Mark Skinner Watson (June 24, 1887 – March 25, 1966) was an American editor and correspondent forThe Baltimore Sun between the 1920s and 1960s. Watson started his journalism career in 1908 before entering The Baltimore Sun in 1920 as an assistant managing editor. After being named a Sunday editor for the Baltimore newspaper in 1941, Watson moved to military correspondence in 1941. While holding this position until the 1960s, Watson covered multiple topics including thenuclear testing at Bikini Atoll, the invention of thenuclear submarine and theKorean War. During his career, Watson received the 1945Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting - International and thePresidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.
On June 24, 1887, Watson was born inPlattsburgh, New York. For his post-secondary education, Watson received aBachelor of Arts fromUnion College in 1908.[1]
During his education, Watson began his journalism career as a reporter for thePlattsburgh Press in 1908. After leaving the newspaper in 1909, he worked for theChicago Tribune as an overseascorrespondent until 1917. While with Chicago, he briefly was the director of publicity for thePanama–California Exposition from 1914 to 1915.[1] Upon ending his correspondence position, Watson served in theUnited States Army from 1917 to 1920 as an intelligence officer.[2][3] AfterWorld War I, Watson was a managing editor for theLadies' Home Journal in 1920 before joiningThe Baltimore Sun that year.[2]
With Baltimore, Watson started as an assistant managing editor in 1920 before being named the Sunday edition editor in 1927.[2] In 1939, Watson began writing stories onWorld War II before becoming a military correspondent for the Baltimore newspaper in 1941. During the war, Watson reported on the war inNorth Africa andEurope before returning to the United States Army in 1944.[4] After the end of the Second World War, Watson wrote additional military stories for the Baltimore Sun until 1966. Some of the topics that Watson covered during this time period included thenuclear testing at Bikini Atoll, the debut of the firstnuclear submarine, and theKorean War.[5][3]
During his tenure with the Baltimore Sun, Watson was awarded the 1945Pulitzer Prize for Telegraphic Reporting - International.[6] He later received thePresidential Medal of Freedom in 1963.[3]
Watson died on March 25, 1966, inBaltimore, Maryland.[7] He was married and had two children.[2]
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