Famous Male Journalists
List of famous male journalists, listed by their level of prominence with photos when available. This greatest male journalists list contains the most prominent and top males known for being journalists. There are thousand of males working as journalists in the world, but this list highlights only the most notable ones. Historic journalists have worked hard to become the best that they can be, so if you're a male aspiring to be a journalist then the people below should give you inspiration.
List includes Alex Mihai Stoenescu, William Cobbett and more.
While this isn't a list of all male journalists, it does answer the questions "Who are the most famous male journalists?" and "Who are the best male journalists?"- Glenn Beck, an influential American media personality, political commentator, and author, carved out a unique path within the entertainment industry. Born on February 10, 1964, in Everett, Washington, Beck's life was marked by early adversities that influenced his later career significantly. A self-proclaimed "borderline schizophrenic" due to his struggles with drug and alcohol addiction in his early years, Beck's resilience and determination have seen him overcome personal challenges to achieve success. Beck's professional trajectory took him from Top-40 radio disc jockey to one of the most recognized faces on Fox News. He jumped onto the national stage in the late 2000s when he joined CNN's Headline News, launching his own show, Glenn Beck, which quickly gained viewership thanks to his emotional outbursts and often controversial political commentary. His success with CNN led to his recruitment by Fox News in 2009, where his program became one of the highest-rated shows on the network. Despite his departure from mainstream news networks in 2011, Beck's influence has not waned. He founded the news and entertainment network TheBlaze, which continues to provide a platform for his distinctive blend of news analysis, storytelling, and vocal advocacy for conservative values. As an author, Beck's works include six New York Times best-selling books, further cementing his status as a significant figure in contemporary American media and politics.
- Birthplace: Everett, USA, Washington
- Born on November 28, 1962, in New York City, Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz, better known as Jon Stewart, has crafted a career that spans multiple decades and includes an array of roles from stand-up comedian to television host to political commentator. Stewart's rise to fame began in the world of comedy, where his wit and satirical insights quickly made him a recognizable figure within the industry. His early work included several television appearances and stand-up specials, but it was his role as the host of The Daily Show on Comedy Central that catapulted him into the international spotlight. Stewart took the helm of The Daily Show in 1999 and under his direction, the show transformed from a light-hearted news parody to a respected source of news commentary. His sharp humor, combined with incisive political and social commentary, resonated with audiences, leading to an increase in viewership and critical acclaim. During his tenure, The Daily Show won 22 Primetime Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards, establishing itself as a powerful voice in American media. Stewart's influence reached beyond television, impacting political discourse and public opinion. In addition to his landmark work on The Daily Show, Stewart has made significant contributions to other areas of entertainment. He has written and directed films including Rosewater (2014), which marked his directorial debut. He also authored bestselling books such as America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction and its sequel, Earth (The Book): A Visitor's Guide to the Human Race. Despite stepping down from The Daily Show in 2015, Stewart's legacy continues to influence the world of comedy, television, and political commentary. His unique blend of humor and insight makes him a distinctive figure in American entertainment.
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Bill O'Reilly is a renowned American author, journalist, and former television host. Born on September 10, 1949, in New York City, he pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree in History from Marist College before earning his Master's in Broadcast Journalism from Boston University. His pursuit of knowledge didn't stop there; later, he attained another Master's degree in Public Administration from Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. O'Reilly's career in journalism took flight at local news stations in cities like Dallas, Denver, Portland, and Boston. However, it was at the national level where he truly made his mark. He joined CBS News in 1982 as a correspondent and quickly rose to prominence due to his insightful reporting. In 1989, he joined ABC News where he served as a correspondent for ABC World News Tonight. Yet, it was his tenure at Fox News, hosting the political commentary program The O'Reilly Factor, that catapulted him to national fame. The show, which ran from 1996 to 2017, was the highest-rated cable news show for 16 consecutive years, demonstrating O'Reilly's influence and reach. Apart from his illustrious career in journalism, O'Reilly is also a successful author. His books, often revolving around historical narratives or political themes, have found their place on the best-selling lists multiple times. Some of his notable works include Killing Lincoln, Killing Kennedy, and Killing Jesus. His writing, much like his journalism, is marked by a direct approach, meticulous research, and a knack for storytelling.
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Winston Churchill, born in Woodstock, England in 1874, was a dynamic statesman, orator, and author whose political career spanned over half a century. The son of Lord Randolph Churchill and his American wife Jennie Jerome, he was a direct descendent of the Dukes of Marlborough. His early years were characterized by an independent spirit and a thirst for learning, despite struggling academically at prestigious institutions such as Harrow School and Sandhurst Military Academy. In his early twenties, Churchill began his military career, serving in British India, Sudan, and during the Second Boer War. These experiences not only shaped his viewpoints on warfare but also sparked his interest in journalism and writing. He wrote several books about his military campaigns, which gained him recognition in Britain. Transitioning from a military career to politics, Churchill became a Member of Parliament in 1900, marking the beginning of his political journey. He held various high-profile positions within the British Government, including Home Secretary and First Lord of the Admiralty, before becoming the Prime Minister in 1940. As Prime Minister during World War II, Churchill is best remembered for his resolute leadership and stirring speeches that inspired the British people during the darkest days of the conflict. His famous "We shall fight on the beaches" speech remains one of the most powerful orations in history. After the war, Churchill's focus shifted towards warning the world about the expansionist policies of the Soviet Union, coining the term "Iron Curtain". In 1953, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his numerous published works in the fields of history, biography, and particularly for his six-volume work, "The Second World War". Winston Churchill passed away in 1965, leaving behind a legacy that continues to influence global politics and leadership.
- Birthplace: Woodstock, Blenheim Palace, United Kingdom
The Best Winston Churchill QuotesSee all
1Never in the field of human conflict was so much owed by so many to so few.166 Votes- 2Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen129 Votes
- 3The price of greatness is responsibility.144 Votes
- Keith Olbermann is a renowned figure in the field of journalism and broadcasting, best known for his distinctive style and provocative wit. Born on January 27, 1959, in New York City, Olbermann's passion for broadcasting started at an early age. He rose to prominence as a sports journalist, initially working for CNN and local radio stations, before joining ESPN where he became a co-host of Sports Center. Olbermann's transition into political commentary began when he joined MSNBC in 2003. There, he hosted 'Countdown with Keith Olbermann' - a program that marked a significant shift in his career. This show, known for its outspoken critique of political figures and events, established Olbermann as a prominent voice in the world of political journalism. His distinctive style, characterized by acerbic wit and detailed analysis, made 'Countdown' a highly-rated program. Despite multiple controversies and departures, Olbermann's influence remained undiminished, demonstrating his resilience and adaptability in the competitive world of broadcasting. Apart from his work in broadcasting, Olbermann authored several books that further highlight his versatility. These include Pitchforks and Torches, a compilation of his commentaries, and Truth and Consequences, which details his experiences during the controversial 2007 NFL season. All of his works reflect his sharp intellect and unique perspective, consolidating his reputation as a formidable commentator. Whether through his broadcasting or writing, Keith Olbermann continues to be a potent force in the spheres of sports and political journalism alike.
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Hugh Hefner was widely recognized as the founder and editor-in-chief of Playboy magazine. Born on April 9, 1926, in Chicago, Illinois, he spearheaded a cultural revolution with the launch of Playboy in 1953. With an initial investment gathered from various sources, including a loan from his mother, Hefner introduced a publication that would redefine adult entertainment and ignite conversations on sexuality and freedom of expression. Hefner earned his Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from the University of Illinois in 1949, following which he worked at various publications including Esquire. However, it was his desire for editorial freedom and his vision for a magazine that catered to a more sophisticated audience that led him to create Playboy. The inaugural issue, featuring the iconic nude photos of Marilyn Monroe, became an instant sensation, solidifying Playboy's place in popular culture. Beyond his publishing success, Hefner was also known for his advocacy of First Amendment rights, sexual liberation, and personal freedom. His lifestyle mirrored the ethos of his brand, with the Playboy Mansion becoming the symbol of Hefner's hedonistic and lavish lifestyle. Despite facing criticism and legal battles, Hefner remained steadfast in his belief in personal freedoms until his death in 2017. Hugh Hefner's influence extends beyond his magazine, leaving a lasting impact on the discourse surrounding sexuality and freedom of expression in American culture.
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Hunter S. Thompson, a luminary in the world of journalism, carved a niche for himself with his unique brand of writing, called "Gonzo Journalism". Born on July 18, 1937, in Louisville, Kentucky, Thompson's life was synonymous with rebelliousness and an unquenchable thirst for truth. His early years were marked by a defiance of authority, which led to a stint in the United States Air Force. This period of his life served as a foundation for his writing career. Thompson shot to fame with the publication of Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga in 1967. The book, a result of Thompson living and riding with the notorious motorcycle gang for a year, pushed the boundaries of immersive journalism. However, it was with Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1971) that he fully established his Gonzo Journalistic style characterized as a first-person narrative deeply intertwined with the author's opinions and emotions, often blurring the line between fiction and reality. While Thompson's professional life was characterized by his bold and unconventional approach to reporting, his personal life mirrored this audacity. Known for his frequent use of illicit substances and his love for firearms, he was a figure of intrigue and controversy. Despite his unconventional lifestyle, Thompson's influence on journalism remains profound. He passed away in 2005, but his legacy continues to inspire and challenge journalists and writers worldwide. His work underscores the importance of fearless reporting and unfiltered storytelling, acting as a beacon in the ever-evolving landscape of journalism.
