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{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox writer {{Infobox writer
| name = Donald G. McNeil Jr. | name = Donald McNeil Jr.
| image = | image =
| alt =
| alt = <!-- descriptive text for use by speech synthesis (text-to-speech) software -->
| caption = | caption =
| birth_name = <!-- only use if significantly different from common name --> | birth_name = Donald Gerard McNeil Jr.
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|2|1}} | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1954|2|1}}
| birth_place = ], California, U.S. | birth_place = ], California, U.S.
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} (DEATH date then BIRTH date) -->
| death_place =
| nationality =
| other_names =
⚫ | alma_mater = ] (])
| occupation = Journalist | occupation = Journalist
⚫ | alma_mater = ] (])
⚫ | years_active = 1976–present
| subjects = Science and health reporting | subjects = Science and health reporting
| notable_works = ''Zika: The Emerging Epidemic'' (2016) | notable_works = ''Zika: The Emerging Epidemic'' (2016)
⚫ | years_active = 1976–present
| spouse = {{marriage|]|1980|2003|end=div}}
}} }}


'''Donald Gerard McNeil Jr.''' (born February 1, 1954) is an American journalist. He was a science and health reporter for '']'' where he reported on epidemics, including ] and the ]. His reporting on ] earned him widespread recognition for being one of the earliest and best voices covering the pandemic. He left ''The New York Times'' in 2021 following public reports of making racist remarks, including use of the word "]", during a 2019 trip to Peru with high school students. '''Donald Gerard McNeil Jr.''' (born February 1, 1954) is an American journalist. He was a ] and ] reporter for '']'' where he reported on epidemics, including ] and the ]. His reporting on ] earned him widespread recognition for being one of the earliest and most prominent voices covering the pandemic.

In February 2021, McNeil resigned under pressure from ''The New York Times'' following reports that high-school students on a trip to Peru organized by the ''Times'' accused McNeil of making racially offensive remarks. After his resignation, McNeil published a lengthy response, disputing the high-school students' accusations and criticizing the ''Times''.<ref name="Guardian-1Mar2021" />


==Early life and education== ==Early life and education==
McNeil was born on February 1, 1954, in ]. He graduated ''summa cum laude'' from the ] in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in rhetoric.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-27|title=Poynter Fellowship in Journalism: Donald McNeil|url=https://communications.yale.edu/poynter/donald-mcneil|access-date=2021-02-09|website=communications.yale.edu|publisher=Office of Public Affairs & Communications, Yale University}}</ref> McNeil was born on February 1, 1954, in ]. He graduated ''summa cum laude'' from the ], in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in rhetoric.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2016-05-27|title=Poynter Fellowship in Journalism: Donald McNeil|url=https://communications.yale.edu/poynter/donald-mcneil|access-date=2021-02-09|website=communications.yale.edu|publisher=Office of Public Affairs & Communications, Yale University}}</ref>


== Career == == Career ==
McNeil started at '']'' in 1976 as a ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Philanthropy in Global Health: Speakers|url=http://www.baselgovernance.org/events/past-events/philanthropy-in-global-health-2008/philanthropy-in-global-health-speakers/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725042436/http://www.baselgovernance.org/events/past-events/philanthropy-in-global-health-2008/philanthropy-in-global-health-speakers/|archive-date=July 25, 2011|access-date=November 28, 2012|website=baselgovernance.org |publisher=]}}</ref> He left in 1979 to teach ] at ] while studying history. From 1995 to 2002, he was a foreign correspondent based in ] and ]. It was during this time that McNeil began covering HIV/AIDS and took an interest in vaccine-preventable diseases. McNeil started at '']'' in 1976 as a ].<ref>{{cite web|title=Philanthropy in Global Health: Speakers|url=http://www.baselgovernance.org/events/past-events/philanthropy-in-global-health-2008/philanthropy-in-global-health-speakers/|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110725042436/http://www.baselgovernance.org/events/past-events/philanthropy-in-global-health-2008/philanthropy-in-global-health-speakers/|archive-date=July 25, 2011|access-date=November 28, 2012|website=baselgovernance.org |publisher=]}}</ref> He left in 1979 to teach ] at ] while studying history. From 1995 to 2002, he was a foreign correspondent based in ] and ]. It was during this time that McNeil began covering HIV/AIDS and took an interest in ]s.


