Longtime New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof announced that he’s departing the newspaper. Despite the announcement coming Thursday, Kristof has been on leave since June as he explores a run for governor of Oregon.
Kristof, a two-time Pulitzer Prize winner, has been with The Times for 37 years, but as he weighs a possible bid to replace Gov. Kate Brown, it was clear that the 62-year-old had to move on.
Over the years, Kristof has held various titles with the newspaper, beginning as a reporter in 1984. Then he transitioned to a foreign correspondent, where he won one of his Pulitzer prizes. He finally settled into his columnist in 2001.
“An Opinion columnist since 2001, Nick redefined the role in the best possible way — elevating the journalistic form to a new height of public service with a mix of incisive reporting, profound empathy, and a determination to bear witness to those struggling and suffering across the globe,” The Times wrote in a statement.
Kristof commented in the statement thanking those who made it possible to stick around at a newspaper for nearly 40 years.
“When Abe Rosenthal hired me in 1984 to cover international economics for The Times, I figured I would leave only by retirement,” Nick said. “This has been my dream job, even with malaria, a plane crash in Congo, and periodic arrests abroad for committing journalism. Yet here I am, resigning — very reluctantly,” Kristof said.
“I’ve been on the ride of a lifetime with The Times. I’ve gotten to know presidents and tyrants, Nobel laureates, and warlords while visiting 160 countries. And precisely because I have a great job, outstanding editors, and the best readers, I may be an idiot to leave. But you all know how much I love Oregon and how much I’ve been seared by the suffering of old friends there. So I’ve reluctantly concluded that I should try not only to expose problems but also see if I can fix them directly.”