Michael Parks

Michael Parks (November 17, 1943 – January 8, 2022) was an American journalist, editor, and educator who wrote on various political events around the world throughout his career. He served as editor of the Los Angeles Times from 1997 to 2000. He won a Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting award in 1987 for his reports about the struggle against apartheid in South Africa. He also taught at USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism and served several stints as its director. Early life and education Parks was born in Detroit on November 17, 1943. He studied classical languages and English literature at the University of Windsor in Canada, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts in 1965. Career Journalism Parks began his career in journalism with The Detroit News, working in the capacity of general assignment reporter from 1962 to 1965. Following this, he joined the Time-Life News Service as a correspondent in 1965. Thereafter he was part of the original team that started The Suffolk Sun, then becoming its Assistant Copy Editor. In 1968, he took on a position at The Baltimore Sun.