In 2002, McNeil joined the science staff of ''The New York Times'' and was assigned to cover global health. At the time, McNeil had to convince his editor, Cornelia Dean, to allow him to cover "diseases that poor people die of". McNeil's later work on a series of stories about diseases on the brink of eradication was awarded the top prize by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Prize in Journalism in 2006.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dunavan|first=Claire Panosian|author-link=Claire Panosian|date=August 2019|title=Vaccine Confidential A Conversation with Donald G. McNeil Jr.|url=https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/101/2/article-p472.xml|journal=The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene|volume=101|issue=2|pages=472–474|doi=10.4269/ajtmh.19-0427|pmc=6685584|issn=0002-9637}}</ref> In 2002, McNeil joined the science staff of ''The New York Times'' and was assigned to cover ]. McNeil's later work on a series of stories about diseases on the brink of ] was awarded the top prize by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Prize in Journalism in 2006.<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Dunavan|first=Claire Panosian|author-link=Claire Panosian|date=August 2019|title=Vaccine Confidential A Conversation with Donald G. McNeil Jr.|url=https://www.ajtmh.org/view/journals/tpmd/101/2/article-p472.xml|journal=The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene|volume=101|issue=2|pages=472–474|doi=10.4269/ajtmh.19-0427|pmid=31287040|pmc=6685584|issn=0002-9637}}</ref>


In 2013, he was featured in an acclaimed ] about AIDS drugs, '']''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bale|first=Miriam|date=September 5, 2013|title='Fire in the Blood' Spotlights AIDS in Africa|work=The New York Times|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/movies/fire-in-the-blood-spotlights-aids-in-africa.html?_r=0|url-status=live|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803111116/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/movies/fire-in-the-blood-spotlights-aids-in-africa.html?_r=0|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref> In 2013, he was featured in an acclaimed ] about AIDS drugs, '']''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Bale|first=Miriam|date=September 5, 2013|title='Fire in the Blood' Spotlights AIDS in Africa|work=The New York Times|url=https://movies.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/movies/fire-in-the-blood-spotlights-aids-in-africa.html?_r=0|url-status=live|access-date=January 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200803111116/https://www.nytimes.com/2013/09/06/movies/fire-in-the-blood-spotlights-aids-in-africa.html?_r=0|archive-date=August 3, 2020}}</ref>


McNeil began covering ] of the ] for ''The New York Times'' in late 2015.<ref name="WBUR" /> He gained attention for his coverage of viral outbreaks.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kiely|first=Kathy|title=Global Journalist: Covering Two Deadly Viruses|url=https://www.kbia.org/post/global-journalist-covering-two-deadly-viruses|work=]|date=22 April 2020|access-date=2021-02-09|quote=But ''New York Times'' reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr.'s interest in what would become the Zika epidemic has made him something of an expert on viral outbreaks.}}</ref> During the ], he became known for his early and persistent warnings about the severity of the situation.<ref name="Reader Center">{{cite news |last=Delkic |first=Melina |title=Our Infectious Diseases Reporter on the 'Urgent' Response to the Coronavirus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/reader-center/coronavirus-donald-mcneil.html |access-date=June 19, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> McNeil appeared on '']'' to talk about COVID-19 on February 27, 2020, marking him as one of the first to bring widespread attention to the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Coronavirus Goes Global |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/podcasts/the-daily/coronavirus.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=11 February 2021 |date=27 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Tani" /> He also interviewed Dr. ] about Fauci's working relationship with President ].<ref name="Tani" /> His early coverage and acclaimed writing made him one of the prominent journalists covering COVID-19.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kang |first=Shinhee |title=The best journalism of 2020: Covering the pandemic |url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/best-journalism-2020-pandemic-covid-19.php |magazine=] |date=15 December 2020|access-date=11 February 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Tani" /><ref name="VanityFair" /> In late 2015, McNeil began covering ] of the ] for ''The New York Times''.<ref name="WBUR" /> He gained attention for his coverage of viral outbreaks.<ref>{{Cite news|last=Kiely|first=Kathy|title=Global Journalist: Covering Two Deadly Viruses|url=https://www.kbia.org/post/global-journalist-covering-two-deadly-viruses|work=]|date=22 April 2020|access-date=2021-02-09|quote=But ''New York Times'' reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr.'s interest in what would become the Zika epidemic has made him something of an expert on viral outbreaks.}}</ref>
During the ], he became known for his early and persistent warnings about the severity of the situation.<ref name="Reader Center">{{cite news |last=Delkic |first=Melina |title=Our Infectious Diseases Reporter on the 'Urgent' Response to the Coronavirus |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/19/reader-center/coronavirus-donald-mcneil.html |access-date=June 19, 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=March 19, 2020}}</ref> McNeil appeared on '']'' to discuss COVID-19 on February 27, 2020, marking him as one of the first to bring widespread attention to the ].<ref>{{cite news |title=The Coronavirus Goes Global |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/27/podcasts/the-daily/coronavirus.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=11 February 2021 |date=27 February 2020}}</ref><ref name="Tani" /> He also interviewed Dr. ] about Fauci's working relationship with President ].<ref name="Tani" /> His early coverage and acclaimed writing made him one of the prominent journalists covering COVID-19.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Kang |first=Shinhee |title=The best journalism of 2020: Covering the pandemic |url=https://www.cjr.org/the_media_today/best-journalism-2020-pandemic-covid-19.php |magazine=] |date=15 December 2020|access-date=11 February 2021 }}</ref><ref name="Tani" /><ref name="VanityFair" /> He was the author of two of the fifteen articles about the coronavirus pandemic that won the 2021 ] for the ''Times''.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Robertson |first1=Katie |title=Pulitzer Prizes Focus on Coverage of Pandemic and Law Enforcement |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/11/business/media/pulitzer-prizes.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=27 June 2021 |date=2021-06-11}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Jones |first1=Tom |title=A special Poynter Report: Looking at this year's Pulitzer Prizes |url=https://www.poynter.org/newsletters/2021/a-special-poynter-report-looking-at-this-years-pulitzer-prizes/ |website=Poynter |access-date=27 June 2021 |date=2021-06-14}}</ref>


