Kevin Cullen is a prominent American journalist and author, best known for his long career at The Boston Globe and his deep expertise in Irish affairs and high-stakes investigative reporting. His career has been marked by both prestigious accolades and significant professional controversy.

Career Highlights

• The Boston Globe: Joined the paper in 1985. Over four decades, he has served as a local, national, and foreign correspondent, and ultimately a metro columnist.
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• Investigative Powerhouse: He was a member of the famous "Spotlight" team. He was the first journalist to raise public questions about the relationship between mobster Whitey Bulger and the FBI in 1988.
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• Pulitzer Prizes: * 2003: Part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service for exposing the cover-up of sexual abuse within the Catholic Church.
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  • 2014: Part of the team that won the Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News for coverage of the Boston Marathon bombings.
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• Irish Correspondent: In 1997, he opened and ran the Globe's Dublin Bureau, becoming a leading American voice on the Northern Ireland peace process. He spent over 20 years covering the "Troubles" and the transition to peace.
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• Literary Success: He is the co-author of the New York Times bestseller Whitey Bulger: America’s Most Wanted Gangster and the Manhunt That Brought Him to Justice (2013).

Controversies

• 2018 Suspension: Cullen was suspended without pay for three months following a review of his work. The investigation concluded that he had made inaccurate or fabricated statements regarding his presence and experiences during the 2013 Boston Marathon bombings. This included a story told to the BBC about a firefighter friend that was found to be a "complete fabrication."
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• Public Perception: Despite the suspension, Cullen returned to the Globe and remains a prominent voice, often compared to legendary Boston columnists like Mike Barnicle (who also faced similar fabrication scandals).

Education and Honors

• Nieman Fellow: He was a fellow at Harvard University in 2003.
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• Awards: Recipient of the Mike Royko Award for best columnist, the Batten Medal (twice), and the Overseas Press Club award for his reporting in Ireland.
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• Education: Graduated from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and attended Trinity College Dublin.
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Recent Activities (2025–2026)

Cullen remains active in the Irish-American media circuit. He recently appeared on the Aran Island Discs podcast with Rossa McDermott, where he discussed his career and the influence of Irish culture on his life and reporting.

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