Best business news reporting from abroad
AWARD YEAR: 1980
AWARD NAME: Best Business News Reporting From Abroad
AWARD RECIPIENT: Thomas L. Friedman
AWARD RECIPIENT AFFILIATION: United Press International
AWARD HONORED WORK: Middle East coverage
The Arab world, which oil has turned from a vague geographic recollection into an imminent and urgent force in the lives of Americans, is Thomas Friedman’s beat. From his
base in Beirut, the UPI’s chief Middle East correspondent has traveled thousands of miles in his coverage. Fluent in Arabic, Hebrew and French, he has interviewed hundreds of
people, from small traders to government ministers, and his reports have described Arab interests and attitudes lucidly. He joined UPI in London in 1978 after receiving degrees from Brandeis and from Oxford.
Citations were awarded to Ronald Taggiasco and John Pearson of Business Week for “What Really Keeps the Italian Economy Afloat,” and to Leonard Downie Jr. of The Washington Post for “Articles on Britain.”
Judges: Margaret Klein (chairman), Willard C. Rappleye, Jr., Frederic lMegold.