Howell Hiram Raines, a renowned American journalist, editor, and writer, was born on February 5, 1943. He is perhaps best known for serving as the executive editor of The New York Times from 2001 until his departure in 2003, amidst the scandal surrounding the reporting of Jayson Blair.
Prior to his tenure at The Times, Raines began his journalism career in the Southern United States, working for various newspapers. He later joined The Times in 1978, taking on the role of national correspondent based in Atlanta, Georgia. Throughout his career, he has held various positions, including political correspondent, bureau chief in Atlanta and Washington, D.C., and member of the New York City staff, which he joined in 1993.
In addition to his extensive work in journalism, Raines has also ventured into literature, publishing a novel, two memoirs, an oral history of the civil rights movement, and a comprehensive history of the Union soldiers from Alabama who played a pivotal role in the American Civil War, despite being largely overlooked in historical accounts.