=== Contract negotiations with ''The New York Times'' === === Contract negotiations with ''The New York Times'' ===
McNeil was part of a brief walk-out during contract negotiations between newsroom members of the Newspaper Guild of New York and the management of ''The New York Times''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beaujon|first=Andrew |date=2012-10-10|title=Guild: New York Times management canceled today's negotiations, plans 'final offer' tomorrow|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/guild-new-york-times-management-walked-out-of-negotiations/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Poynter}}</ref> During negotiations on October 12, 2012, McNeil reported that 375 union members had walked out of the New York City offices and another 23 had walked out of the Washington D.C. newsroom.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moos|first=Julie |date=2012-10-08|title=New York Times union members stage brief walkout to protest contract negotiations|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/new-york-times-union-members-stage-brief-walkout-to-protest-contract-negotiations/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=Poynter}}</ref> At the time, union members had been without a contract for 18 months and talks over pension payments were at a standstill. McNeil was joined by many other prominent reporters and editors in directing harsh criticism at the paper.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-10-09|title=New York Times' Donald G. McNeil Jr. On Contract Talks: Management Has 'Acted Like Belligerent Idiots'|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-mcneil-new-york-times-contract_n_1950887|access-date=2021-02-10|website=]}}</ref> McNeil was part of a brief ] during contract negotiations between newsroom members of the ] and the management of ''The New York Times''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Beaujon|first=Andrew |date=2012-10-10|title=Guild: New York Times management canceled today's negotiations, plans 'final offer' tomorrow|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/guild-new-york-times-management-walked-out-of-negotiations/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=poynter.org|publisher=]}}</ref> During negotiations on October 12, 2012, McNeil reported that 375 union members had walked out of the New York City offices and another 23 had walked out of the Washington D.C. newsroom.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Moos|first=Julie |date=2012-10-08|title=New York Times union members stage brief walkout to protest contract negotiations|url=https://www.poynter.org/reporting-editing/2012/new-york-times-union-members-stage-brief-walkout-to-protest-contract-negotiations/|access-date=2021-02-10|website=poynter.org|publisher=Poynter Institute}}</ref> At the time, union members had been without a contract for 18 months and talks over pension payments were at a standstill. McNeil was joined by many other prominent reporters and editors in directing harsh criticism at the paper.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2012-10-09|title=New York Times' Donald G. McNeil Jr. On Contract Talks: Management Has 'Acted Like Belligerent Idiots'|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/donald-mcneil-new-york-times-contract_n_1950887|access-date=2021-02-10|website=]}}</ref>


