Lee Hawkins was a 2017 National Fellow. He is a news editor and on-camera reporter for the Wall Street Journal, where he reports on the video, digital, print, and broadcasting platforms. He is also the author of the forthcoming book NOBODY'S SLAVE: How Uncovering My Family's History Set Me Free (HarperCollins). He won the Logan Nonfiction Fellowship from the Carey Institute For Global Good, for in-progress work on the book.
He is a general assignment reporter and is also known for his on-camera interviews with superstars from the worlds of entertainment and sports, as well as influential newsmakers and icons. He has reported from around the U.S. and world and has written hundreds of stories for all sections of the WSJ, including Page One.
He previously covered General Motors Co. from the Journal's Detroit bureau. Before reporting on GM and the challenges facing America’s “Big Three” automakers, he worked as a business reporter for the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel and the Wisconsin State Journal. He has covered a wide range of industries during his career, including electric and telecommunications utilities, markets, manufacturing and technology.
He holds a bachelor's degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he was editorial page editor of the Badger Herald student newspaper. He is a past member of the UW-Madison board of visitors for the School of Journalism and Mass Communications. He is also a member of the National Association of Black Journalists and a four-time winner of the NABJ "Salute to Excellence Award," including in the "Best Commentary/Analysis" category.