Shales was born in Elgin, Illinois, the son of Hulda Louise (née Reko) and Clyde LeRoy Shales. Shales graduated from Washington D.C.'s American University. He was Editor-In-Chief of the student newspaper, The Eagle, for the 1966-1967 academic year, American University Library - History of The Eagle and appointed himself movie critic. The Washington Post Writers Group

Early years

Shales's first job was with radio station WRMN, in Elgin, at the age of 18. He served on the station's AM and FM bands as disc jockey, local news reporter, writer and announcer. He later worked with Voice of America as a producer of broadcasts to the Far East.

Shales worked as Entertainment Editor at the Washington Examiner from 1968-1971. Tom Shales - Biography He joined the Washington Post as a writer in the Style section in 1972, was named chief television critic in July 1977, and was appointed TV Editor in June 1979. The Washington Post Writers Group has syndicated his column since 1979.

The Washington Post

Shales has written for the Washington Post newspaper for several decades.

During 1998-1999, Shales was a frequent film critic for Morning Edition on National Public Radio. Tom Shales - Rotten Tomatoes, Rotten Tomatoes He was twice a guest co-host on the television show Roger Ebert & the Movies after the death of Gene Siskel. Tom Shales

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Shales received the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1988, for his work at The Washington Post.