=== Dismissal from ''The New York Times'' === === Dismissal from ''The New York Times'' ===
In 2019 McNeil accompanied a group of high school students on a ''New York Times'' sponsored trip to ]. The purpose of the trip was for the students to learn about community-based healthcare in Peru. On January 28, 2021, '']'' reported that multiple participants accused McNeil of repeatedly making racist and sexist remarks, including the use of the word "]" in the context of discussing racist language, as well as " stereotypes about Black teenagers".<ref name="Tani">{{Cite web|last=Tani|first=Maxwell|last2=Cartwright|first2=Lachlan|date=January 28, 2021|title=Star NY Times Reporter Accused of Using 'N-Word,' Making Other Racist Comments|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/star-new-york-times-reporter-donald-mcneil-accused-of-using-n-word-making-other-racist-comments|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207025440/https://www.thedailybeast.com/star-new-york-times-reporter-donald-mcneil-accused-of-using-n-word-making-other-racist-comments|archive-date=February 7, 2021|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=]}}</ref> McNeil initially released a very short statement to '']'', saying "Don't believe everything you read", which led to 150 ''Times'' employees signing an internal letter on February 3, demanding an apology from McNeil.<ref name="VanityFair">{{cite magazine |last=Pompeo |first=Joe |title="It's Chaos": Behind the Scenes of Donald McNeil's New York Times Exit |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/02/behind-the-scenes-of-donald-mcneils-new-york-times-exit |magazine=] |date=10 February 2021|access-date=11 February 2021 }}</ref> In 2019 McNeil accompanied a group of high school students on a ''New York Times'' sponsored trip to ]. The purpose of the trip was for the students to learn about community-based healthcare in Peru. On January 28, 2021, '']'' reported that multiple participants accused McNeil of repeatedly making racist and sexist remarks, including having used the word "]" in the context of discussing racist language, as well as " stereotypes about Black teenagers".<ref name="Tani">{{Cite web|last1=Tani|first1=Maxwell|last2=Cartwright|first2=Lachlan|date=January 28, 2021|title=Star NY Times Reporter Accused of Using 'N-Word,' Making Other Racist Comments|url=https://www.thedailybeast.com/star-new-york-times-reporter-donald-mcneil-accused-of-using-n-word-making-other-racist-comments|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210207025440/https://www.thedailybeast.com/star-new-york-times-reporter-donald-mcneil-accused-of-using-n-word-making-other-racist-comments|archive-date=February 7, 2021|access-date=January 28, 2021|website=]}}</ref> McNeil initially released a very short statement to '']'', saying "Don't believe everything you read", which led to 150 ''Times'' employees signing an internal letter on February 3, demanding an apology from McNeil.<ref name="VanityFair">{{cite magazine |last=Pompeo |first=Joe |title="It's Chaos": Behind the Scenes of Donald McNeil's New York Times Exit |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2021/02/behind-the-scenes-of-donald-mcneils-new-york-times-exit |magazine=] |date=10 February 2021|access-date=11 February 2021 }}</ref>

''The New York Times'' said they had "disciplined Donald for statements and language that had been inappropriate and inconsistent with our values" after initial complaints in 2019,<ref name="VanityFair" /> writing that the ''Times'' "found had used bad judgment by repeating a racist slur in the context of a conversation about racist language".<ref name="Tani" /> However, in the week after ''The Daily Beast'' report, other unrelated complaints about McNeil's professionalism arose, and he began to negotiate his resignation.<ref name="VanityFair" />


On February 5, ''The New York Times'' announced that McNeil would be leaving.<ref>{{cite news|last=Folkenflik|first=David|author-link=David Folkenflik|date=February 6, 2021|title=Two Prominent 'New York Times' Journalists Depart Over Past Behavior|work=]|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/06/964618301/two-prominent-new-york-times-journalists-depart-over-past-behavior|url-status=live|accessdate=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206193126/https://www.npr.org/2021/02/06/964618301/two-prominent-new-york-times-journalists-depart-over-past-behavior|archive-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref><ref name="VanityFair" /> In the announcement McNeil apologized, saying that he had been "asked at dinner by a student whether thought a classmate of hers should have been suspended for a video she had made as a 12-year-old in which she used a racial slur. To understand what was in the video, asked if she had called someone else the slur or whether she was rapping or quoting a book title. In asking the question, used the slur itself."<ref name="VanityFair" /> ''The New York Times'' said they had "disciplined Donald for statements and language that had been inappropriate and inconsistent with our values" after initial complaints in 2019,<ref name="VanityFair" /> writing that the ''Times'' "found had used bad judgment by repeating a ] in the context of a conversation about racist language".<ref name="Tani" /> On February 5, 2021, ''The New York Times'' announced that McNeil would be leaving.<ref>{{cite news|last=Folkenflik|first=David|author-link=David Folkenflik|date=February 6, 2021|title=Two Prominent 'New York Times' Journalists Depart Over Past Behavior|work=]|url=https://www.npr.org/2021/02/06/964618301/two-prominent-new-york-times-journalists-depart-over-past-behavior|url-status=live|accessdate=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206193126/https://www.npr.org/2021/02/06/964618301/two-prominent-new-york-times-journalists-depart-over-past-behavior|archive-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref><ref name="VanityFair" /> In the announcement McNeil apologized, saying that he had been "asked at dinner by a student whether thought a classmate of hers should have been suspended for a video she had made as a 12-year-old in which she used a racial slur. To understand what was in the video, asked if she had called someone else the slur or whether she was rapping or quoting a book title. In asking the question, used the slur itself."<ref name="VanityFair" />


