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| Steve Coll | |
|---|---|
| Name | Steve Coll |
| Birth date | 1958 |
| Birth place | Los Angeles, California |
| Occupation | Journalist, author, academic |
| Alma mater | University of California, Berkeley; Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism |
| Notable works | Ghost Wars; Directorate S; Private Empire |
| Awards | Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction; Bancroft Prize; National Book Award |
Steve Coll Steve Coll is an American journalist, author, and academic known for investigative reporting and narrative nonfiction on Afghanistan, Pakistan, Central Intelligence Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and Chevron Corporation. He served as editor of The Washington Post and as dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, producing prizewinning books that combine reporting on Soviet–Afghan War, Al Qaeda, Iraq War, and transnational terrorism networks. Coll's work bridges mainstream American journalism, international policy debates, and university-based journalism training.
Born in Los Angeles, California, Coll grew up amid California's media and academic milieus that included proximity to University of California, Berkeley and the University of Southern California. He earned a bachelor's degree at University of California, Berkeley and later obtained a master's degree from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he trained in reporting techniques linked to institutions such as The New York Times and The Washington Post. His formative years coincided with major events including the Vietnam War era and the rise of investigative reporting exemplified by coverage of the Watergate scandal.
Coll began his professional career at regional publications before joining national news organizations including The Washington Post and The New Yorker. At The Washington Post he covered assignments spanning the Middle East, South Asia, and corporate reporting that involved entities like Chevron Corporation and energy sector litigation tied to ExxonMobil. As a correspondent and editor he reported on conflicts involving Soviet Union interests, the aftermath of the Soviet–Afghan War, and the emergence of Al Qaeda leadership such as Osama bin Laden. Coll later held leadership roles overseeing investigative teams that intersected with coverage of the Central Intelligence Agency, National Security Agency, and congressional inquiries like those led by Senate Intelligence Committee members. He transitioned to academia as dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, linking newsroom practice with programs at institutions such as Columbia University and partnerships with outlets like ProPublica.
Coll authored a sequence of major books. In "Ghost Wars" he traced historical ties among the Central Intelligence Agency, Afghan mujahideen, and Soviet Union policies leading up to the September 11 attacks; the book engaged archives and interviews with figures connected to Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. "Private Empire" examined the global operations and controversies of Chevron Corporation, exploring legal disputes in places like Ecuador and the role of multinational corporations in resource-rich regions. "Directorate S" and subsequent volumes continued his longform reporting on the post-2001 intelligence landscape, including the roles of Inter-Services Intelligence and leadership reshuffles in Pakistan. Coll contributed investigative articles and essays to outlets such as The New Yorker, The Washington Post, and journals connected to Columbia Journalism Review.
Coll's work has received major recognitions including the Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction and the Bancroft Prize for historical writing. He has been a recipient of the National Book Award shortlistings and journalism honors from organizations such as the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Pulitzer Prize Board. His books have been cited in policy debates in bodies like the United States Congress and used as source material by think tanks including the Brookings Institution and Council on Foreign Relations.
As dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Coll shaped curricula interacting with programs at Columbia University's School of International and Public Affairs and collaborations with media organizations like The New York Times and The Washington Post. He has held fellowships and guest lectureships at institutions such as Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government, research seminars at the Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs, and visiting positions connected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Coll has supervised graduate theses on reporting topics involving Afghanistan, Pakistan, multinational energy firms, and intelligence oversight.
Coll resides in the United States and is connected professionally to networks spanning New York City journalism, Washington policy circles, and academic communities. His interviews and public appearances have placed him in conversation with figures from Congress, CIA veterans, corporate executives from Chevron Corporation, and fellow authors such as Seymour Hersh and Robert Kaplan. He remains engaged with institutions including Columbia University and professional organizations related to longform journalism.
Category:American journalists Category:American non-fiction writers Category:Columbia University faculty