- Birthplace: USA, Kentucky, Louisville
- Benito Amilcare Andrea Mussolini (, also US: , Italian: [beˈniːto mussoˈliːni]; 29 July 1883 – 28 April 1945) was Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Italy from the fascists' takeover of state power in 1922 until 1943, and Duce from 1919 to his execution in 1945 during the Italian civil war. As dictator of Italy and founder of fascism, Mussolini inspired several totalitarian rulers such as Adolf Hitler.A journalist and politician, Mussolini had been a leading member of the National Directorate of the Italian Socialist Party (PSI) from 1910 to 1914, but was expelled from the PSI for advocating military intervention in World War I, in opposition to the party's stance on neutrality. Mussolini served in the Royal Italian Army during the war until he was wounded and discharged in 1917. Mussolini denounced the PSI, his views now centering on nationalism instead of socialism and later founded the fascist movement which came to oppose egalitarianism and class conflict, instead advocating "revolutionary nationalism" transcending class lines. Following the March on Rome in October 1922, Mussolini became the youngest Italian Prime Minister up to that date. After removing all political opposition through his secret police and outlawing labor strikes, Mussolini and his followers consolidated their power through a series of laws that transformed the nation into a one-party dictatorship. Within five years, Mussolini had established dictatorial authority by both legal and extraordinary means and aspired to create a totalitarian state. In 1929, Mussolini signed the Lateran Treaty with the Vatican, ending decades of struggle between the Italian state and the Papacy, and recognized the independence of Vatican City. Mussolini's foreign policy aimed to expand the sphere of influence of Italian fascism. In 1923, he began the "Pacification of Libya" and ordered the bombing of Corfu in retaliation for the murder of an Italian general. In 1936, Mussolini formed Italian East Africa (AOI) by merging Eritrea, Somalia and Ethiopia following the Abyssinian crisis and the Second Italo–Ethiopian War. In 1939, Italian forces occupied Albania. Between 1936 and 1939, Mussolini ordered the successful Italian military intervention in Spain in favor of Francisco Franco during the Spanish civil war. At the same time, Mussolini's Italy tried to avoid the outbreak of a second global war and took part in the Stresa front, the Lytton Report, the Treaty of Lausanne, the Four-Power Pact and the Munich Agreement. However, Italy distanced Britain and France by forming the axis powers with Germany and Japan. Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, resulting in declarations of war by France and the UK and the start of World War II. On 10 June 1940—with the Fall of France imminent—Italy officially entered the war and occupied parts of south-east France, Corsica and Tunisia. Mussolini planned to concentrate Italian forces on a major offensive against the British Empire in Africa and the Middle East, while expecting the collapse of the UK in the European theatre. The Italians invaded Egypt, bombed Mandatory Palestine, and occupied British Somaliland with initial success. However, the British government refused to accept proposals for a peace that would involve accepting Axis victories in Eastern and Western Europe; plans for an invasion of the UK did not proceed and the war continued. In October 1940, Mussolini sent Italian forces into Greece, starting the Greco-Italian War. The British air force prevented the Italian invasion and allowed the Greeks to push the Italians back to Albania.The Balkan campaign was significantly prolonged until the definition of the Axis occupation of Greece and Yugoslavia. Furthermore, the German invasion of the Soviet Union and the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbour forced Mussolini to send an Italian army in Russia and declare war on the United States. Mussolini was aware that Italy, whose resources were reduced by the campaigns of the 1930s, was not ready for a long conflict against three superpowers but opted to remain in the conflict to not abandon the fascist imperial ambitions. In 1943, Italy suffered major disasters: by February the Red Army had completely destroyed the Italian Army in Russia; in May the Axis collapsed in North Africa despite previous Italian resistance at the second battle of El Alamein. On 9 July the Anglo-Americans invaded Sicily; and by the 16th it became clear the German summer offensive in the USSR had failed. As a consequence, early on 25 July, the Grand Council of Fascism passed a motion of no confidence for Mussolini; later that day the King dismissed him as head of government and had him placed in custody, appointing Pietro Badoglio to succeed him as Prime Minister. After the king agreed the armistice with the allies, on 12 September 1943 Mussolini was rescued from captivity in the Gran Sasso raid by German paratroopers and Waffen-SS commandos led by Major Otto-Harald Mors. Adolf Hitler, after meeting with the rescued former dictator, then put Mussolini in charge of a puppet regime in northern Italy, the Italian Social Republic (Italian: Repubblica Sociale Italiana, RSI), informally known as the Salò Republic. In late April 1945, in the wake of near total defeat, Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci attempted to flee to Switzerland, but both were captured by Italian communist partisans and summarily executed by firing squad on 28 April 1945 near Lake Como. His body was then taken to Milan, where it was hung upside down at a service station to publicly confirm his demise.
- Birthplace: Predappio, Italy
- Mark Twain, born as Samuel Clemens in 1835 in Missouri, USA, is one of the most celebrated figures in American literature. His childhood was spent in the river town of Hannibal, which later became the backdrop for his most famous works, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. These novels are not only considered cornerstones of American literature but also provide an insightful commentary on pre-Civil War American society. Twain's career spanned across various roles including that of a printer, riverboat pilot, journalist, and lecturer. His experiences in these roles provided him with a rich source of material for his writings. For instance, his time as a riverboat pilot on the Mississippi River inspired his pen name, 'Mark Twain', a term used by riverboat pilots to denote safe water depth. His keen observations of human nature and society coupled with his unique blend of humor, satire, and wit made his work resonate with a wide audience. Though he enjoyed immense success and popularity, Twain's personal life was riddled with hardships and tragedies. He faced bankruptcy, endured the loss of three of his four children, and outlived his beloved wife, Olivia Langdon. Despite these adversities, he continued to write, producing a vast body of work that includes novels, essays, short stories, and travelogues. Twain passed away in 1910, but his legacy continues to thrive, enlightening and entertaining readers to this day.
- Birthplace: USA, Missouri, Florida
- Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Chris Matthews is a distinguished American political commentator, talk show host, and author. He is most reputable for his long-standing role as the host of Hardball with Chris Matthews, a nightly talk show on MSNBC. Matthews's journey into journalism began post his graduation from the College of the Holy Cross and completion of graduate studies in Economics at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Matthews's career was not exclusive to journalism from the get-go. He first delved into politics, where he served for several years in various capacities. He spent time as a trade development advisor in the U.S Peace Corps in Swaziland, then worked as a presidential speechwriter during the Carter administration before moving on to serve as the chief of staff to Speaker of the House Thomas P. O'Neill Jr. These experiences gave him a deep understanding of American politics, effectively preparing him for his later career as a political commentator. As an author, Matthews has penned several best-selling books that often combine his passion for history and politics. His works include Hardball: How Politics is Played Told by One Who Knows the Game, Jack Kennedy: Elusive Hero, and Bobby Kennedy: A Raging Spirit. In these publications, Matthews provides insightful and engaging discussion on the significant figures and events in American politics, attesting to his expertise and profound knowledge in the field. Throughout his career, Matthews has exhibited an unwavering dedication to educating audiences about the complexities of American politics.
- Birthplace: USA, Somerton, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Stephen Fry, a multifaceted British talent, has made immense contributions to the world of arts and literature. Born on August 24, 1957, in London, England, he spent his early years navigating through a challenging educational journey due to his struggles with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Despite these trials, he found solace in the realms of drama and comedy, ultimately securing a place at Queens' College, Cambridge. Here, he became an integral part of the Cambridge Footlights, a student comedy troupe that has been a springboard for many successful British comedians. Fry's career took off in the 1980s when he teamed up with fellow Cambridge alumnus Hugh Laurie to create the sketch comedy show A Bit of Fry & Laurie. The show was a massive hit, catapulting both performers into the spotlight. This was just the beginning for Fry, who would go on to star in a multitude of films and television series, including the globally acclaimed Jeeves and Wooster and Blackadder. His versatility is evident in his ability to effortlessly transition between dramatic roles and comedic performances. Apart from acting, Fry is an accomplished writer and presenter. His extensive bibliography spans across genres, from novels like The Liar and Making History, to non-fiction works such as Moab Is My Washpot, a candid account of his early life. Moreover, his distinct narrative style and rich voice have made him a sought-after choice for audiobook narration, most notably for the Harry Potter series. In addition, Fry has presented several critically acclaimed documentaries on a diverse range of topics, further cementing his status as a versatile artist. Throughout his career, Stephen Fry has consistently demonstrated an uncanny ability to captivate audiences, making him a cherished figure in the entertainment industry.
- Birthplace: Hampstead, London, England, UK
- Larry King, born Lawrence Harvey Zeiger in 1933, was a significant figure in the world of American television and radio broadcasting. He began his career as a local journalist and radio interviewer in Florida during the 1950s, before rising to national prominence in the late '70s with his eponymous radio program, The Larry King Show. Known for his unique interviewing style - non-confrontational and open-ended - King quickly became a household name, setting the bar high for future talk show hosts. King's fame reached new heights in 1985 when he became the host of Larry King Live on CNN, a position he held for over two decades. The show was groundbreaking for its call-in format, allowing viewers from around the globe to interact directly with King and his guests. His extensive list of interviewees included a veritable who's who of contemporary figures; from politicians and athletes to movie stars and musicians, no subject seemed off-limits for King. Throughout his illustrious career, King received numerous accolades including two Peabody Awards and an Emmy. He was also inducted into both the National Radio Hall of Fame and the Broadcasters' Hall of Fame, testament to his significant contribution to the broadcasting industry. Despite facing several personal and health challenges, King remained passionate about his work until his death in 2021. His legacy continues to inspire aspiring broadcasters and journalists, reminding them of the power of genuine curiosity and conversation.
