Michael Goldfarb (author and journalist)
Encyclopedia
Michael Goldfarb is an American author, journalist and broadcaster based in London since 1985.
and grew up in suburban Philadelphia. Upon graduating Antioch College
, he returned to New York to work as an actor. Under the name Michael Govan he appeared in productions at Long Wharf Theatre
and Arena Stage
. In 1984-85 he was a founding member of the Pearl Theatre Company in Manhattan.
and Newsday
. He became a critic for BBC Radio 4
and this work led him into broadcast journalism with National Public Radio (NRP).
From 1990 to 1998, Goldfarb worked for NRP, from 1996 to 1998 as its London Bureau Chief. He covered British politics, the Royal Family and the five-year long peace process in Northern Ireland for, but also reported from Bosnia and Iraq. Throughout this period he also worked with the BBC and in 1994 won British radio's highest honor, the Sony Award, for his essays on the American Midwest, titled Homeward Bound.
In 1999 he was a fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
In 2000 he joined the Boston public radio affiliate WBUR
, as Senior Correspondent for the documentary series Inside Out. Goldfarb's programs won numerous awards including the DuPont-Columbia award
for Surviving Torture: Inside Out; the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Ahmad's War: Inside Out; and the Overseas Press Club
's Lowell Thomas Award for British Jihad: Inside Out.
He is currently London Correspondent of GlobalPost
, essayist for BBC Radio 3
, and regular panelist on BBC News programme, Dateline London
.
In August 2011, Goldfarb was heavily criticised for an article on the BBC website, where he mocked New Yorkers for 'panicking' during Hurricane Irene. Goldfarb wrote: "I wondered aloud about the kind of group hysteria that more and more often seems to sweep parts of my native land from top to toe."
. Following Shawkat's assassination in October 2003, Goldfarb wrote the story of his friend's life. Ahmad's War, Ahmad's Peace: Surviving Under Saddam, Dying in the New Iraq was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2005.
The author's most recent book, Emancipation: How Liberating Europe's Jews From the Ghetto Led to Revolution and Renaissance, is a popular history of how Jews and European society were changed by the opening of the ghettos during the era of Jewish Emancipation
which began during the French Revolution.
Early life and career
Michael Goldfarb was born in New York CityNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and grew up in suburban Philadelphia. Upon graduating Antioch College
Antioch College
Antioch College is a private, independent liberal arts college in Yellow Springs, Ohio, United States. It was the founder and the flagship institution of the six-campus Antioch University system. Founded in 1852 by the Christian Connection, the college began operating in 1853 with politician and...
, he returned to New York to work as an actor. Under the name Michael Govan he appeared in productions at Long Wharf Theatre
Long Wharf Theatre
Long Wharf Theatre is a nonprofit institution in New Haven, Connecticut, a pioneer in the not-for-profit regional theatre movement, the originator of several prominent plays, and a venue where many internationally known actors have appeared....
and Arena Stage
Arena Stage
Arena Stage is a not-for-profit regional theater based in Southwest Washington, D.C. Its declared mission"is to produce huge plays of all that is passionate, exuberant, profound, deep and dangerous in the American spirit. Arena has broad shoulders and a capacity to produce anything from vast epics...
. In 1984-85 he was a founding member of the Pearl Theatre Company in Manhattan.
Journalism
In November 1985, Goldfarb moved to London to pursue a career in journalism. He reported on the arts for British and American newspapers, particularly The GuardianThe Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
and Newsday
Newsday
Newsday is a daily American newspaper that primarily serves Nassau and Suffolk counties and the New York City borough of Queens on Long Island, although it is sold throughout the New York metropolitan area...
. He became a critic for BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4
BBC Radio 4 is a British domestic radio station, operated and owned by the BBC, that broadcasts a wide variety of spoken-word programmes, including news, drama, comedy, science and history. It replaced the BBC Home Service in 1967. The station controller is currently Gwyneth Williams, and the...
and this work led him into broadcast journalism with National Public Radio (NRP).
From 1990 to 1998, Goldfarb worked for NRP, from 1996 to 1998 as its London Bureau Chief. He covered British politics, the Royal Family and the five-year long peace process in Northern Ireland for, but also reported from Bosnia and Iraq. Throughout this period he also worked with the BBC and in 1994 won British radio's highest honor, the Sony Award, for his essays on the American Midwest, titled Homeward Bound.
In 1999 he was a fellow at the Joan Shorenstein Center on the Press, Politics and Public Policy at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government.
In 2000 he joined the Boston public radio affiliate WBUR
WBUR
WBUR refers to two radio stations in Massachusetts, WBUR AM and FM, both owned by Boston University. WBUR is the largest of three NPR member stations in Boston, Massachusetts, along with WGBH and WUMB-FM, and the only one to focus exclusively on news and talk...
, as Senior Correspondent for the documentary series Inside Out. Goldfarb's programs won numerous awards including the DuPont-Columbia award
DuPont-Columbia Award
The Alfred I. duPont–Columbia University Award is an American award that honors excellence in broadcast journalism. The awards, administered since 1968 by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in New York City, are considered a broadcast equivalent of the Pulitzer Prize, another...
for Surviving Torture: Inside Out; the RTNDA Edward R. Murrow Award for Ahmad's War: Inside Out; and the Overseas Press Club
Overseas Press Club
The Overseas Press Club of America was founded in 1939 in New York City by a group of foreign correspondents. The wire service reporter Carol Weld was a founding member...
's Lowell Thomas Award for British Jihad: Inside Out.
He is currently London Correspondent of GlobalPost
GlobalPost
GlobalPost is an online US news company that focuses on international news. It wants "to redefine international news for the digital age."-History and management:...
, essayist for BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3
BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
, and regular panelist on BBC News programme, Dateline London
Dateline London
Dateline London is a weekly news discussion programme shown on both BBC News and BBC World News. The programme, presented by Gavin Esler, with Nik Gowing and Lyse Doucet acting as relief presenters, features a roundtable panel of foreign and British journalists who discuss the week's top news...
.
In August 2011, Goldfarb was heavily criticised for an article on the BBC website, where he mocked New Yorkers for 'panicking' during Hurricane Irene. Goldfarb wrote: "I wondered aloud about the kind of group hysteria that more and more often seems to sweep parts of my native land from top to toe."
Books
While covering the Iraq War as an unembedded reporter in Iraqi Kurdistan, Goldfarb worked closely with the Iraqi newspaper editor Ahmad ShawkatAhmad Shawkat
Ahmad Shawkat was an Iraqi journalist shot to death outside his media office in Mosul, on October 28, 2003, following a series of death threats.Prior to his journalism, he had served as an anatomy professor at Mosul University, and a Kurdish translator....
. Following Shawkat's assassination in October 2003, Goldfarb wrote the story of his friend's life. Ahmad's War, Ahmad's Peace: Surviving Under Saddam, Dying in the New Iraq was named a New York Times Notable Book of 2005.
The author's most recent book, Emancipation: How Liberating Europe's Jews From the Ghetto Led to Revolution and Renaissance, is a popular history of how Jews and European society were changed by the opening of the ghettos during the era of Jewish Emancipation
Jewish Emancipation
Jewish emancipation was the external and internal process of freeing the Jewish people of Europe, including recognition of their rights as equal citizens, and the formal granting of citizenship as individuals; it occurred gradually between the late 18th century and the early 20th century...
which began during the French Revolution.
External links
- Michael Goldfarb's website Retrieved 2011-11-06
- WBUR's Inside Out website Retrieved 2011-11-06
- The Jewish Chronicle 27 May 2009: Interview with Michael Goldfarb Retrieved 2011-11-06