In March 2021, McNeil published an essay on ] contesting the students' allegations and criticizing the ''Times''' handling of his case.<ref>{{Cite web|last=McNeil|first=Donald G. Jr.|date=2021-03-01|title=NYTimes Peru N-Word, Part One: Introduction|url=https://donaldgmcneiljr1954.medium.com/nytimes-peru-n-word-part-one-introduction-57eb6a3e0d95|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Tracy |first=Marc |title=Ex-Times Reporter Who Used Racial Slur Publishes a Lengthy Defense |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/03/01/business/donald-mcneil-new-york-times-racial-slur.html |work=The New York Times |access-date=2 March 2021 |date=1 March 2021}}</ref><ref name="Guardian-1Mar2021">{{cite news |last=McCarthy |first=Tom |title=Reporter says New York Times panicked over alleged racism case that led to his resignation |url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2021/mar/01/new-york-times-reporter-donald-mcneil-medium-post |work=] |access-date=2 March 2021 |date=1 March 2021}}</ref> Describing his interactions with the high school students on the trip to Peru, McNeil wrote, "I thought I was generally arguing in favor of open-mindedness and tolerance — but it clearly didn't come across that way. And my bristliness makes me an imperfect pedagogue for sensitive teenagers."<ref>{{Cite web|last=McNeil|first=Donald G. Jr.|date=2021-03-12|title=NYTimes Peru N-Word, Part Four: What Happened in Peru?|url=https://donaldgmcneiljr1954.medium.com/nytimes-peru-n-word-part-four-what-happened-in-peru-2a641a9b5e83|access-date=2021-03-25|website=Medium|language=en}}</ref><ref name="Hill-1Mar2021">{{cite web |url=https://thehill.com/homenews/media/541039-ousted-nyt-reporter-says-hes-been-a-jackal-circled-by-jackals |title=Ousted NYT reporter says he's been a jackal circled by jackals |first=Thomas |last=Moore |work=The Hill |date=1 March 2021 |accessdate=24 March 2021}}</ref>
Conservative commentators including ] have criticized the decision to dismiss McNeil, saying that "there is a profound difference between using a racial epithet in the course of a discussion about that racial epithet's use, and using a racial epithet to diminish or to wound someone".<ref name="Cooke">{{cite magazine|last=Cooke|first=Charles|author-link=Charles C. W. Cooke|date=February 6, 2021|title=The New York Times's Internal Mob Takes Down Another of Its Own|magazine=]|url=https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-new-york-timess-internal-mob-takes-down-another-of-its-own/|url-status=live|access-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206235259/https://www.nationalreview.com/corner/the-new-york-timess-internal-mob-takes-down-another-of-its-own/|archive-date=February 6, 2021}}</ref> Writer ] described McNeil's dismissal as "one of the most shocking examples yet of ]".<ref name="Dreher">{{cite magazine|last=Dreher|first=Rod|author-link=Rod Dreher|date=February 5, 2021|title=Times Pushes Don McN-Word Out|url=https://www.theamericanconservative.com/dreher/times-pushes-donald-mcneil-out/|url-status=live|access-date=February 5, 2021|magazine=]}}</ref>


== Personal life == == Personal life ==
McNeil lives in ]. He has two daughters and a stepson.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/m/donald_g_jr_mcneil/index.html |title=Donald G. McNeil Jr.|work=The New York Times |access-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507044203/http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/m/donald_g_jr_mcneil/index.html|archive-date=May 7, 2010}}</ref> McNeil lives in ]. He was previously married to ], also a journalist for the ''Times''. He has two daughters and a stepson.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/m/donald_g_jr_mcneil/index.html |title=Donald G. McNeil Jr.|work=The New York Times |access-date=November 28, 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100507044203/http://topics.nytimes.com/topics/reference/timestopics/people/m/donald_g_jr_mcneil/index.html|archive-date=May 7, 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Hannerz |first=Ulf |author-link=Ulf Hannerz |year=2012 |title=Foreign News: Exploring the World of Foreign Correspondents |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CXCHkyeHsW0C&pg=PA98 |location=Chicago |publisher=University of Chicago Press |page=98 |isbn=978-0-226-92253-9}}</ref>


