Jacqui Banaszynski spent 20 years as a beat and enterprise reporter, then worked as projects editor at newspapers in the Midwest and Pacific Northwest.

For her series “AIDS in the Heartland” — an intimate look at the life and death of a gay farm couple, published in the St. Paul Pioneer Press — Banaszynski won the 1988 Pulitzer Prize in feature writing and a national SPJ Distinguished Service Award.

Banaszynski leads workshops for editors and reporters around the world, has taught at American Press Institute (API), the University of Kansas and the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, and has served as a Pulitzer juror.

Jacqui Banaszynski holds the Knight Chair in Editing at the Missouri School of Journalism. Student journalism projects she directed have three times been named finalists in the Hearst Awards, considered the Pulitzers of college journalism.

Selected professional awards and honors

Reporting

1988 APSE (Associated Press Sports Editors) 1st Place: Best Sports Event Story —For a story from the Seoul Olympic Games(St. Paul Pioneer Press)

1986 Pulitzer Prize finalist international reporting and numerous other awards — For “Trail of Tears: An African Journey of Hunger and Hope” (St. Paul Pioneer Press)

Edited projects

Winner Loeb Award for Economic Journalism / 2005 — For “Shifting Fortunes” (Alwyn Scott, Brier Dudley, Jake Batsell,The Seattle Times)

Winner Ernie Pyle Award for Human Interest Reporting (and five other national/international awards) / 2003 — For “In Her Mother’s Shoes” (Paula Bock, The Seattle Times)

ASNE Best Writing Award / Non-Deadline Reporting / 1998 — For “Diana’s Choice” and four other pieces (Tom Hallman Jr.,The Oregonian)

Professional recognition

2008 American Association of Sunday and Feature Editors Hall of Fame

2002 Melpomene Institute Outstanding Achievement Award — Recognizing service and achievements regarding women, girls and health

1990 Marquette University Byline Award for Distinguished Journalism Alumni

1989 Dag Hammerskjold Award for Human Rights Advocacy in Journalism — Presented by the Physicians Association for AIDS Care

1988 Marquette University College of Journalism commencement speaker

Written work, including articles, essays and speeches, are featured in numerous textbooks, including “Telling True Stories: A Nonfiction Writer’s Guide from the Nieman Foundation at Harvard University.”