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
- Matthew Todd Lauer (; born December 30, 1957) is an American former television news anchor. He was the co-host of NBC's Today show from 1997 to 2017, and a contributor for Dateline NBC. With NBC, he hosted the annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from 1998 to 2017 and co-hosted the opening ceremonies of several Olympic Games. He was also previously a news anchor for The Today Show from 1994 to 1997, anchor for WNBC in New York City and served as a local talk-show host in various cities (including co-hosting various local versions of PM Magazine) and entertainment news segments for HBO .Following allegations of his inappropriate sexual behavior, Lauer's contract was terminated by NBC in November 2017 after NBC reported receiving "a detailed complaint from a colleague about inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace" but added that the network had "reason to believe this may not have been an isolated incident".
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
- Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde (16 October 1854 – 30 November 1900) was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London's most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. He is best remembered for his epigrams and plays, his novel The Picture of Dorian Gray, and the circumstances of his criminal conviction for "gross indecency", imprisonment, and early death at age 46. Wilde's parents were successful Anglo-Irish intellectuals in Dublin. Their son became fluent in French and German early in life. At university, Wilde read Greats; he proved himself to be an outstanding classicist, first at Trinity College Dublin, then at Oxford. He became known for his involvement in the rising philosophy of aestheticism, led by two of his tutors, Walter Pater and John Ruskin. After university, Wilde moved to London into fashionable cultural and social circles. As a spokesman for aestheticism, he tried his hand at various literary activities: he published a book of poems, lectured in the United States and Canada on the new "English Renaissance in Art" and interior decoration, and then returned to London where he worked prolifically as a journalist. Known for his biting wit, flamboyant dress and glittering conversational skill, Wilde became one of the best-known personalities of his day. At the turn of the 1890s, he refined his ideas about the supremacy of art in a series of dialogues and essays, and incorporated themes of decadence, duplicity, and beauty into what would be his only novel, The Picture of Dorian Gray (1890). The opportunity to construct aesthetic details precisely, and combine them with larger social themes, drew Wilde to write drama. He wrote Salome (1891) in French while in Paris but it was refused a licence for England due to an absolute prohibition on the portrayal of Biblical subjects on the English stage. Unperturbed, Wilde produced four society comedies in the early 1890s, which made him one of the most successful playwrights of late-Victorian London. At the height of his fame and success, while The Importance of Being Earnest (1895) was still being performed in London, Wilde had the Marquess of Queensberry prosecuted for criminal libel. The Marquess was the father of Wilde's lover, Lord Alfred Douglas. The libel trial unearthed evidence that caused Wilde to drop his charges and led to his own arrest and trial for gross indecency with men. After two more trials he was convicted and sentenced to two years' hard labour, the maximum penalty, and was jailed from 1895 to 1897. During his last year in prison, he wrote De Profundis (published posthumously in 1905), a long letter which discusses his spiritual journey through his trials, forming a dark counterpoint to his earlier philosophy of pleasure. On his release, he left immediately for France, never to return to Ireland or Britain. There he wrote his last work, The Ballad of Reading Gaol (1898), a long poem commemorating the harsh rhythms of prison life.
- Birthplace: Dublin, Republic of Ireland
The Best Oscar Wilde QuotesSee all- 1The difference between literature and journalism is that journalism is unreadable and literature is not read.13 Votes
- 2I put all my genius into my life; I put only my talent into my works.11 Votes
- 3It is only the modern that ever becomes old-fashioned.9 Votes
- Piers Stefan Pughe-Morgan (; né O'Meara; born 30 March 1965) is an English broadcaster, journalist, writer, and television personality. He is currently a co-anchor of the ITV Breakfast programme Good Morning Britain from Monday to Wednesday each week. Morgan began his career in Fleet Street as a writer and editor for several tabloid papers, including The Sun, News of the World, and the Daily Mirror. In 1994, aged 29, he was appointed editor of the News of the World by Rupert Murdoch, which made him the youngest editor of a British national newspaper in more than half a century. On television, he hosted Piers Morgan Live on CNN from 2011 to 2014, replacing Larry King Live in the timeslot following King's retirement. He was a judge on America's Got Talent and Britain's Got Talent. In 2008, Morgan won the seventh season of the US Celebrity Apprentice. In the UK, he has presented Piers Morgan's Life Stories since 2009, and Good Morning Britain since 2015. Morgan has written eight books, including four volumes of memoirs. While working at Daily Mirror, he was in charge during the period that the paper was implicated in the phone hacking scandal. In 2011 Morgan denied having ever hacked a phone or "to my knowledge published any story obtained from the hacking of a phone". In 2012 he was criticised in the findings of the Leveson Inquiry by chair Brian Leveson who stated that comments made in Morgan's testimony about phone hacking were "utterly unpersuasive" and "that he was aware that it was taking place in the press as a whole and that he was sufficiently unembarrassed by what was criminal behaviour that he was prepared to joke about it".
- Birthplace: Guildford, Surrey, England, UK
- Roger Ebert, renown film critic and journalist, was born on June 18, 1942, in Urbana, Illinois. Fascinated by journalism from a young age, Ebert began his career as a sports writer for The News-Gazette in his hometown. His talent for writing was evident early on and, after graduating from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, he joined the Chicago Sun-Times as their film critic in 1967 - a position he held for over four decades. Ebert's name became synonymous with film critique, largely due to his sharp and insightful reviews. His unique style of criticism, which paired depth of analysis with approachability, made him a popular figure among both cinephiles and casual viewers. An important milestone in his career was his creation of the movie review television program Siskel & Ebert with fellow critic Gene Siskel. This syndicated show, known for its distinctive "thumbs up, thumbs down" rating system, further solidified Ebert's place in popular culture. Aside from his celebrated work as a film critic, Ebert was also an accomplished author. He penned numerous books on cinema, including I Hated, Hated, Hated This Movie and Your Movie Sucks. His dedication to his craft earned him many accolades, the most significant being the Pulitzer Prize for Criticism in 1975, making him the first film critic to receive such honor. Despite facing health complications later in life, Ebert continued to share his passion for cinema until his passing in 2013. His legacy continues to influence the world of film critique, underscoring his status as a seminal figure in the realm of entertainment journalism.
- Birthplace: Urbana, Illinois, USA
The Best Movies Roger Ebert Gave Four StarsSee all- 1The Godfather3,090 Votes
- 2Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark2,672 Votes
- 3Schindler's List2,447 Votes
- Walter Leland Cronkite Jr. (November 4, 1916 – July 17, 2009) was an American broadcast journalist who served as anchorman for the CBS Evening News for 19 years (1962–1981). During the heyday of CBS News in the 1960s and 1970s, he was often cited as "the most trusted man in America" after being so named in an opinion poll.He reported many events from 1937 to 1981, including bombings in World War II; the Nuremberg trials; combat in the Vietnam War; the Dawson's Field hijackings; Watergate; the Iran Hostage Crisis; and the assassinations of President John F. Kennedy, civil rights pioneer Martin Luther King Jr., and Beatles musician John Lennon. He was also known for his extensive coverage of the U.S. space program, from Project Mercury to the Moon landings to the Space Shuttle. He was the only non-NASA recipient of an Ambassador of Exploration award.Cronkite is well known for his departing catchphrase, "And that's the way it is," followed by the date of the broadcast.
- Birthplace: St. Joseph, Missouri, USA
- Tucker Swanson McNear Carlson (born May 16, 1969) is an American conservative political commentator who has hosted the nightly political talk show Tucker Carlson Tonight on Fox News since 2016. Carlson became a print journalist in the 1990s, writing for the magazine The Weekly Standard, among others. He was a commentator on CNN, from 2000 to 2005, and co-host of Crossfire. Carlson then hosted the nightly program Tucker on MSNBC, from 2005 to 2008. He has been a political analyst for Fox News since 2009. In 2010, Carlson co-founded and served as the initial editor-in-chief of the conservative news and opinion website The Daily Caller. Early in his career, Carlson was regarded as a libertarian political commentator; more recently, he has expressed skepticism of libertarian economic policies, and aligned himself with American nationalism and right-wing populism. Carlson has written two books, the memoir Politicians, Partisans and Parasites: My Adventures in Cable News (2003) and Ship of Fools: How a Selfish Ruling Class is Bringing America to the Brink of Revolution (2018).
- Birthplace: USA, California, San Francisco
- Herman Cain (December 13, 1945 – July 30, 2020) was an American business executive, syndicated columnist, and Tea Party activist. Cain grew up in Georgia and graduated from Morehouse College with a bachelor's degree in mathematics. He then graduated with a master's degree in computer science at Purdue University, while also working full-time for the U.S. Department of the Navy. He became vice president of the Pillsbury Company and was later appointed as the chairman and CEO of Godfather's Pizza from 1986-1996 before serving as the president and CEO of the National Restaurant Association from 1996-1999. In May 2011, Cain announced his 2012 presidential candidacy. By the fall, his proposed 9–9–9 tax plan and debating performances had made him a serious contender for the Republican nomination before suspending his campaign on December 3rd of that year. Cain died in late July 2020 from complications due to the coronavirus.