== Books == == Books ==
* ''Zika: The Emerging Epidemic'' (2016, ])<ref name="WBUR">{{Cite news|title='Zika: The Emerging Epidemic' Takes An In-Depth Look At The Virus|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/08/11/zika-emerging-epidemic-mcneil|work=]|date=11 August 2016|access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref> * ''Zika: The Emerging Epidemic'' (2016, ])<ref name="WBUR">{{Cite news|title='Zika: The Emerging Epidemic' Takes An In-Depth Look At The Virus|url=https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2016/08/11/zika-emerging-epidemic-mcneil|work=]|date=11 August 2016|access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref>
*{{cite book |title=The Wisdom of Plagues: Lessons from 25 Years of Covering Pandemics |date=2024 |publisher=Simon & Schuster |isbn=9781668001394}}, favourably reviewed by ].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Horton |first=Richard |date=2024-04-19 |title=Offline: America's reckoning |journal=The Lancet |volume=403 |issue=10436 |pages=1525 |doi=10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00804-3 |issn=0140-6736|doi-access=free |pmid=38642941 }}</ref>


==Awards== ==Awards==
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* 2012 – Third Place, Beat Reporting, ]<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 25, 2013|title=2012 winners named in top health journalism awards|url=https://healthjournalism.org/about-news-detail.php?id=163|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030043109if_/https://healthjournalism.org/about-news-detail.php?id=163#.X5uXFmj7S70|archive-date=October 30, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=healthjournalism.org|publisher=]}}</ref> * 2012 – Third Place, Beat Reporting, ]<ref>{{Cite web|date=February 25, 2013|title=2012 winners named in top health journalism awards|url=https://healthjournalism.org/about-news-detail.php?id=163|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030043109if_/https://healthjournalism.org/about-news-detail.php?id=163#.X5uXFmj7S70|archive-date=October 30, 2020|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=healthjournalism.org|publisher=]}}</ref>
* 2013 – Third Place, Beat Reporting, Association of Health Care Journalists<ref>{{Cite web|title=Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism: 2013 winners|url=https://healthjournalism.org/awards-winners.php?Year=2013|website=healthjournalism.org|publisher=Association of Health Care Journalists|access-date=December 8, 2020}}</ref> * 2013 – Third Place, Beat Reporting, Association of Health Care Journalists<ref>{{Cite web|title=Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism: 2013 winners|url=https://healthjournalism.org/awards-winners.php?Year=2013|website=healthjournalism.org|publisher=Association of Health Care Journalists|access-date=December 8, 2020}}</ref>
* 2020 – ]<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 29, 2020|title=New York Times Science and Health Reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr. Wins Prestigious 2020 John Chancellor Award|url=https://journalism.columbia.edu/donald-mcneil-jr-2020-chancellor-award|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130115205/https://journalism.columbia.edu/donald-mcneil-jr-2020-chancellor-award|archive-date=January 30, 2021|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=journalism.columbia.edu|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|author=Alfred I. duPont Awards|title=2020 CHANCELLOR CEREMONY - DONALD G. MCNEIL, JR.|date=2020-11-19|via=]|url=https://vimeo.com/481387282|access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref> * 2020 – ]<ref>{{Cite web|date=September 29, 2020|title=New York Times Science and Health Reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr. Wins Prestigious 2020 John Chancellor Award|url=https://journalism.columbia.edu/donald-mcneil-jr-2020-chancellor-award|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210130115205/https://journalism.columbia.edu/donald-mcneil-jr-2020-chancellor-award|archive-date=January 30, 2021|access-date=December 8, 2020|website=journalism.columbia.edu|publisher=]}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|publisher=Alfred I. duPont Awards|title=2020 Chancellor Ceremony - Donald G. McNeil, Jr.|date=2020-11-19|via=]|url=https://vimeo.com/481387282|access-date=2021-02-09}}</ref>


==References== ==References==
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==External links== ==External links==
* *
* on ]
*, ''Charlie Rose''
⚫ *{{C-SPAN|104145}}
*
⚫ *{{C-SPAN|Donald McNeil}}


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Latest revision as of 01:00, 1 July 2024

American science and health journalist

Donald McNeil Jr.
BornDonald Gerard McNeil Jr.
(1954-02-01) February 1, 1954 (age 70)
San Francisco, California, U.S.
OccupationJournalist
Alma materUniversity of California, Berkeley (BA)
SubjectsScience and health reporting
Years active1976–present
Notable worksZika: The Emerging Epidemic (2016)
Spouse Suzanne Daley ​ ​(m. 1980; div. 2003)​

Donald Gerard McNeil Jr. (born February 1, 1954) is an American journalist. He was a science and health reporter for The New York Times where he reported on epidemics, including HIV/AIDS and the COVID-19 pandemic. His reporting on COVID-19 earned him widespread recognition for being one of the earliest and most prominent voices covering the pandemic.

