John S. Carroll

author

John S. Carroll

A deeply respected newspaper editor, he helped lead major American papers through some of their strongest reporting years. His career was marked by high standards, big investigative ambition, and a strong belief that journalism should serve readers first.

1 Audiobook

Hsilgne Esrever

by John S. Carroll

About the author

John S. Carroll was an American journalist and editor best known for leading the Lexington Herald-Leader, The Baltimore Sun, and the Los Angeles Times. Born in New York City in 1942, he graduated from Haverford College with a degree in English before building a career in reporting and editing.

He earned a reputation as a thoughtful, demanding editor who backed ambitious public-service reporting. During his years at the Los Angeles Times, the paper won 13 Pulitzer Prizes in five years, and he was also widely praised for his work at the Baltimore Sun and the Lexington Herald-Leader. He later served on the Pulitzer Prize Board and was chairman in 2002.

Carroll died in Lexington, Kentucky, in 2015 at age 73. He is still remembered in journalism circles as an editor with strong principles, sharp news instincts, and a lasting influence on American newspaper reporting.