- Birthplace: Memphis, Tennessee, USA
- A true renaissance figure of the postwar American literary and political scene, Gore Vidal enjoyed concurrent careers as a best-selling novelist, celebrated Broadway playwright, A-list Hollywood screenwriter, politician, activist, essayist and historian. A veteran of World War II, Vidal had lost the love of his life at the Battle of Iwo Jima and channeled his grief into the autobiographical novel, The City and the Pillar, which caused a scandal in the publishing world but was later canonized as a landmark of the American gay rights movement. An ally of Democratic President John F. Kennedy, Vidal tangled often with conservative writer William F. Buckley, with whom he feuded publicly for 30 years. In Hollywood, Vidal turned out screenplays for such films as "Suddenly, Last Summer" (1959) and "Ben-Hur" (1959), while his theatrical writing and fiction inspired such features as "Visit to a Small Planet" (1959) and the camp classic "Myra Breckinridge" (1970). Receding from public life in later years due to illness, Vidal remained a vibrant figure, surviving his political and literary rivals to endure as the last man standing of 20th Century arts and letters.
- Birthplace: West Point, New York, USA
- Christopher Hitchens, a British-born journalist, essayist, and critic, was widely recognized for his sharp wit and controversial commentary. Born in 1949, he spent the early part of his life in Portsmouth, England, where he developed a passion for politics and literature. After graduating from Balliol College, Oxford University, with a degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics, Hitchens began a career in publishing that spanned over four decades. Hitchens's influence reached across the Atlantic when he relocated to the United States in 1981. His acerbic pen found a large audience through his work as a contributing editor to Vanity Fair, where he wrote on a wide array of topics, ranging from politics to literature, and everything in between. A prolific author, Hitchens penned more than twenty books throughout his career, including God is Not Great, a bold critique of religion, and the memoir Hitch-22. His ruthless honesty and intellectual rigor made him a formidable figure in public discourse. Despite being a controversial figure, Hitchens's impact on journalistic integrity and intellectual engagement is undeniable. A self-proclaimed contrarian, he never shied away from expressing unpopular opinions, often challenging the status quo and pushing readers to question their beliefs. Christopher Hitchens passed away in 2011, leaving behind a legacy of independent thought and fearless criticism that continues to inspire journalists and thinkers worldwide.
- Birthplace: England, Portsmouth
- One of the most popular and widely read authors of all time, Victorian author Charles Dickens wrote some of the English language's best-known novels, many of which were transformed into great works of cinema and television. Following a hardscrabble life as a child laboring under harsh conditions, Dickens used his gifts for colorful characters, high sentimentality and memorable dialogue to unearth harsh truths about poor social conditions and the plight of the poor in England and abroad. Early novels like The Pickwick Papers (1837) and Oliver Twist (1837) announced the arrival of a substantial artist, while A Christmas Carol (1843), his most enduring and most adapted work, became his most popular. Dickens' artistic ambitions became more pronounced with David Copperfield (1850), while both A Tale of Two Cities (1859) and Great Expectations (1861) came to rival the works of Shakespeare, Chaucer and Milton. With over 200 film, television and stage adaptations of his work, many were easily forgotten. But David Lean's extraordinary adaptation of "Great Expectations" (1946), Alastair Sim's turn as Ebenezer Scrooge in the classic feature "A Christmas Carol" (1951), and the Oscar-winning musical "Oliver!" (1968) stood out as worthy odes to the author. Though praised and scorned by contemporaries and later critics alike, Dickens was a colossal figure in the literary world whose influence and popularity remained unfettered well into the 21st century.
- Birthplace: Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, UK
- Benjamin David Salisbury (born October 19, 1980) is an American actor and dancer best known for playing the role of Brighton Sheffield on the CBS television sitcom The Nanny from 1993 to 1999.
- Birthplace: Minneapolis, USA, Minnesota
- Al Roker, born Albert Lincoln Roker Jr., is an accomplished American weather forecaster, television presenter, author, and actor. He was born on August 20, 1954, in Queens, New York, showcasing a deep interest in broadcasting from an early age. His education at the State University of New York at Oswego, where he received a degree in communications, further solidified his passion for media. Roker's career has been marked by significant accomplishments in the world of television. His longstanding tenure as a weather anchor on NBC's The Today Show began in 1996, following an initial period as a fill-in. Roker's amiable personality and professionalism established him as a household name. He additionally gained recognition for reporting on some of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history. Beyond his weather-forecasting duties, Roker pioneered innovative programming as the CEO of Al Roker Entertainment, a leading producer of original TV content. In addition to his television career, Roker has made his mark as an author. He has penned several non-fiction books, including an acclaimed memoir titled Never Goin' Back: Winning the Weight Loss Battle For Good, which details his personal journey with weight loss and health. His noteworthy contributions have earned him multiple Emmy Awards, further attesting to his impact on the entertainment industry.
- Birthplace: Queens, New York, USA
- Eric Arthur Blair (25 June 1903 – 21 January 1950), better known by his pen name George Orwell, was an English novelist and essayist, journalist and critic, whose work is characterised by lucid prose, awareness of social injustice, opposition to totalitarianism, and outspoken support of democratic socialism.As a writer, Orwell produced literary criticism and poetry, fiction and polemical journalism; and is best known for the allegorical novella Animal Farm (1945) and the dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four (1949). His non-fiction works, including The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), documenting his experience of working-class life in the north of England, and Homage to Catalonia (1938), an account of his experiences soldiering for the Republican faction of the Spanish Civil War (1936–1939), are as critically respected as his essays on politics and literature, language and culture. In 2008, The Times ranked George Orwell second among "The 50 greatest British writers since 1945".Orwell's work remains influential in popular culture and in political culture, and the adjective "Orwellian" – describing totalitarian and authoritarian social practices – is part of the English language, like many of his neologisms, such as "Big Brother", "Thought Police", and "Hate week", "Room 101", the "memory hole", and "Newspeak", "doublethink" and "proles", "unperson" and "thoughtcrime".
- Birthplace: Motihari, India
- Billy Wilder was an Austrian-born American filmmaker, screenwriter, producer, artist, and journalist who became one of Hollywood's premier director-screenwriters. Born Samuel Wilder in 1906 in Sucha, Austria-Hungary (now Poland), he was known for his sharp wit and prolific output. His family had a keen interest in the arts, which influenced Wilder's future career. Wilder moved to Berlin in the 1920s where he worked as a taxi dancer and a reporter, before breaking into scriptwriting. His career took a significant turn when he fled Nazi Germany in 1933, following Adolf Hitler's rise to power. Wilder settled in Hollywood and began crafting screenplays; soon showcasing his talent in the film industry. He etched a niche for himself with films like Double Indemnity (1944), Sunset Boulevard (1950) and The Apartment (1960), where he beautifully blended elements of drama, noir, and comedy. Over his illustrious career, Wilder received twenty-one Academy Award nominations and won six. The American Film Institute recognized him with a Life Achievement Award in 1986, acknowledging his significant contribution to the motion picture community. Wilder's work remains a masterclass in film-making, celebrated for its narrative structure, character development, and unparalleled wit. Billy Wilder passed away in 2002, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire filmmakers worldwide.
- Birthplace: Sucha, Galicia, Austria
The Best Movies Directed by Billy WilderSee all- 1Sunset Boulevard108 Votes
- 2Some Like It Hot96 Votes
- 3The Apartment113 Votes
- John F. Kennedy Jr., born on November 25, 1960, was a prominent figure in American history, not just for his family lineage but also for his personal achievements and charisma. He was the only son of the 35th U.S. President, John F. Kennedy, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. His birth took place just a few weeks after his father's historic election, making him an immediate national icon. This early public exposure laid the foundation for his future endeavors in media and law. Kennedy Jr. graduated from Brown University in 1983 with a degree in American Studies. He later obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) from New York University Law School in 1989. Despite facing early challenges in his legal career, including failing the bar exam twice, he eventually became an assistant district attorney in Manhattan, serving from 1989 to 1993. During this time, he demonstrated his commitment to public service, a trait shared by many members of the Kennedy clan. In 1995, Kennedy Jr. ventured into publishing, co-founding the political magazine George. As editor-in-chief, he combined politics and celebrity culture in a way that was both innovative and engaging. This new direction in his career showcased his ability to leverage his unique position at the intersection of politics, media, and fame. Kennedy Jr.'s life, however, was tragically cut short when he died in a plane crash in July 1999, leaving behind a legacy that continues to captivate and inspire.
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA
- Christopher James Berman (born May 10, 1955), nicknamed Boomer, is an American sportscaster. He has been an anchor for SportsCenter on ESPN since 1979, joining a month after its initial launch, and hosted the network's Sunday NFL Countdown program from 1985 to 2016. He has also anchored Monday Night Countdown, U.S. Open golf, the Stanley Cup Finals, and other programming on ESPN and ABC Sports. Berman calls play-by-play of select Major League Baseball games for ESPN, which included the Home Run Derby until 2016. A six-time honoree of the National Sports Media Association's "National Sportscaster of the Year" award, Berman was instrumental in establishing ESPN's lasting popularity during the network's formative years. He is well known for his various catchphrases and quirky demeanor. In January 2017, ESPN announced that Berman would be stepping down from several NFL-related roles at the network, but would remain at the company.
