Alex Raksin

EXPERIENCE

• Los Angeles Times, editorial writer, 1996-; deputy book editor, Book Review, 1993-96; columnist, writing weekly 1,000 word arts reviews, 1985-93; assistant editor, Book Review, 1989-93.
• University of Southern California, Los Angeles, teaching assistant, 1983-84.
• Educational Group Publications, Los Angeles, editor-in-chief, 1983-84.
• Time magazine, Los Angeles, night bureau supervisor, 1983-84.
• Community Information Project, researcher and grant writer, 1984.
• The International Documentary Assn., Los Angeles, 1983.
• The Paramount News, Los Angeles, associate editor, 1983-84.
• USA Today magazine, New York City, contributing editor, 1982-84.
• City on a Hill Press, Santa Cruz, CA, campus editor, 1982.
• KFWB newsradio, writer and correlator, 1981.
• L.A. Weekly, contributing editor, 1981-83.
• Nexus magazine, editor-in-chief, 1980.
• Pacifica and California Public Radio, producer and reporter, 1980.
• Valley News, San Fernando Valley, CA, writer and reporter, 1978-79.
• Freelance criticism and commentary pieces for publications including the Miami Herald, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and the Providence Journal-Bulletin, 1984-93
• Instructor, UCLA Extension, 1986-89. Classes in book reviewing and arts criticism.
• PEN USA West, director, literary awards, responsible for choosing judges and coordinating awards for PEN's Western United States division, 1998-2000.

EDUCATION

• University of Southern California, B.A. Journalism, 1984.

PERSONAL

• Born: November 9, 1960.
• Married: Victoria Hendrick Raksin.
• Children: Tobias, born 1998.

AWARDS

• National Alliance for the Mentally Ill, Outstanding Media Award for Editorial Writing, May 2001.
• California Alliance for the Mentally Ill National Headliner Award for Editorial Writing, 2001.
• National Headliner Award for Editorial Writing, Second Place, 1999.
• Aaron Price Child Health and Welfare Scholarship and Journalism Award, third place for "A Health Gain for Kids" and "Lagging Health Insurance Effort," 1999.

PERSONAL AFFILIATIONS

• National Book Critics Circle, National Committee of Concerned Journalists and National Conference of Editorial Writers.

Bob Sipchen
Editorial Writer, Associate Editor of the Editorial Pages

EXPERIENCE

• Los Angeles Times, associate editor of the Editorial Pages, 2001; senior editor, Magazine, 1998-2001; staff writer, 1988-98, staff writer, Orange County Edition, 1987-88.
• Freelance writer, 1980-87.
• U.S. Forest Service, seasonal firefighter and patrolman, 1972-77.
• Adjunct professor of journalism, Occidental College, 1997.

EDUCATION

• University of California, Santa Barbara, B.A., English, 1976.

PERSONAL

• Born: June 13, 1953, Chicago, Illinois.
• Married: Pamela Jean.
• Children: Ashley Rose-Anna, born 1984; Emily Sage, born 1987; Robert John III, born 1989.

AWARDS

• Times Magazine story "Invasion of Bass Catchers" cited in "Best Sports Writing, 2000."
• Los Angeles Times Editorial Award for best Life & Style, daily Calendar or Sports article or series of articles, 1994; presented for "A Man of the Wood" Sunday Profile.
• Pulitzer Prize, local reporting of spot news (team coverage), 1993.

BOOKS

• Baby Insane and the Buddha, Doubleday, 1993 and Bantam, 1994.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

• Society of Professional Journalists-Sigma Delta Chi.
• National Writers Union.
• PEN.