About Pearl Stewart
Born 1950. Pearl Stewart is an American journalist and editor.
Pearl Stewart was the editor of the Oakland Tribune for one year beginning December 1992, the first African-American woman editor of a metropolitan daily newspaper. Said to be "well known for her dogged reporting," she was hired by David Burgin, who took a seven-month absence. The Tribune had recently been bought by the Alameda Newspaper Group where Burgin was editor-in-chief. She was intent on keeping the style the Tribune had had previously, saying that the negative stories about Oakland were important because it would be wrong to only highlight the good. Stewart resigned when Burgin returned, saying that she respected him "but it is not possible for me to work with" him. At this time the newspaper was criticized for a lack of focus on minorities in Oakland. Before her position as editor for the Oakland Tribune she had been a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle from 1980 to 1991.
Later, she was director of career development and an instructor at Florida A&M's School of Journalism and Graphic Communication. While there she started the website Black College Wire which promotes journalism among historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs). In January 2005 she became managing editor of the "black-oriented Chicago Defender", but resigned two months later.
Don’t just read it —
keep it.
Full-length biographies made to live with: read them, listen on the way to work, watch them tonight.
- E-book
- Audio
- Video
Instant download · yours to keep · every purchase keeps this site free
Important facts
People in Pearl Stewart's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Pearl Stewart's
Frequently asked questions
Who is Pearl Stewart?
American newspaper editor
When was Pearl Stewart born?
Pearl Stewart was born in 1950.
What is Pearl Stewart's occupation?
Pearl Stewart is a journalist and editor.
What nationality is Pearl Stewart?
Pearl Stewart is American.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Pearl Stewart. https://biography.guide/pearl-stewart/
MLA: "Pearl Stewart." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/pearl-stewart/.
Chicago: "Pearl Stewart." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/pearl-stewart/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
Page generated 2026-09-27 05:23 UTC