Ta-Nehisi Coates is the latest journalist to become a MacArthur Fellow

The MacArthur Foundation announced its 2015 class of fellows on Tuesday, including The Atlantic’s Ta-Nehisi Coates. By our count, more than 20 journalists have received a “genius” grant. (The MacArthur Foundation directed us to its site, if we’re missing someone, please let us know and we’ll amend.)

According to the foundation’s site, “The MacArthur Fellowship is a ‘no strings attached’ award in support of people, not projects. Each fellowship comes with a stipend of $625,000 to the recipient, paid out in equal quarterly installments over five years.”

Here’s the list of journalists who’ve been named fellows since 1981. I’ve also included nonfiction writers who have been contributors to news organizations and publications and a few people who got their start in journalism.

2015:
• Ta-Nehisi Coates

2012:
• David Finkel
• Dinaw Mengestu

2011:
• Jad Abumrad
• Peter Hessler

2009:
• Lynsey Addario
• Jerry Mitchell

2008:
• Alex Ross

2006:
• Adrian LeBlanc

2002:
• Katherine Boo
• Colson Whitehead

2001:
• Jean Strouse

2000:
• David A. Isay

1999:
• Mark Danner

1998:
• Charles R. E. Lewis
• Leonard H. Zeskind

1995:
• Alma Guillermoprieto
• Sandy Close

1994:
• Hugo Morales

1993:
• William H. Siemering

1992:
• Michael Massing
• Robert H. Hall
• Susan Meiselas

1991:
• Paul Berman

1989:
• W. Keith Hefner

1987:
• Tina Rosenberg
• Horace Freeland Judson

1986:
• Thomas Whiteside

1983:
• William Kennedy

1982:
• William Gaddis

1981:
• James A. McPherson