In February 2021, McNeil resigned under pressure from The New York Times following reports that high-school students on a trip to Peru organized by the Times accused McNeil of making racially offensive remarks. After his resignation, McNeil published a lengthy response, disputing the high-school students' accusations and criticizing the Times.

Early life and education

McNeil was born on February 1, 1954, in San Francisco. He graduated summa cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley, in 1975 with a bachelor's degree in rhetoric.

Career

McNeil started at The New York Times in 1976 as a copy boy. He left in 1979 to teach journalism at Columbia University while studying history. From 1995 to 2002, he was a foreign correspondent based in South Africa and France. It was during this time that McNeil began covering HIV/AIDS and took an interest in vaccine-preventable diseases.

In 2002, McNeil joined the science staff of The New York Times and was assigned to cover global health. McNeil's later work on a series of stories about diseases on the brink of eradication was awarded the top prize by the Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Prize in Journalism in 2006.

In 2013, he was featured in an acclaimed documentary about AIDS drugs, Fire in the Blood.

In late 2015, McNeil began covering the outbreak of the Zika virus for The New York Times. He gained attention for his coverage of viral outbreaks.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, he became known for his early and persistent warnings about the severity of the situation. McNeil appeared on The Daily to discuss COVID-19 on February 27, 2020, marking him as one of the first to bring widespread attention to the COVID-19 virus in the United States. He also interviewed Dr. Anthony Fauci about Fauci's working relationship with President Donald Trump. His early coverage and acclaimed writing made him one of the prominent journalists covering COVID-19. He was the author of two of the fifteen articles about the coronavirus pandemic that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for the Times.

Contract negotiations with The New York Times

McNeil was part of a brief walkout during contract negotiations between newsroom members of the Newspaper Guild of New York and the management of The New York Times. During negotiations on October 12, 2012, McNeil reported that 375 union members had walked out of the New York City offices and another 23 had walked out of the Washington D.C. newsroom. At the time, union members had been without a contract for 18 months and talks over pension payments were at a standstill. McNeil was joined by many other prominent reporters and editors in directing harsh criticism at the paper.

Dismissal from The New York Times

In 2019 McNeil accompanied a group of high school students on a New York Times sponsored trip to Peru. The purpose of the trip was for the students to learn about community-based healthcare in Peru. On January 28, 2021, The Daily Beast reported that multiple participants accused McNeil of repeatedly making racist and sexist remarks, including having used the word "nigger" in the context of discussing racist language, as well as " stereotypes about Black teenagers". McNeil initially released a very short statement to The Washington Post, saying "Don't believe everything you read", which led to 150 Times employees signing an internal letter on February 3, demanding an apology from McNeil.

The New York Times said they had "disciplined Donald for statements and language that had been inappropriate and inconsistent with our values" after initial complaints in 2019, writing that the Times "found had used bad judgment by repeating a racist slur in the context of a conversation about racist language". On February 5, 2021, The New York Times announced that McNeil would be leaving. In the announcement McNeil apologized, saying that he had been "asked at dinner by a student whether thought a classmate of hers should have been suspended for a video she had made as a 12-year-old in which she used a racial slur. To understand what was in the video, asked if she had called someone else the slur or whether she was rapping or quoting a book title. In asking the question, used the slur itself."

In March 2021, McNeil published an essay on Medium contesting the students' allegations and criticizing the Times' handling of his case. Describing his interactions with the high school students on the trip to Peru, McNeil wrote, "I thought I was generally arguing in favor of open-mindedness and tolerance — but it clearly didn't come across that way. And my bristliness makes me an imperfect pedagogue for sensitive teenagers."

Personal life

McNeil lives in Brooklyn. He was previously married to Suzanne Daley, also a journalist for the Times. He has two daughters and a stepson.

