Kim Barker

Kim Barker was the South Asia bureau chief for The Chicago Tribune from 2004 to 2009, based in New Delhi and Islamabad. Her book about those years, “The Taliban Shuffle: Strange Days in Afghanistan and Pakistan,” a dark comedic take on her time in South Asia, was published by Doubleday. The movie version, "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot," starring Tina Fey, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina, Margot Robbie, and Billy Bob Thornton, was released in March 2016 and drew from her experiences as a war reporter.

Barker is currently a metro reporter at The New York Times, specializing in investigative reporting and narrative writing. Before joining The Times in mid-2014, she was an investigative reporter at ProPublica, focusing on campaign finance and the fallout from the Supreme Court’s Citizens United decision. Her Pulitzer Prize-winning work at The New York Times involved an investigation into fatalities at police traffic stops. She has also worked as the Edward R. Murrow press fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations.

Beyond her print journalism, Barker has ventured into broadcasting, hosting "The Coldest Case in Laramie," a podcast in collaboration between Serial Productions and a reporter from The New York Times. She has appeared on programs such as "The Colbert Report," CNN, and MSNBC, enhancing her visibility and impact. Her commitment to journalism has earned her multiple accolades, including “Journalist of the Year” by the Newswomen’s Club of New York and shared awards in several categories for investigative journalism. Her work not only underscores her prowess in journalism but also her dedication to addressing important social issues and engaging audiences with complex global affairs.