Linda Deutsch, the esteemed Associated Press reporter renowned for her comprehensive coverage of high-profile trials, has passed away at the age of 80. Deutsch, who began her journalism career with a front-page byline for the Perth Amboy Evening News in 1963, rose to prominence with her insightful reporting on some of the most significant legal battles of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Born in New Jersey, Deutsch joined the Associated Press in 1967, where she quickly made her mark with coverage of the trial of Sirhan Sirhan, who was convicted of assassinating Senator Robert F. Kennedy, and the infamous Charles Manson trial in 1970-71. Her exceptional reporting earned her the title of special correspondent in 1992, one of only 18 such designations in AP’s history.
Deutsch’s career continued to shine with her coverage of the Rodney King trial, the legal battles of pop icon Michael Jackson, actor Robert Blake, and NFL star O.J. Simpson, the latter of which earned her a Pulitzer Prize nomination. Her accolades include the Oliver Gramling Award, the Society of Professional Journalists’ “Fellow of the Society” Award, and the International Women’s Media Foundation Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2019, Deutsch made a significant contribution to journalism education by pledging $1 million to create an endowment at her alma mater, Monmouth University.
Reflecting on her work during the O.J. Simpson trial, Deutsch remarked, “My job wasn’t to decide the verdict. It was to report what was going on. In O.J.’s case, everyone had strong feelings. I did not.”
Tributes have poured in from colleagues and admirers, celebrating her unparalleled impact on journalism and her legacy as a pioneering reporter.