David Kocieniewski
David Kocieniewski | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth year and age Buffalo, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, investigative reporter |
| Years active | 1986–present |
| Known for | Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting (2012, 2013) |
David Kocieniewski (born 1963) is an American journalist recognized for winning the Pulitzer Prize in Explanatory Reporting.
Current journalistic positions
Since joining The New York Times in 1995, Kocieniewski has held roles including NYPD bureau chief and Trenton bureau chief, before assuming the position of Tax Reporter in 2010. In addition, he began working as an investigative reporter for Bloomberg LP in January 2015.
Employment history
Prior to his current assignments, Kocieniewski covered topics such as New Jersey government, law enforcement, and corruption for the New York Times Metro desk. His earlier career includes reporting at New York Newsday from 1990 to 1995 and at The Detroit News between 1986 and 1990, where his focus was on politics, criminal justice, and corruption within the NYPD.
Awards
Kocieniewski earned Pulitzer Prizes in both 2012 and 2013. His investigative series titled “But Nobody Pays That” explored corporate tax avoidance methods and suggested reforms to the tax system, securing the 2012 Pulitzer for explanatory reporting. The following year, he played a key role in a New York Times series that uncovered Apple's strategies for minimizing tax liability. This work received the 2013 Pulitzer for Explanatory Reporting due to its thorough examination of how Apple and other technology companies influence the global economy through their business practices. The award committee highlighted Kocieniewski’s contributions for exposing how affluent individuals and corporations exploit legal gaps to reduce tax obligations.
He has also been honored by the New York State Bar Association, the National Association of Black Journalists, and received the March Sidney Award for his investigative reporting on General Electric’s tax tactics.
Recognition
His book The Brass Wall was distinguished as one of the top 10 nonfiction works in 2003.
Acclaim
Glenn Kramon, Assistant Managing Editor at The New York Times, commended Kocieniewski as “a relentless, meticulous, fair-minded reporter” who demystifies complex tax matters that many businesses and wealthy individuals attempt to conceal through questionable avoidance methods.
Charles Kaiser, who judged the Sidney Awards in 2011 when Kocieniewski won for his exposé on G.E., described it as “a classic piece of investigative reporting” that revealed how major U.S. corporations significantly lower their tax payments.
Publications
Kocieniewski is co-author of Two Seconds Under the World and authored The Brass Wall. During his time at Binghamton University, he contributed concert reviews to local publications, covering artists such as Aerosmith, John Cougar Mellencamp, and The Grateful Dead.
His investigative series But Nobody Pays That highlighted how America's statutory corporate tax rate of 35% is effectively reduced through numerous subsidies and loopholes, allowing many companies to pay less tax than their international counterparts. This work shed light on critical Corporate America tax avoidance strategies.
Education
Kocieniewski earned a Bachelor's degree in English from Binghamton University in 1985 and completed a Master's degree in Journalism at Columbia University in 1986.
Personal life
Originally from Buffalo, New York, Kocieniewski currently lives in Lambertville, NJ with his two daughters.