Quick Facts
Biography
Salim Muwakkil (born Alonzo James Cannady, January 20, 1947) is an American journalist based in Chicago. He is a senior editor at In These Times and an op-ed columnist for the Chicago Tribune. Muwakkil writes on African American issues, Middle East politics, and US foreign policy. Currently a Crime and Communities Media Fellow of the Open Society Institute, he also teaches a seminar on race, media, and politics for the Urban Studies Program of the Associated Colleges of the Midwest.
Education
Muwakkil attended Rutgers University and graduated with a BA in Political Science in 1973.
Background
In the 1960s, Muwakkil was a member of the US. Air Force stationed in Germany. He joined the Black Panther Party directly after his discharge.
Shortly before his graduation, Muwakkil began his journalism career at the Associated Press in Newark, New Jersey as a reporter.
Later, he joined the Nation of Islam. He moved to Muhammad Speaks and its successor Bilalian News as a copy editor and then managing editor.He is now a former activist in that movement.
After moving to Chicago, Muwakkil joined the staff at In These Times in 1983 and became a contributing writer to the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune.
Muwakkil serves as board member for the Progressive Media Project and the Chicago-based Public Square. In the past he has been an adjunct professor at Columbia College, Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.
Career
He hosts "The Salim Muwakkil" show on WVON, Chicago's historic Black radio station.
Publication
Other publications in which Muwakkil's work has appeared include The Washington Post, ″The New York Times Book Review″, The Chicago Reader, The Progressive, Newsday, Cineaste, The Baltimore Sun, Z Magazine, Toronto Star, The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Utne Reader.
Recognition
Muwakkil has won several journalism awards including:
- 1994 Top Ten Media Heroes - Institute of Alternative Journalism
- 1997 Black Rose Achievement Award - League of Black Women
- 2001 Studs Terkel Award for Journalistic Excellence - Chicago-based Community Media Workshop
- 2004 Lillian Award for Excellence in Journalism - Delta Sigma Theta sorority