- Birthplace: USA, Connecticut, Greenwich
- Billy Bush, a name synonymous with American television and radio, has had a dynamic career that has spanned over two decades in the entertainment industry. Born on October 13, 1971, in Manhattan, New York, USA, as William Hall Bush, he is part of the prominent Bush family that includes two U.S. presidents. Bush acquired his Bachelor's degree in International Studies and Government from Colby College. Bush began his journey in the world of broadcasting at WLKZ-FM in Wolfeboro, New Hampshire, before stepping into the realm of television. He became a well-known figure while hosting the popular American syndicated entertainment news show Access Hollywood, where he interviewed a myriad of Hollywood celebrities. His affable nature and engaging interviewing style made him a favorite among audiences and celebrities alike. In addition to this, he also co-hosted the nationally syndicated talk show Billy Bush and the Bush League Morning Show, contributing significantly to its popularity. Despite being caught in a whirlwind of controversy in 2016, which led to a brief pause in his career, Bush demonstrated resilience and the capacity for personal growth. He returned to the limelight as the host of the news magazine television show Extra. Throughout his career, Bush has shown his versatility by covering several Olympic Games and co-hosting beauty pageants such as Miss Universe.
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Warren Gamaliel Harding (November 2, 1865 – August 2, 1923) was the 29th president of the United States from 1921 until his death in 1923. A member of the Republican Party, he was one of the most popular U.S. presidents to that point. After his death a number of scandals, such as Teapot Dome, came to light, as did his extramarital affair with Nan Britton; each eroded his popular regard. He is often rated as one of the worst presidents in historical rankings. Harding lived in rural Ohio all his life, except when political service took him elsewhere. As a young man, he bought The Marion Star and built it into a successful newspaper. In 1899, he was elected to the Ohio State Senate; he spent four years there, then was elected lieutenant governor. He was defeated for governor in 1910, but was elected to the United States Senate in 1914. He ran for the Republican nomination for president in 1920, and he was considered a long shot until after the convention began. The leading candidates could not gain the needed majority, and the convention deadlocked. Harding's support gradually grew until he was nominated on the tenth ballot. He conducted a front porch campaign, remaining for the most part in Marion and allowing the people to come to him, and running on a theme of a return to normalcy of the pre-World War I period. He won in a landslide over Democrat James M. Cox and the then imprisoned Socialist Party candidate Eugene Debs and became the first sitting senator to be elected president. Harding appointed a number of well-regarded figures to his cabinet, including Andrew Mellon at Treasury, Herbert Hoover at the Department of Commerce, and Charles Evans Hughes at the State Department. A major foreign policy achievement came with the Washington Naval Conference of 1921–1922, in which the world's major naval powers agreed on a naval limitations program that lasted a decade. Harding released political prisoners that had been arrested for their opposition to World War I. His cabinet members Albert B. Fall (Interior Secretary) and Harry Daugherty (Attorney General) were each later tried for corruption in office; these and other scandals greatly damaged Harding's posthumous reputation. Harding died of a heart attack in San Francisco while on a western tour, succeeded by Vice President Calvin Coolidge.
- Birthplace: Blooming Grove, Ohio, United States of America
- Patrick Joseph Buchanan (; born November 2, 1938) is an American paleoconservative political commentator, columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was an assistant and special consultant to U.S. Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought the Republican presidential nomination in 1992 and 1996. He ran on the Reform Party ticket in the 2000 presidential election. He co-founded The American Conservative magazine and launched a foundation named The American Cause. He has been published in Human Events, National Review, The Nation, and Rolling Stone. He was a political commentator on the MSNBC cable network, including the show Morning Joe until February 2012, and now appears on Fox News. Buchanan has been a regular on The McLaughlin Group since the 1980s. His political positions can generally be described as paleoconservative, and many of his views, particularly his opposition to American imperialism and the managerial state, echo those of the Old Right Republicans of the first half of the 20th century.
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA
- Ernest Hemingway, born on July 21, 1899, in Oak Park, Illinois, is a literary titan globally recognized for his distinctive style and profound influence on 20th-century literature. An author and journalist, Hemingway's economical and understated writing style significantly contributed to the development of modern prose fiction. His works often featured masculine themes of love, war, wilderness, and loss, all imbued with a philosophical undercurrent. Raised in a suburb of Chicago, Hemingway developed a strong interest in outdoor activities; hunting, fishing, and camping. This early exposure to nature would later become a recurring theme in his literary work. He served as an ambulance driver in Italy during World War I, an experience that profoundly influenced his worldview and found expression in his first novel, A Farewell to Arms. Hemingway further honed his craft as a journalist in Paris, where he rubbed shoulders with the likes of Gertrude Stein, James Joyce, and Ezra Pound, who guided the young writer towards literary modernism. Hemingway's illustrious career saw him produce seven novels, six short-story collections, and two non-fiction works, earning him the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1953 for The Old Man and the Sea and the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1954. Despite his professional success, Hemingway struggled with physical and mental health problems, leading to his tragic death by suicide in 1961. His life - filled with adventure, romance, and tragedy - was as dramatic and intense as the stories he penned. Hemingway's legacy continues to thrive, influencing generations of writers and readers alike, asserting his place as one of the greatest authors of the 20th century.
- Birthplace: Oak Park, USA, Illinois
- Admired and loathed in equal measure, motoring enthusiast Jeremy Clarkson may have been one of the most divisive personalities in British TV history, but his no-nonsense, politically incorrect style was undeniably the driving force behind the unexpected world domination of "Top Gear" (BBC2, 1977- ). Following several years in local journalism, Clarkson joined the landmark show in 1988 where his near-the-knuckle humor and outspoken views helped attract a much wider audience, and by the end of the '90s he had established himself as the BBC's senior authority on all things vehicle-related. But it was the 2002 studio-based reboot of the show that turned him into an icon for petrolheads across the globe, with audiences in over 100 countries tuning in for its mix of novelty challenges, factual information and middle-aged banter. However, Clarkson soon became just as renowned for his tabloid-baiting behavior, and regularly came under fire thanks to derogatory comments on everyone from lorry drivers, to former Prime Minster Gordon Brown, to the entire population of India. A physical attack on one of the show's producers eventually cost him his job in 2015, but the millions of fans who protested at his dismissal only highlighted just how much of an impact he'd made on the cultural landscape.
- Birthplace: Doncaster, South Yorkshire, England, UK
- Geraldo Rivera, an illustrious figure in American journalism, has etched a remarkable trail of groundbreaking work throughout his career. Born on July 4, 1943, in New York City, Rivera rose from a humble background to become one of the most recognized faces in broadcast journalism. His parents, Cruz and Lillian Rivera, instilled in him an ardent zeal for social justice issues, which became a defining characteristic of his future work. Rivera launched his career in journalism working at WABC-TV as a news reporter where his fearless reporting style quickly drew attention. His breakthrough came when he exposed the deplorable conditions of Willowbrook State School, an institution for mentally disabled children, leading to significant reforms in the care and treatment of such individuals. This achievement paved the way for Rivera's meteoric rise, with him subsequently joining ABC News and then hosting the talk show Geraldo. He further cemented his reputation with his Emmy-winning show Geraldo at Large and his involvement in Fox News. Despite facing controversy and criticism, Rivera's commitment to journalism never wavered. His investigative reports have often stirred public debate and led to meaningful changes. In addition to his journalistic endeavors, Rivera authored several books that offer insights into key social and political issues. With a career spanning over five decades, Geraldo Rivera continues to be an influential voice in American media, leaving an indelible imprint on the landscape of broadcast journalism.
- Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York, USA
- Thomas Loren Friedman (; born July 20, 1953) is an American political commentator and author. He is a three-time Pulitzer Prize winner who is a weekly columnist for The New York Times. He has written extensively on foreign affairs, global trade, the Middle East, globalization, and environmental issues. He has been criticized for his staunch advocacy of the Iraq War and unregulated trade and his early support of Saudi Royal Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
- Birthplace: St. Louis Park, Minnesota, USA
- Brian Williams, an emblematic figure in American journalism, is renowned for his engaging reportage and authoritative news delivery style. Born on May 5, 1959, he grew up in New Jersey and embarked on a career in media that has spanned over four decades. Williams dropped out of college to intern at the White House during President Jimmy Carter's administration and took his first steps into broadcasting at KOAM-TV in Kansas. In 1993, Williams began his long-standing association with NBC News, initially serving as Chief White House Correspondent and anchor of the Weekend Nightly News. His exceptional reporting skills were recognized when he succeeded Tom Brokaw as anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News in 2004. Under his stewardship, the program won four Edward R. Murrow Awards and was consistently among the highest-rated news broadcasts in America. However, Williams's career hit a snag in 2015 following a controversy concerning his misrepresentation of events occurring during the Iraq War. Despite the setback, he made a successful return to television in 2016 as the chief anchor of MSNBC, where he continued to deliver insightful commentary on important national and international stories. Known for his ability to break down complex issues into clear narratives, Williams's dedication to journalistic integrity and truth-telling has earned him both acclaim and respect in the world of broadcast journalism.
- Birthplace: USA, Ridgewood, New Jersey
- Andrew James Breitbart (; February 1, 1969 – March 1, 2012) was an American conservative publisher, writer and commentator. After helping in the early stages of The Huffington Post and the Drudge Report, Breitbart created Breitbart News, a news and right-wing opinion website, along with multiple other "BIG" sites - BIGHollywood, BIGGovernment, BIGJournalism. He played central roles in the Anthony Weiner sexting scandal, the firing of Shirley Sherrod, and the ACORN 2009 undercover videos controversy. Commenters such as Nick Gillespie and Conor Friedersdorf have credited Breitbart with changing how people wrote about politics by "show[ing] how the Internet could be used to route around information bottlenecks imposed by official spokesmen and legacy news outlets" and "wield[ing] a rhetorical flamethrower in the culture wars" by using his own personal experiences and opinions as the basis for his media career.
