Marvin and Susan Olasky are veteran journalists who serve as Zenger Prize judges.

​

Marvin Olasky edited World from 1992 until January 2022 and is the former dean of the World Journalism Institute. From 1969 to 1973 he was an anti-war radical, a Boston Globe correspondent, and a member of the Communist Party USA. Then God grabbed hold of him: He professed faith in Christ in 1976 and became an elder of the Presbyterian Church in America in 1996. He was Professor of Journalism at The University of Texas at Austin from 1983 to 2008.

​

Marvin graduated from Yale University and earned a Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. He is the author of 25 books and the co-author or editor of 23 more, along with more than 5,000 magazine and newspaper articles in publications including The Wall Street Journal and Christianity Today. Among his books: Prodigal Press, Compassionate Conservatism, The Tragedy of American Compassion, The Story of Abortion in America, Lament for a Father, and Reforming Journalism.

​

Susan Olasky was a feature writer, book reviewer, and story coach at World. She wrote and voiced radio features for The World and Everything in It. She earned a B.A. from the University of Michigan and an M.A. from the University of Delaware. She is the author of the Annie Henry and Will Northaway series of novels for children.

 

Susan founded the Austin Crisis Pregnancy Center in 1984 and later chaired the board of CareNet, the national umbrella group for pregnancy resource centers. The Olaskys have been married for 45 years and have four sons and five grandchildren.