Stephen A. Kurkjian (born 1943) is a distinguished American investigative journalist and author, widely recognized for his extensive career at The Boston Globe and his contributions to the newspaper's Pulitzer Prize-winning "Spotlight" team. He is a three-time Pulitzer Prize recipient and a leading figure in investigative journalism.
Early Life and Education Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Kurkjian is of Armenian-American descent. He attended Boston Latin School and went on to receive his bachelor's degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a master's degree from Boston University.
Career at The Boston Globe Kurkjian joined The Boston Globe in 1968 and remained with the newspaper until his retirement in 2007, though he continued to contribute as an editor-at-large. During his nearly four-decade tenure, he held various positions, including reporter, editor, and Washington bureau chief. He was a founding member of The Boston Globe's renowned investigative "Spotlight" team.
His investigative work covered a wide range of critical topics, including:
- Organized crime and corruption
- Environmental issues
- The September 11th attacks
- The hidden wealth of the Catholic Church
- The Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal
Pulitzer Prizes Kurkjian's investigative reporting earned him three Pulitzer Prizes:
- 1972: Awarded for Local Investigative Special Reporting, recognizing The Boston Globe's coverage of corruption in the city of Somerville, Massachusetts.
- 1980: Awarded for National Reporting, for a series of articles on the MBTA (Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority) system.
- 2003: Awarded for Public Service, as part of The Boston Globe's "Spotlight" team, for their groundbreaking investigation into the widespread sexual abuse by Catholic priests and the subsequent cover-up by church officials. This investigation later became the subject of the critically acclaimed 2015 film Spotlight.
Author After his retirement from full-time reporting, Kurkjian authored the non-fiction book "Master Thieves: The Boston Gangsters Who Pulled Off the World's Biggest Art Heist and the Hunt for its Missing Masterpieces" (PublicAffairs, 2015). The book delves into the 1990 Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum theft, the largest unsolved art heist in history, and the ongoing efforts to recover the stolen works.
Legacy and Recognition Stephen Kurkjian is widely respected for his dedication to uncovering truth and holding powerful institutions accountable. His work, particularly with the "Spotlight" team, has had a profound impact on journalism and society, demonstrating the crucial role of investigative reporting in public service. He continues to be an influential voice in the field.