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, USA, California
- Dan Irvin Rather Jr. (; born October 31, 1931) is an American journalist. Rather began his career in Texas and was on the scene of the Kennedy assassination in Dallas in 1963. His reporting elevated his position in CBS News, where he was White House correspondent beginning in 1964. He served as foreign correspondent in London and Vietnam over the next two years before returning to the White House correspondent position, covering the presidency of Richard Nixon, including his trip to China, Watergate scandal and resignation. When Walter Cronkite retired in 1981, Rather was promoted to news anchor for the CBS Evening News, a role he occupied for 24 years. Along with Peter Jennings at ABC News and Tom Brokaw at NBC News, he was one of the "Big Three" nightly news anchors in the U.S. from the 1980s through the early 2000s. He also frequently contributed to CBS's weekly news magazine 60 Minutes. Within a year of Brokaw's retirement and Jennings's death, he left the anchor desk in 2005 following a controversy in which he presented unauthenticated documents in a news report on President George W. Bush's Vietnam War-era service in the National Guard. He continued to work with CBS until 2006. On the cable channel AXS TV (then called HDNet), Rather hosted Dan Rather Reports, a 60 Minutes-style investigative news program, from 2006 to 2013. He also hosts several other projects for AXS TV, including Dan Rather Presents, which does in-depth reporting on broad topics such as mental health care or adoption, and The Big Interview with Dan Rather, where he conducts long-form interviews with musicians and other entertainers. In January 2018, he began hosting an online newscast called The News with Dan Rather on The Young Turks' YouTube channel.
- Birthplace: Wharton, Texas, USA
- Paul Robin Krugman ( (listen) KRUUG-mən; born February 28, 1953) is an American economist who is Distinguished Professor of Economics at the Graduate Center of the City University of New York, and a columnist for The New York Times. In 2008, Krugman was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for his contributions to New Trade Theory and New Economic Geography. The Prize Committee cited Krugman's work explaining the patterns of international trade and the geographic distribution of economic activity, by examining the effects of economies of scale and of consumer preferences for diverse goods and services.Krugman was previously a professor of economics at MIT, and later at Princeton University. He retired from Princeton in June 2015, and holds the title of professor emeritus there. He also holds the title of Centenary Professor at the London School of Economics. Krugman was President of the Eastern Economic Association in 2010, and is among the most influential economists in the world. He is known in academia for his work on international economics (including trade theory and international finance), economic geography, liquidity traps, and currency crises. Krugman is the author or editor of 27 books, including scholarly works, textbooks, and books for a more general audience, and has published over 200 scholarly articles in professional journals and edited volumes. He has also written several hundred columns on economic and political issues for The New York Times, Fortune and Slate. A 2011 survey of economics professors named him their favorite living economist under the age of 60. As a commentator, Krugman has written on a wide range of economic issues including income distribution, taxation, macroeconomics, and international economics. Krugman considers himself a modern liberal, referring to his books, his blog on The New York Times, and his 2007 book The Conscience of a Liberal. His popular commentary has attracted widespread attention and comments, both positive and negative.
- Birthplace: USA, Albany, New York
- Barely in his thirties when he became one of President Bill Clinton's most trusted advisors, George Stephanopoulos' youth made him a pop culture favorite for both politicos and media fans, alike, but the stress of working in the administration left him so burned out that he resigned after Clinton's first term, only to reinvent himself a year later as a political analyst for ABC News. He eventually worked his way up to becoming co-anchor of morning news perennial "Good Morning America" (ABC, 1975- ). After leaving the White House, he reemerged on ABC as a political correspondent for "World News Tonight" (1953- ), the Sunday morning political discussion show "This Week" (1996- ), and, of course, "Good Morning America," where viewers were won over by his easygoing charm and thoughtful intelligence.
- Birthplace: Fall River, Massachusetts, USA
- William Edward Burghardt Du Bois ( doo-BOYSS; February 23, 1868 – August 27, 1963) was an American sociologist, historian, civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist, author, writer and editor. Born in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, Du Bois grew up in a relatively tolerant and integrated community, and after completing graduate work at the University of Berlin and Harvard, where he was the first African American to earn a doctorate, he became a professor of history, sociology and economics at Atlanta University. Du Bois was one of the founders of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) in 1909. Before that, Du Bois had risen to national prominence as the leader of the Niagara Movement, a group of African-American activists who wanted equal rights for blacks. Du Bois and his supporters opposed the Atlanta compromise, an agreement crafted by Booker T. Washington which provided that Southern blacks would work and submit to white political rule, while Southern whites guaranteed that blacks would receive basic educational and economic opportunities. Instead, Du Bois insisted on full civil rights and increased political representation, which he believed would be brought about by the African-American intellectual elite. He referred to this group as the Talented Tenth and believed that African Americans needed the chances for advanced education to develop its leadership. Racism was the main target of Du Bois's polemics, and he strongly protested against lynching, Jim Crow laws, and discrimination in education and employment. His cause included people of color everywhere, particularly Africans and Asians in colonies. He was a proponent of Pan-Africanism and helped organize several Pan-African Congresses to fight for the independence of African colonies from European powers. Du Bois made several trips to Europe, Africa and Asia. After World War I, he surveyed the experiences of American black soldiers in France and documented widespread prejudice in the United States military. Du Bois was a prolific author. His collection of essays, The Souls of Black Folk, is a seminal work in African-American literature; and his 1935 magnum opus, Black Reconstruction in America, challenged the prevailing orthodoxy that blacks were responsible for the failures of the Reconstruction Era. Borrowing a phrase from Frederick Douglass, he popularized the use of the term color line to represent the injustice of the separate but equal doctrine prevalent in American social and political life. He opens The Souls of Black Folk with the central thesis of much of his life's work: "The problem of the twentieth century is the problem of the color-line." He wrote one of the first scientific treatises in the field of American sociology, and he published three autobiographies, each of which contains essays on sociology, politics and history. In his role as editor of the NAACP's journal The Crisis, he published many influential pieces. Du Bois believed that capitalism was a primary cause of racism, and he was generally sympathetic to socialist causes throughout his life. He was an ardent peace activist and advocated nuclear disarmament. The United States' Civil Rights Act, embodying many of the reforms for which Du Bois had campaigned his entire life, was enacted a year after his death.
- Birthplace: Great Barrington, Massachusetts
- Alan Richard Michaels (born November 12, 1944) is an American television sportscaster. Now employed by NBC Sports after nearly three decades (1977–2006) with ABC Sports, Michaels is known for his many years calling play-by-play of National Football League games, including nearly two decades with ABC's Monday Night Football and over a decade with NBC Sunday Night Football. He is also known for famous calls in other sports, including the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics and the earthquake-interrupted Game 3 of the 1989 World Series. Michaels' move from ABC to NBC in 2006 was notable as it was part of an agreement between the two networks' parent companies, The Walt Disney Company and NBCUniversal, respectively, that allowed Disney to take ownership of the intellectual property of Oswald the Lucky Rabbit from NBCUniversal.
- Birthplace: New York City, New York
- Albert Camus (; French: [albɛʁ kamy] (listen); 7 November 1913 – 4 January 1960) was a French philosopher, author, and journalist. He won the Nobel Prize in Literature at the age of 44 in 1957, the second youngest recipient in history. Camus was born in Algeria to French parents. He spent his childhood in a poor neighbourhood and later studied philosophy at the University of Algiers. He was in Paris when the Germans invaded France during World War II. Camus tried to flee but finally joined the French Resistance where he served as editor-in-chief at Combat, an outlawed newspaper. After the war, he was a celebrity figure and gave many lectures around the world. He married twice but had many extramarital affairs. Camus was politically active. He was part of the Left that opposed the Soviet Union because of its totalitarianism. Camus was a moralist and was leaning towards anarcho-syndicalism. He was part of many organisations seeking European integration. During the Algerian War, he kept a neutral stance advocating for a multicultural and pluralistic Algeria, a position that caused controversy and was rejected by most parties. Philosophically, Camus's views contributed to the rise of the philosophy known as absurdism. He is also considered to be an existentialist, despite his having firmly rejected the term throughout his lifetime.
- Birthplace: Dréan, Algeria
- Anthony Irwin Kornheiser (; born July 13, 1948) is a former sportswriter and columnist, as well as a podcast and television talk show host and restaurateur. He is best known for his endeavors in three forms of media: as a longtime writer for The Washington Post, as a co-host of ESPN's Emmy Award-winning sports debate show Pardon the Interruption since 2001, and as the host of The Tony Kornheiser Show, a radio show and podcast. Longtime ESPN executive John Walsh once declared that "in the history of sports media, [Kornheiser] is the most multitalented person ever."
- Birthplace: USA, New York, Lynbrook
- Pier Paolo Pasolini (Italian: [ˌpjɛr ˈpaːolo pazoˈliːni]; 5 March 1922 – 2 November 1975) was an Italian film director, poet, writer, and intellectual, who also distinguished himself as an actor, journalist, novelist, playwright, and political figure. He remains a controversial personality in Italy due to his blunt style and the focus of some of his works on taboo sexual matters, but he is an established major figure in European literature and cinematic arts. His murder prompted an outcry in Italy and its circumstances continue to be a matter of heated debate.
