Maureen Orth
Encyclopedia
Maureen Ann Orth is an American
journalist
who largely covers stories pertaining to pop culture.
, graduating in 1964. Following her graduation from college, she served in the Peace Corps
in Medellín
, Colombia
, from 1964 to 1966.
where she wrote seven cover stories. In 1981 she was the principal correspondent of Newsweek Woman on Lifetime TV. From 1983 to 1984 she was a network correspondent for NBC News.
Orth was a contributing editor at Vogue
from 1984 to 1989 and a columnist for New York Woman
from 1986 to 1990.
Orth has written for Vanity Fair
since 1988 and has been a special correspondent for that magazine since 1993. Among the heads of state she has interviewed are Russian President Vladimir Putin
, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
, Argentinian President Carlos Menem
, and Irish President Mary Robinson
. Right after 9/11 she traveled to Central Asia
to investigate the connection between drugs and terrorism for "Afghanistan's Deadly Habit."
Orth reported on molestation allegations brought by then minor Jordan Chandler against Michael Jackson
in 1993. Orth subsequently reported for the magazine on Jackson four more times, including articles on Jackson's appearance on ABC News
's PrimeTime Live, on a civil lawsuit filed against him in 2003 by concert promoter Marcel Avram, and on the criminal suit brought against Jackson in 2004, again for child molestation.
Orth then investigated pedophile priest Paul Shanley
. Orth has also written articles on Madonna
, Tina Turner
, Karl Lagerfeld
and Conrad Black
. Orth recently profiled France's First Lady Carla Bruni
and detailed the inside story of "Inside Colombia's Hostage War" in the November 2008 Vanity Fair.
Orth then authored the best selling book "Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History" and "The Importance of Being Famous", a collection of her pieces from Vanity Fair articles with updates and commentary.
Orth was named by Newsweek as one of the "Overclass 100," and won a National Magazine Award for group coverage of the arts. She was also nominated for a National Magazine Award for her story on Arianna and Michael Huffington, "Arianna's tk", for Vanity Fair in 1994.
She has written extensively on FARC, the Colombian guerrilla group.
, whom she met at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. Tim Russert was the Washington bureau chief of NBC News and moderator of Meet the Press when he died on June 13, 2008. Their son, Luke Russert
, who was born in August 1985, is an NBC News correspondent.
Orth is the dedicatee of her friend Larry McMurtry
's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Lonesome Dove
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
who largely covers stories pertaining to pop culture.
Education and early career
Orth attended the University of California, BerkeleyUniversity of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley , is a teaching and research university established in 1868 and located in Berkeley, California, USA...
, graduating in 1964. Following her graduation from college, she served in the Peace Corps
Peace Corps
The Peace Corps is an American volunteer program run by the United States Government, as well as a government agency of the same name. The mission of the Peace Corps includes three goals: providing technical assistance, helping people outside the United States to understand US culture, and helping...
in Medellín
Medellín
Medellín , officially the Municipio de Medellín or Municipality of Medellín, is the second largest city in Colombia. It is in the Aburrá Valley, one of the more northerly of the Andes in South America. It has a population of 2.3 million...
, Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
, from 1964 to 1966.
Journalism career
Orth began her career as the third female writer at NewsweekNewsweek
Newsweek is an American weekly news magazine published in New York City. It is distributed throughout the United States and internationally. It is the second-largest news weekly magazine in the U.S., having trailed Time in circulation and advertising revenue for most of its existence...
where she wrote seven cover stories. In 1981 she was the principal correspondent of Newsweek Woman on Lifetime TV. From 1983 to 1984 she was a network correspondent for NBC News.
Orth was a contributing editor at Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
from 1984 to 1989 and a columnist for New York Woman
New York Woman
New York Woman was a magazine that blended features on fashion and the arts, literary and humorous essays, and consumer-oriented services pieces such as reviews of restaurants, shops, or films. Its target audience was intelligent women living in the New York Metropolitan area. It was launched as a...
from 1986 to 1990.
Orth has written for Vanity Fair
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
since 1988 and has been a special correspondent for that magazine since 1993. Among the heads of state she has interviewed are Russian President Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Putin
Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin served as the second President of the Russian Federation and is the current Prime Minister of Russia, as well as chairman of United Russia and Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Union of Russia and Belarus. He became acting President on 31 December 1999, when...
, British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
, Argentinian President Carlos Menem
Carlos Menem
Carlos Saúl Menem is an Argentine politician who was President of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. He is currently an Argentine National Senator for La Rioja Province.-Early life:...
, and Irish President Mary Robinson
Mary Robinson
Mary Therese Winifred Robinson served as the seventh, and first female, President of Ireland from 1990 to 1997, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights, from 1997 to 2002. She first rose to prominence as an academic, barrister, campaigner and member of the Irish Senate...
. Right after 9/11 she traveled to Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
to investigate the connection between drugs and terrorism for "Afghanistan's Deadly Habit."
Orth reported on molestation allegations brought by then minor Jordan Chandler against Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
in 1993. Orth subsequently reported for the magazine on Jackson four more times, including articles on Jackson's appearance on ABC News
ABC News
ABC News is the news gathering and broadcasting division of American broadcast television network ABC, a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company...
