including the Central Intelligence Agency, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the National Security Agency, and collaborated with investigative teams associated with ProPublica, The Intercept, and nonprofit entities like the Knight Foundation. His bylines have appeared alongside reporting from journalists linked to outlets such as Reuters, Bloomberg News, and The Atlantic.

Risen covered the Iraq War and post-9/11 national security matters, reporting on operations tied to the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, Defense Intelligence Agency, and policies of administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama. His reporting addressed programs connected to covert actions, interrogation practices debated by lawmakers in the United States Senate and committees like the Senate Intelligence Committee, and surveillance programs that intersected with revelations comparable to reporting by Seymour Hersh, Bob Woodward, and Dana Priest. Risen's coverage of warrantless surveillance, detention policy, and intelligence failures placed him in contention with agencies including the Department of Justice and contractors linked to Booz Allen Hamilton and prime defense firms such as Lockheed Martin.

Risen was central to high-profile legal disputes involving the Department of Justice over protection of confidential sources, paralleling cases such as those involving Eric Lichtblau and controversies tied to leak investigations during the George W. Bush and Barack Obama administrations. He resisted grand jury subpoenas and court orders in matters connected to investigations led by figures like Attorney General Alberto Gonzales and later Attorney General Eric Holder, leading to courtroom proceedings in federal courts including the United States Court of Appeals and appearances before judges tied to precedent-setting decisions on reporter's privilege and the First Amendment. His legal battles drew attention from civil liberties groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and press organizations including the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press.

Risen authored books including State of War and Confidential: The Secret History of the CIA, published by Houghton Mifflin and Free Press, exploring subjects that involved the Central Intelligence Agency, Iran-Contra affair, the Iraq War, Osama bin Laden, and covert operations in regions like Afghanistan and Pakistan. His long-form reporting and collaborations have appeared in outlets and anthologies alongside writers from The New Yorker, Time (magazine), Newsweek, and investigative projects funded by organizations such as the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting.

Risen received the Pulitzer Prize for National Reporting in 2006 as part of a team at The New York Times for coverage related to the National Security Agency and warrantless surveillance, and his work has been recognized by institutions including the George Polk Awards, Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE), and international journalism prizes such as awards from the Overseas Press Club and the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists for reporting that intersected with figures like Edward Snowden and disclosures involving James Clapper.

Risen's personal life has included residence in cities linked to major news operations such as Washington, D.C. and New York City, and family ties reported in profiles that reference colleagues from newsrooms like The New York Times and Los Angeles Times. His legacy influences debates over press freedom, source protection, and intelligence oversight, shaping discourse involving lawmakers in the United States Congress, advocacy from organizations like the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and academic study at institutions such as Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism and Harvard Kennedy School.

Category:American investigative journalists Category:1950s births Category:Pulitzer Prize winners