- Birthplace: Bologna, Italy
- Vincent Edward Scully (November 29, 1927 – August 2, 2022) was an American sportscaster. He was best known for his 67 seasons calling games for Major League Baseball's Los Angeles Dodgers, beginning in 1950 (when the franchise was located in Brooklyn) and ending in 2016. Scully's tenure with the Dodgers was the longest of any broadcaster with a single team in professional sports history, and he was second only to Tommy Lasorda (by two years) in terms of number of years associated with the Dodgers organization in any capacity. He retired at age 88 in 2016, ending his record-breaking run as the team's play-by-play announcer. In his final season behind the microphone, Scully announced most Dodgers home games (and selected road games) on SportsNet LA television and KLAC radio. He was known for his distinctive voice, lyrically descriptive style, and signature introduction to Dodgers games: "It's time for Dodger baseball! Hi, everybody, and a very pleasant good (afternoon/evening) to you, wh
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
- Joseph Rudyard Kipling ( RUD-yərd; 30 December 1865 – 18 January 1936) was an English journalist, short-story writer, poet, and novelist. He was born in India, which inspired much of his work. Kipling's works of fiction include The Jungle Book (1894), Kim (1901), and many short stories, including "The Man Who Would Be King" (1888). His poems include "Mandalay" (1890), "Gunga Din" (1890), "The Gods of the Copybook Headings" (1919), "The White Man's Burden" (1899), and "If—" (1910). He is seen as an innovator in the art of the short story. His children's books are classics; one critic noted "a versatile and luminous narrative gift".Kipling in the late 19th and early 20th centuries was among the United Kingdom's most popular writers Henry James said, "Kipling strikes me personally as the most complete man of genius, as distinct from fine intelligence, that I have ever known." In 1907, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature, as the first English-language writer to receive the prize, and at 41, its youngest recipient to date. He was also sounded for the British Poet Laureateship and several times for a knighthood, but declined both.Kipling's subsequent reputation has changed with the political and social climate of the age. The contrasting views of him continued for much of the 20th century. George Orwell saw Kipling as "a jingo imperialist", who was "morally insensitive and aesthetically disgusting". Literary critic Douglas Kerr wrote: "[Kipling] is still an author who can inspire passionate disagreement and his place in literary and cultural history is far from settled. But as the age of the European empires recedes, he is recognised as an incomparable, if controversial, interpreter of how empire was experienced. That, and an increasing recognition of his extraordinary narrative gifts, make him a force to be reckoned with."
- Birthplace: Mumbai, India
- Once affectionately referred to as "Sportboy" by then NBC colleague David Letterman, boyishly genial sportscaster Bob Costas transcended his original specialty to become one of TV's more respected interviewers and cultural commentators. Armed with a lively intelligence, gently ironic manner, and a photographic memory, Costas demonstrated the impressive breadth of his interests and insights as host of the late-night interview show, "Later with Bob Costas" (NBC, 1988-1994), as well as providing coverage for the Olympics, beginning with the 1988 Summer Games in Seoul. He seemed equally comfortable with performers, filmmakers, artists, writers and political figures. Costas subsequently became a pundit of sorts, appearing on such forums as "Meet the Press" (NBC, 1947-2009), "Today" (NBC, 1951- ), and "Nightline" (ABC, 1979- ), offering carefully considered views on a wide variety of current events. In addition to hosting duties on shows such as "On the Record with Bob Costas" (HBO, 2000-04) and "Costas Tonight" (NBC Sports 2012- ), he was also frequently in demand in Hollywood, lending his voice to projects like the animated feature "Cars" (2006). So substantial was his visibility and credibility that at one point Costas' name was even put forth as a possible candidate for the commissioner of Major League Baseball.
- Birthplace: Queens, New York, USA
- Herbert George Wells (21 September 1866 – 13 August 1946) was an English writer. He was prolific in many genres, writing dozens of novels, short stories, and works of social commentary, history, satire, biography, and autobiography, and even including two books on recreational war games. He is now best remembered for his science fiction novels and is often called the "father of science fiction", along with Jules Verne and Hugo Gernsback.During his own lifetime, however, he was most prominent as a forward-looking, even prophetic social critic who devoted his literary talents to the development of a progressive vision on a global scale. A futurist, he wrote a number of utopian works and foresaw the advent of aircraft, tanks, space travel, nuclear weapons, satellite television and something resembling the World Wide Web. His science fiction imagined time travel, alien invasion, invisibility, and biological engineering. Brian Aldiss referred to Wells as the "Shakespeare of science fiction". Wells rendered his works convincing by instilling commonplace detail alongside a single extraordinary assumption – dubbed “Wells’s law” – leading Joseph Conrad to hail him in 1898 as "O Realist of the Fantastic!". His most notable science fiction works include The Time Machine (1895), The Island of Doctor Moreau (1896), The Invisible Man (1897), The War of the Worlds (1898) and the military science fiction The War in the Air (1907). Wells was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature four times.Wells's earliest specialised training was in biology, and his thinking on ethical matters took place in a specifically and fundamentally Darwinian context. He was also from an early date an outspoken socialist, often (but not always, as at the beginning of the First World War) sympathising with pacifist views. His later works became increasingly political and didactic, and he wrote little science fiction, while he sometimes indicated on official documents that his profession was that of journalist. Novels such as Kipps and The History of Mr Polly, which describe lower-middle-class life, led to the suggestion that he was a worthy successor to Charles Dickens, but Wells described a range of social strata and even attempted, in Tono-Bungay (1909), a diagnosis of English society as a whole. Wells was a diabetic and co-founded the charity The Diabetic Association (known today as Diabetes UK) in 1934.
- Birthplace: Bromley, United Kingdom
- André Leon Talley (October 16, 1948 – January 18, 2022) was an American fashion journalist, stylist and the former creative director and American editor-at-large of Vogue magazine. He was the magazine's fashion news director from 1983 to 1987, and then its first African-American male creative director from 1988 to 1995. Often regarded as a fashion icon, he was known for advocating for diversity in the fashion industry. Talley also served on the judging panel for America's Next Top Model (from Cycle 14 to Cycle 17). He also authored three books, including the memoir The Chiffon Trenches, which landed on The New York Times Best Seller list;[3] and co-authored a book with Richard Bernstein. Talley also worked as a stylist for former United States President Barack Obama and former First Lady Michelle Obama. In 2021, France awarded him the Chevalier de l'ordre des Arts et des Lettres honor for arts and letters.
- Birthplace: Washington, D.C., USA
- Charles Krauthammer (; March 13, 1950 – June 21, 2018) was an American political columnist. A conservative political pundit, in 1987 Krauthammer won the Pulitzer Prize for his column in The Washington Post. His weekly column was syndicated to more than 400 publications worldwide.While in his first year studying medicine at Harvard Medical School, Krauthammer became permanently paralyzed from the waist down after suffering a diving board accident that severed his spinal cord at cervical spinal nerve 5. After spending 14 months recovering in a hospital, he returned to medical school, graduating to become a psychiatrist involved in the creation of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders III in 1980. He joined the Carter administration in 1978 as a director of psychiatric research, eventually becoming the speechwriter to Vice President Walter Mondale in 1980. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, Krauthammer embarked on a career as a columnist and political commentator. In 1985, he began writing a weekly editorial for The Washington Post, which earned him the 1987 Pulitzer Prize for Commentary for his "witty and insightful columns on national issues." He was a weekly panelist on the PBS news program Inside Washington from 1990 until it ceased production in December 2013. Krauthammer had been a contributing editor to The Weekly Standard, a Fox News Channel contributor, and a nightly panelist on Fox News Channel's Special Report with Bret Baier. Krauthammer received acclaim for his writing on foreign policy, among other matters. He was a leading neoconservative voice and proponent of United States military and political engagement on the global stage, coining the term Reagan Doctrine and advocating both the Gulf War and the Iraq War. In August 2017, due to his battle with cancer, Krauthammer stopped writing his column and serving as a Fox News contributor. Krauthammer died on June 21, 2018.
- Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
- Lawrence John Miller (born October 15, 1953) is an American comedian, actor, podcaster and columnist.
- Birthplace: USA, New York, Valley Stream
- Montel Williams is a distinctively bald, mustachioed African-American actor and spokesperson best known for his long-running daytime talk series "The Montel Williams Show" (CBS, 1991-2008). As a host, he brought a variously incisive, dignified, smarty-pants or pompous style to his duties discussing trendy and sometimes trashy topics with his studio audience. While serving in the military, Williams began touring the country, giving motivational speeches to young Americans. He later filmed an introduction to the classroom version of the Civil War epic "Glory" (1989) and within two years the tall, imposing speaker landed "The Montel Williams Show." Something of a vagabond in its search for a home, "The Montel Williams Show" did not challenge the dominance of Phil Donahue and Oprah Winfrey in the ratings, but Williams's more-than-decent start boded well for his future as a TV personality.
- Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- Matthew Nathan "Matt" Drudge (born October 27, 1966) is an American political commentator, and the creator and editor of the Drudge Report, an American news aggregator. Drudge is also an author; he was a radio show host and a television show host.
- Birthplace: Takoma Park, Maryland, USA
- David James Koch ( KOSH; born 7 March 1956) nicknamed "Kochie" ( KOSH-ee) is an Australian television presenter best known as a host of the Seven Network's breakfast program Sunrise. From Adelaide, he began his media career as a financial journalist, writing for a number of different publications before eventually moving to television. Koch has been the chairman of the Port Adelaide Football Club, an Australian Football League (AFL) club, since October 2012.
