John DiStaso
John DiStaso | |
---|---|
Born | John Joseph DiStaso February 18, 1954 Paterson, New Jersey, U.S. |
Died | April 21, 2022 | (aged 68)
Nationality | American |
Alma mater | Villanova University William Paterson University |
Occupation | Journalist |
Spouse |
Diane Randazza (m. 1979) |
Children | 2 |
John Joseph DiStaso (February 18, 1954 – April 21, 2022) was an American political journalist from New Hampshire.
Early life
[edit]DiStaso was born and raised in Paterson, New Jersey.[1] He received a bachelor's degree in English literature from Villanova University in 1975 and a master's degree in communications from William Paterson University in 1979.[1][2]
Career
[edit]DiStaso began his career with the New Hampshire Union Leader as a correspondent before becoming a staff reporter in the early 1980s. Beginning in 1982, DiStaso wrote the newspaper's political column, "The Granite Status." He was particularly well known for his work during the New Hampshire presidential primaries, interviewing and candidates participating in the contest as well as moderating debates, and is also credited with the earliest use of the phrase "Republican in Name Only" in 1992.[1][3][4] DiStaso was accused of Republican bias in a Columbia Journalism Review article for an interview he conducted with George W. Bush presidential adviser Karl Rove.[5]
Personal life and death
[edit]DiStaso was a resident of New Boston, New Hampshire. In 1979, he married Diane Randazza, and they had two children. DiStaso died from pancreatic cancer in Manchester, New Hampshire on April 21, 2022, aged 68.[1][6]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d Seelye, Katharine Q. (April 28, 2022). "John DiStaso, Star Reporter of New Hampshire Primaries, Dies at 68". The New York Times. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ Downey, KC (April 22, 2022). "John DiStaso, 'dean' of New Hampshire's political press corps and WMUR reporter, dead at 68". WMUR. Retrieved April 22, 2022.
- ^ Curry, Tom (January 22, 2004). "How candidates scored in debate". MSNBC.com. Archived from the original on December 3, 2020. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "RINO - Word Spy". Archived from the original on 2014-07-16. Retrieved 2006-10-27.
- ^ Roth, Zachary (July 14, 2004). "Our Roving Reporter". Columbia Journalism Review. Archived from the original on June 2, 2006. Retrieved July 10, 2022.
- ^ "John DiStaso, 'dean' of NH political reporters, dies at 68". Associated Press. April 23, 2022. Retrieved April 25, 2022.
External links
[edit]- Appearances on C-SPAN
- Interview with John DiStaso, The Washington Post blog, January 9, 2006.
- Transcript of the January 22, 2004 Democratic candidates debate.
- 1954 births
- 2022 deaths
- 20th-century American journalists
- 21st-century American journalists
- American columnists
- American newspaper reporters and correspondents
- American political journalists
- Deaths from cancer in New Hampshire
- Deaths from pancreatic cancer in the United States
- Journalists from New Hampshire
- Journalists from New Jersey
- People from New Boston, New Hampshire
- Writers from Paterson, New Jersey
- Villanova University alumni
- William Paterson University alumni
- American journalist, 1950s birth stubs