Evan Smith

Evan Smith (MSJ88) was inducted into the Medill Hall of Achievement in 2006.

Smith is CEO and co-founder of The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan, digital public media organization.

Since its launch in 2009, the Tribune has won international acclaim and numerous honors, including a Peabody Award, sixteen national Edward R. Murrow Awards from the Radio Television Digital News Association and three general excellence awards from the Online News Association.

Prior to co-founding the Texas Tribune, Smith was the president and editor in chief of Texas Monthly. He joined the magazine's staff as a senior editor in January 1992 and was promoted 13 months later to deputy editor. In July 2000 he was named editor – only the third person to hold that title. In September 2008, when founder and publisher Mike Levy retired, he assumed the title of president and editor-in-chief. During Smith's tenure as editor, Texas Monthly was nominated for 16 National Magazine Awards, the magazine industry's equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize. Twice on his watch, most recently in April 2009, Texas Monthly was awarded the National Magazine Award for General Excellence.

Smith is also the host of “Overheard with Evan Smith,” a weekly half-hour interview program that airs on PBS stations around the country.