Robert Dennis McFadden (born February 11, 1937) is an American journalist who worked forThe New York Times from 1961 to 2024. He won aPulitzer Prize in 1996.^[1]

McFadden was born inMilwaukee on February 11, 1937.^[2] He was raised in both Chicago and the small town ofCumberland, Wisconsin. He attended theUniversity of Wisconsin–Eau Claire, and graduated from the journalism school of theUniversity of Wisconsin–Madison in 1960 with a B.S. in Journalism.^[2][3] He moved to New York City in 1961 with the intention of applying to only one newspaper—the only paper for which he wanted to work—and his hopes were realized when he was soon hired byThe New York Times. His literary writing style, strict adherence to journalistic principles, and tireless ability to "beat the deadline" won him accolades as both a writer and journalist, and he has since received numerous awards for excellence in journalism. McFadden, a celebrated Senior Writer, has remained at theTimes for over 60 years, and continues his work through the present day. In 1996, he won the annualPulitzer Prize for Spot News Reporting, citing "his highly skilled writing and reporting on deadline during the year" (1995).^[1]

From 1957 to 1958, McFadden was a reporter forThe Wisconsin Rapids Daily Tribune. From 1958 to 1959, he was a reporter forThe Wisconsin State Journal in Madison and after he graduated from University of Wisconsin–Madison, worked forThe Cincinnati Enquirer. In 1961, he was hired byThe New York Times, where he remained for the next six decades as a reporter andrewrite man.^[4] His writing has covered a wide range of topics including plane crashes, hurricanes, strikes, blackouts, government affairs, health, crime, transportation, politics, education, the environment, and mass media.^[2]

McFadden retired from theTimes on September 2, 2024.^[5] As of his retirement, he was listed as senior writer on the newspaper's Obituaries desk.^[6][7] Because he focused on advance obituaries, written before the deaths of their subjects, he retired with hundreds of obituaries yet to run.^[5]

McFadden and his wife Judith have a son named Nolan, and live inManhattan, New York.^[2]

McFadden has received 18 major journalistic awards and sevenNew York Times Publisher’s Awards, He was named a Senior Writer in January 1990.^[8]

• New York Press Club's Byline Award for Spot News Reporting in 1973, 1974, 1980, 1987 and 1989
• New York Newspaper Guild's Page One Award for Local Reporting
• Peter Kihss Award from the Society of the Silurians
• University of Wisconsin–Madison Chancellor's Award for Distinguished Service to Journalism and Mass Communication^[2]

• McFadden, Robert (1981).No hiding place: the New York Times inside report on the hostage crisis. New York:Times Books.ISBN 978-0-8129-0980-7.
• McFadden, Robert (1990).Outrage: The Story Behind the Tawana Brawley Hoax. New York:Bantam Books.ISBN 978-0-553-05756-0.

• Robert D. McFadden atLibrary of Congress, with 2 library catalog records

• 1937 births
• Living people
• 20th-century American journalists
• 21st-century American journalists
• 20th-century American male journalists
• The Cincinnati Enquirer people
• Journalists from Milwaukee
• The New York Times journalists
• Obituary writers
• People from Cumberland, Wisconsin
• Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Reporting winners
• University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire alumni
• University of Wisconsin–Madison School of Journalism & Mass Communication alumni
• Writers from Milwaukee
• 21st-century American male journalists

• Articles with short description
• Short description is different from Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from February 2024
• Articles with hCards