Overview

Robert Scheer (born April 4, 1936) is an American journalist and commentator whose work spans print, online and broadcast media. He was born in New York City and has spent decades writing about politics, the media and public policy. Scheer has been identified with independent and progressive commentary and has combined reporting, opinion and long-form analysis in his columns and editorial work.

Career and editorial roles

Scheer is best known as an editor and columnist. He served as editor-in-chief of the online magazine Truthdig, which received recognition for its investigative and interpretive journalism and won a Webby Award. In addition to his editorial leadership at Truthdig, Scheer produced a nationally syndicated column distributed by Creators Syndicate that appeared in outlets including The Huffington Post and The Nation. He has contributed commentary and analysis across a range of platforms, bringing a consistently critical perspective on media performance and political power.

Themes, style and subjects

Scheer’s writing typically blends investigative reporting with opinion, and he is known for a forthright, argumentative style. Recurring themes in his work include media criticism, civil liberties, American foreign policy, corporate influence on politics, and the role of journalism in a democratic society. His pieces often aim to explain complex issues for a broad readership while challenging official narratives.

Broadcast work and teaching

Alongside print and online work, Scheer has had an active presence in radio. For many years he co-hosted the nationally syndicated political analysis program Left, Right & Center, contributing to public conversation through debate and discussion formats. He also holds an academic appointment as a clinical professor of communications at the Annenberg School for Communication & Journalism at the University of Southern California, where he has taught reporting and media criticism and mentored students entering journalism. The school is identified at USC Annenberg.

Significance and distinctions

  • Editor-in-chief of a noted online magazine that earned digital journalism recognition.
  • Longtime syndicated columnist whose work reached mainstream and progressive outlets.
  • Experienced broadcaster and seminar leader, bridging academic and public media.

Robert Scheer’s career illustrates a sustained engagement with questions about the responsibilities of media, the interaction between power and information, and the practice of independent journalism in an era of corporate consolidation and digital change. Whether through columns, editorial projects, radio debates or classroom instruction, he has played a visible role in debates about how journalism serves democratic life.