Books

Awards

References

  1. ^ McCarthy, Tom (March 1, 2021). "Reporter says New York Times panicked over alleged racism case that led to his resignation". The Guardian. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  2. "Poynter Fellowship in Journalism: Donald McNeil". communications.yale.edu. Office of Public Affairs & Communications, Yale University. May 27, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  3. "Philanthropy in Global Health: Speakers". baselgovernance.org. Basel Institute on Governance. Archived from the original on July 25, 2011. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  4. Dunavan, Claire Panosian (August 2019). "Vaccine Confidential A Conversation with Donald G. McNeil Jr". The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. 101 (2): 472–474. doi:10.4269/ajtmh.19-0427. ISSN 0002-9637. PMC 6685584. PMID 31287040.
  5. Bale, Miriam (September 5, 2013). "'Fire in the Blood' Spotlights AIDS in Africa". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 3, 2020. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  6. ^ "'Zika: The Emerging Epidemic' Takes An In-Depth Look At The Virus". WBUR-FM. August 11, 2016. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
  7. Kiely, Kathy (April 22, 2020). "Global Journalist: Covering Two Deadly Viruses". KBIA. Retrieved February 9, 2021. But New York Times reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr.'s interest in what would become the Zika epidemic has made him something of an expert on viral outbreaks.
  8. Delkic, Melina (March 19, 2020). "Our Infectious Diseases Reporter on the 'Urgent' Response to the Coronavirus". The New York Times. Retrieved June 19, 2020.
  9. "The Coronavirus Goes Global". The New York Times. February 27, 2020. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  10. ^ Tani, Maxwell; Cartwright, Lachlan (January 28, 2021). "Star NY Times Reporter Accused of Using 'N-Word,' Making Other Racist Comments". The Daily Beast. Archived from the original on February 7, 2021. Retrieved January 28, 2021.
  11. Kang, Shinhee (December 15, 2020). "The best journalism of 2020: Covering the pandemic". Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  12. ^ Pompeo, Joe (February 10, 2021). ""It's Chaos": Behind the Scenes of Donald McNeil's New York Times Exit". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  13. Robertson, Katie (June 11, 2021). "Pulitzer Prizes Focus on Coverage of Pandemic and Law Enforcement". The New York Times. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  14. Jones, Tom (June 14, 2021). "A special Poynter Report: Looking at this year's Pulitzer Prizes". Poynter. Retrieved June 27, 2021.
  15. Beaujon, Andrew (October 10, 2012). "Guild: New York Times management canceled today's negotiations, plans 'final offer' tomorrow". poynter.org. Poynter Institute. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  16. Moos, Julie (October 8, 2012). "New York Times union members stage brief walkout to protest contract negotiations". poynter.org. Poynter Institute. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  17. "New York Times' Donald G. McNeil Jr. On Contract Talks: Management Has 'Acted Like Belligerent Idiots'". HuffPost. October 9, 2012. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
  18. Folkenflik, David (February 6, 2021). "Two Prominent 'New York Times' Journalists Depart Over Past Behavior". NPR. Archived from the original on February 6, 2021. Retrieved February 6, 2021.
  19. McNeil, Donald G. Jr. (March 1, 2021). "NYTimes Peru N-Word, Part One: Introduction". Medium. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  20. Tracy, Marc (March 1, 2021). "Ex-Times Reporter Who Used Racial Slur Publishes a Lengthy Defense". The New York Times. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  21. McNeil, Donald G. Jr. (March 12, 2021). "NYTimes Peru N-Word, Part Four: What Happened in Peru?". Medium. Retrieved March 25, 2021.
  22. Moore, Thomas (March 1, 2021). "Ousted NYT reporter says he's been a jackal circled by jackals". The Hill. Retrieved March 24, 2021.
  23. "Donald G. McNeil Jr". The New York Times. Archived from the original on May 7, 2010. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  24. Hannerz, Ulf (2012). Foreign News: Exploring the World of Foreign Correspondents. Chicago: University of Chicago Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-226-92253-9.
  25. Horton, Richard (April 19, 2024). "Offline: America's reckoning". The Lancet. 403 (10436): 1525. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(24)00804-3. ISSN 0140-6736. PMID 38642941.
  26. "2002 NABJ Award Winners". nabj.org. National Association of Black Journalists. Archived from the original on August 3, 2002. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
  27. "2006 OPC Award Winners". opcofamerica.org. Overseas Press Club of America. May 1, 2007. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved January 22, 2021.
  28. "2007: Donald McNeil, Jr. and Celia W. Dugger, "Disease on the Brink" New York Times". rfkcenter.org. Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice & Human Rights. Archived from the original on January 8, 2011. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  29. "2012 winners named in top health journalism awards". healthjournalism.org. Association of Health Care Journalists. February 25, 2013. Archived from the original on October 30, 2020. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  30. "Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism: 2013 winners". healthjournalism.org. Association of Health Care Journalists. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  31. "New York Times Science and Health Reporter Donald G. McNeil Jr. Wins Prestigious 2020 John Chancellor Award". journalism.columbia.edu. Columbia Journalism School. September 29, 2020. Archived from the original on January 30, 2021. Retrieved December 8, 2020.
  32. 2020 Chancellor Ceremony - Donald G. McNeil, Jr. Alfred I. duPont Awards. November 19, 2020. Retrieved February 9, 2021 – via Vimeo.

External links

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