's PrimeTime Live, on a civil lawsuit filed against him in 2003 by concert promoter Marcel Avram, and on the criminal suit brought against Jackson in 2004, again for child molestation.
Orth then investigated pedophile priest Paul Shanley
Paul Shanley
Paul Richard Shanley , is an American laicized priest who was accused and convicted of raping a child. He served at St. Jean's Parish in Newton, Massachusetts and was a prominent figure in the Boston clergy sex abuse scandal....
. Orth has also written articles on Madonna
Madonna (entertainer)
Madonna is an American singer-songwriter, actress and entrepreneur. Born in Bay City, Michigan, she moved to New York City in 1977 to pursue a career in modern dance. After performing in the music groups Breakfast Club and Emmy, she released her debut album in 1983...
, Tina Turner
Tina Turner
Tina Turner is an American singer and actress whose career has spanned more than 50 years. She has won numerous awards and her achievements in the rock music genre have led many to call her the "Queen of Rock 'n' Roll".Turner started out her music career with husband Ike Turner as a member of the...
, Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld
Karl Lagerfeld is a German fashion designer, artist and photographer based in Paris. He has collaborated on a variety of fashion and art related projects, most notably as head designer and creative director for the fashion house Chanel...
and Conrad Black
Conrad Black
Conrad Moffat Black, Baron Black of Crossharbour, OC, KCSG, PC is a Canadian-born member of the British House of Lords, and a historian, columnist and publisher, who was for a time the third largest newspaper magnate in the world. Lord Black controlled Hollinger International, Inc...
. Orth recently profiled France's First Lady Carla Bruni
Carla Bruni
Carla Bruni-Sarkozy is an Italian-French songwriter, singer, actress, and former model...
and detailed the inside story of "Inside Colombia's Hostage War" in the November 2008 Vanity Fair.
Orth then authored the best selling book "Vulgar Favors: Andrew Cunanan, Gianni Versace and the Largest Failed Manhunt in U.S. History" and "The Importance of Being Famous", a collection of her pieces from Vanity Fair articles with updates and commentary.
Orth was named by Newsweek as one of the "Overclass 100," and won a National Magazine Award for group coverage of the arts. She was also nominated for a National Magazine Award for her story on Arianna and Michael Huffington, "Arianna's tk", for Vanity Fair in 1994.
Escuela Marina Orth
Orth was a Peace Corps volunteer in Medellín, Colombia, where she helped build Escuela Marina Orth. In 2004 the Secretary of Education asked her to help make her school the first public bilingual school in Colombia. It is now the first school in Colombia with the One Laptop Per Child project. Since then she has formed two foundations—K12 Wired in the U.S. and Fundacion Marina Orth in Colombia. The non profit foundations were formed to create a model program that teaches English and information technology in Escuela Marina Orth, with hope that one day the programs can be expanded to other schools throughout the country. In addition, she is currently working with the Colombian Coffee Growers Federation and the city of Medellin to institute a new program for former Colombia Peace Corps volunteers to return to Colombia for limited periods of time. Its first group arrived in Colombia in September 2008.She has written extensively on FARC, the Colombian guerrilla group.
Family and personal life
Maureen Orth lives in Washington, D.C. In 1983 Orth married the political journalist Tim RussertTim Russert
Timothy John "Tim" Russert was an American television journalist and lawyer who appeared for more than 16 years as the longest-serving moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He was a senior vice president at NBC News, Washington bureau chief and also hosted the eponymous CNBC/MSNBC weekend interview...
, whom she met at the 1980 Democratic National Convention. Tim Russert was the Washington bureau chief of NBC News and moderator of Meet the Press when he died on June 13, 2008. Their son, Luke Russert
Luke Russert
Luke Russert is an American television and radio personality. He has followed in the footsteps of his father, Tim Russert, who was prominent in the television news industry. His mother is Maureen Orth, special correspondent for Vanity Fair. He has co-hosted a sports talk program on XM radio with...
, who was born in August 1985, is an NBC News correspondent.
Orth is the dedicatee of her friend Larry McMurtry
Larry McMurtry
Larry Jeff McMurtry is an American novelist, essayist, bookseller and screenwriter whose work is predominantly set in either the old West or in contemporary Texas...
's Pulitzer Prize-winning novel Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove
Lonesome Dove is a 1985 Pulitzer Prize–winning western novel written by Larry McMurtry. It is the first published book of the Lonesome Dove series, but the third installment in the series chronologically...
.
Awards
- National Magazine Award Finalist—article about MichaelMichael HuffingtonMichael Huffington is an American politician, bisexual activist, and film producer. He was a member of the Republican Party, and a member of the United States House of Representatives for one term, 1993–1995, from California...
and Arianna HuffingtonArianna HuffingtonArianna Huffington is a Greek American author and syndicated columnist. She is best known as co-founder of the news website The Huffington Post. A popular conservative commentator in the mid-1990s, she adopted more liberal political beliefs in the late 1990s...
, (Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, November 1994) - National Magazine Award—group coverage of the artArtArt is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
s Newsweek 1973