November 16, 2011

In 1966, Mark Potok's editors nominated him for a Pulitzer Prize for a package of stories on racism in Texas public housing. And in 2007, the Intelligence Report he edits for the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) received the Investigative Award from the Utne Independent Press Awards. 

This award-winning journalist will be joining a prestigious lineup of speakers for MPAC's 11th Annual Convention, "Spring Forward: America's Role in A Changing World," on Saturday, Dec. 17 in Los Angeles. 

Currently, Potok is a key spokesperson and director of publication for the SLPC, which is a well-respected non-governmental operation that monitors hate groups and extremism in the world today. 

The SPLC was founded in 1971 to seek justice and fight hate and bigotry. Potok also edits the SPLC's quarterly investigative journal, the Intelligence Report, as well as its Hatewatch blog. The Intelligence Report dedicated its entire summer issue to "Jihad Against Islam," a look at a second wave of anti-Muslim hatred sweeping the country 10 years after the 9/11 attacks.

"This time, the outrage seems largely ginned up by politicians and others seeking to capitalize on Americans' fears." 

Potok has spent the last 20 years as a reporter at several newspapers, such as USA Today, the Dallas Times Herald and the Miami Herald. While at USA Today, he covered the 1993 siege in Waco, TX; the rise of militias, the 1995 Oklahoma City bombing; and the Timothy McVeigh trial.

Potok is a journalist of our times as he has reported on some of the biggest moments in recent history.

-- Miriam Baha
(miriam@mpac.org)
Communications & Media Intern