Patt Morrison

Bio

Patt Morrison, who pens the weekly "Patt Morrison Asks" column, is a writer and columnist for The Times, for which her work has spanned topics from national politics to the O.J. Simpson case, the Gulf War, and Britain's royal family.

She participated in two of The Times' Pulitzer Prize-winning team efforts – coverage of the 1992 riots and the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Since 1991 she has served as columnist and contributing editor for Los Angeles Times Magazine.

She has won six Emmys and four Golden Mike awards as host and commentator on "Life & Times," the nightly news and current affairs program on KCET-TV. She also is host and consulting producer of the weekly literary program "The BookShow with Patt Morrison," produced by KCET. Since 1994, her commentaries have been heard on National Public Radio's "Morning Edition."

In 2000, she received the Joseph M. Quinn award from the Los Angeles Press Club for lifetime achievement. She also has been honored by the Associated Press Newspaper Editors Association, the Los Angeles Press Club, the Aviation/Space Writers Association, the National Association of Newspaper Columnists, the League of Women Voters of Beverly Hills, the American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood Federation of America, the Los Angeles chapter of Women in Communications and the YWCA of Greater Los Angeles.

Ms. magazine named her one of its "Women Who Made a Difference" in a special 2001 issue.

She is the author of "Rio LA, Tales from the Los Angeles River" and co-author with Cecilia Rasmussen of "Angels Walk," a series of Los Angeles historical markers and guidebooks.

She served for eight years as adjunct professor at the University of Southern California's School of Journalism.

She is a graduate of Occidental College, which named her alumnus of the year in 1995. She was elected to its Board of Trustees in 1998.