- Birthplace: Adelaide, Australia
- Thanks to the popularity of the primetime reality series "Survivor" (CBS, 2000- ), host Jeff Probst became one of the most recognizable faces on television and ushered in one of the more famous lines in reality show history: "The tribe has spoken." But his profile extended beyond his hosting duties. The veteran TV personality also wrote and directed the critically acclaimed indie feature, "Finder's Fee" (2001), starring Ryan Reynolds and James Earl Jones, while working extensively with the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation to raise funds and awareness for the organization. Prior to his Emmy-winning stint as the host of "Survivor," which brought him to the four corners of the globe, he was the host of "Rock & Roll Jeopardy" (VH1, 1998-2001) and a correspondent on the syndicated "Access Hollywood" (1996- ). Turning to sketch comedy, Probst parodied his "Survivor" persona on "MADtv" (Fox, 1995-2009), while continuing to travel to such far-flung places as Guatemala, Fiji and Borneo for the series that many considered to be the height of achievement for reality television, while developing secondary careers as a children's author and film director.
- Birthplace: Wichita, Kansas, USA
- Rick Sanchez or Rick Sánchez most commonly refers to: Rick Sanchez (journalist), a Cuban-American journalist, radio host, and author Rick Sanchez (Rick and Morty), a fictional character in the animated television series Rick and Morty Ricky Sánchez, a Puerto Rican professional basketball player
- Birthplace: Guanabacoa, Cuba
- Eugene Kal Siskel (January 26, 1946 – February 20, 1999) was an American film critic and journalist for the Chicago Tribune. Along with colleague Roger Ebert, he hosted a series of popular movie review shows on television from 1975 to 1999.
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Howard Cosell, born Howard William Cohen in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, was perhaps one of the most influential sportscasters in American history. His unique style, characterized by his distinctive cadence and unflinching commentary, placed him in a league of his own. Cosell's career spanned over four decades, during which he consistently challenged the norms of sports journalism. He began his journey as a lawyer before he transitioned into broadcasting in the 1950s. He gained national recognition through his involvement in ABC's Monday Night Football, where his candid, often contentious, analysis became widely known and appreciated. Cosell's fearless exploration of racial and social issues in sports was transformative for the industry. Notably, he was outspoken in his support for boxer Muhammad Ali during a time when many turned against him due to his controversial stand on the Vietnam War. Throughout his career, Cosell earned numerous accolades, including an Emmy Award for his role in Monday Night Football. However, his legacy extends beyond his awards. His impact on sports journalism, as well as his courage in addressing contentious issues, reverberates today. Despite his passing in 1995, Cosell's influence continues to shape the field of modern sports reporting. He remains a touchstone for journalists aspiring to maintain integrity, truth, and fearlessness in their work.
- Birthplace: Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA
- Stephen James "Steve" Doocy (; born October 19, 1956) is host of Fox & Friends on Fox News and an author..
- Birthplace: Algona, Iowa, USA
- Stephen Anthony Smith (born October 14, 1967) is an American sports television personality, sports radio host, sports journalist, and actor. Smith is a commentator on ESPN First Take, where he appears with Max Kellerman and Molly Qerim. He also makes frequent appearances as an NBA analyst on SportsCenter. He also is an NBA analyst for ESPN on NBA Countdown and NBA broadcasts on ESPN. Smith formerly hosted The Stephen A. Smith and Ryan Ruocco Show on ESPN Radio New York 98.7 FM. He now hosts The Stephen A. Smith Show on the Chris Russo sports radio station: Mad Dog Sports Radio (SIRIUS XM Radio, channel 82) and is a featured columnist for ESPNNY.com, ESPN.com, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.
- Birthplace: Bronx, New York, USA
- Mark Reed Levin (; born September 21, 1957) is an American lawyer, author, and radio personality. He is the host of syndicated radio show The Mark Levin Show, as well as Life, Liberty & Levin on Fox News. Levin worked in the administration of President Ronald Reagan and was a chief of staff for Attorney General Edwin Meese. He is chairman of the Landmark Legal Foundation, has authored seven books, and contributes commentary to various media outlets such as National Review Online. Since 2015, Levin has been editor-in-chief of the Conservative Review and is known for his incendiary commentary.He has been described as a "right-wing" political "conservative" who is known for strongly criticizing Democrats, as well as encouraging primary challenges to a number of incumbent "RINO" congressional Republicans. He endorsed Ted Cruz in the 2016 Republican presidential primary and declared himself "Never Trump", but reluctantly endorsed Donald Trump after Trump won the Republican nomination. Since the start of the Trump presidency, Levin's commentary has turned staunchly pro-Trump.
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Fareed Zakaria interviewed the most powerful and important political players of his time. Beyond his role as a media commentator, he wrote several New York Times best sellers, including one about the future state of the western world. Consistently, Zakaria had the polish, background and intellect to deliver insightful views that both fascinated and informed. Esquire named him ″the most influential foreign policy adviser of his generation.″
- Birthplace: Mumbai, India
- Thomas John Brokaw (; born February 6, 1940) is an American television journalist and author, best known for being the anchor and managing editor of NBC Nightly News for 22 years (1982–2004). He is the only person to have hosted all three major NBC News programs: The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, and, briefly, Meet the Press. He now serves as a Special Correspondent for NBC News and works on documentaries for other outlets.Along with competitors Peter Jennings at ABC News and Dan Rather at CBS News, Brokaw was one of the "Big Three" news anchors in the U.S. during the 1980s, 1990s and early 2000s. The three hosted their networks' flagship nightly news programs for over 20 years, and all three started and retired (or died, in Jennings's case) within a year of each other.Brokaw has also written several books on American history and society in the 20th century. He is the author of The Greatest Generation (1998) and other books and the recipient of numerous awards and honors.
- Birthplace: Webster, South Dakota, USA
- Julian Assange is an actor who appeared in "Citizenfour," "We are Legion: The Story of the Hacktivists," and "The Simpsons."
- Birthplace: Townsville, Queensland, Australia
- Andrew Michael Sullivan (born 10 August 1963) is a British-born American author, editor, and blogger. Sullivan is a conservative political commentator, a former editor of The New Republic, and the author or editor of six books. He started a political blog in 2000, and eventually moved his blog to various publishing platforms, including Time, The Atlantic, The Daily Beast, and finally an independent subscription-based format. He announced his retirement from blogging in 2015. Sullivan has been a writer-at-large at New York since 2016.Sullivan says his conservatism is rooted in his Roman Catholic background and in the ideas of the British political philosopher Michael Oakeshott; In 2003, he wrote he was no longer able to support the American conservative movement, as he was disaffected with the Republican Party's continued rightward drift on social issues during the George W. Bush era.Born and raised in Britain, he has lived in the United States since 1984 and currently resides in Washington, D.C. and Provincetown, Massachusetts. He is openly gay and a practising Roman Catholic.
- Birthplace: Godstone, England
- James J. Cramer (born February 10, 1955) is an American television personality, former hedge fund manager, and best-selling author. Cramer is the host of CNBC's Mad Money and a co-founder of TheStreet.com.
- Birthplace: USA, Wyndmoor, Pennsylvania
- Dan Savage is an actor and writer who is best known for his role in "Do I Sound Gay?." Savage was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2012 for "It Gets Better."
- Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA
- While some believed that author Ian Fleming must have lived a life as exciting and adventurous as his famed literary creation, James Bond, nothing could have been further from the truth. Though certain lines of fact and fiction were definitely blurred - both character and author were consummate womanizers - Fleming was a far cry from the super agent secretly dispatched to take care of Britain's more complicated Cold War problems. Even Fleming's own involvement with an intelligence agency during World War II was largely an administrative role - undeniably important to the war effort, but far less dangerous than Bond's adventures. But it was a thirst for high adventure that prompted the grandson of a Scottish financier to create the ruthless secret agent that graced the pages of his pulp novels in the 1950s.
- Birthplace: Mayfair, London, England, UK
- Michael Edward Reagan (born John Charles Flaugher; March 18, 1945) is an American television personality, political commentator, Republican strategist, former radio talk show host, and author. He is the adoptive son of former U.S. President Ronald Reagan (1911–2004) and his first wife, actress Jane Wyman (1917–2007).
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
- Dominick John Dunne (October 29, 1925 – August 26, 2009) was an American writer, investigative journalist, and producer. He began his career as a producer in film and television, noted for involvement with the pioneering gay film The Boys in the Band (1970) and the award winning drug film Panic in Needle Park (1971). He turned to writing in the early 1970s. After the 1982 murder of his daughter Dominique, he came to focus on the ways in which wealth and high society interacts with the judicial system. A frequent contributor to Vanity Fair, Dunne also appeared regularly on television discussing crime from the 1980s to the end of his life.
- Birthplace: Hartford, Connecticut, USA
- George Frederick Will (born May 4, 1941) is an American conservative political commentator. He writes regular columns for The Washington Post and provides commentary for NBC News and MSNBC. In 1986, The Wall Street Journal called him "perhaps the most powerful journalist in America," in a league with Walter Lippmann (1889–1974). He won the Pulitzer Prize for Commentary in 1977.
- Birthplace: Champaign, Illinois, USA
- Charlie Brooker was a British television writer and producer who was best known for creating the internationally renowned science-fiction anthology series "Black Mirror" (Channel 4/Netflix, 2011- ). Born and raised in England, Brooker always harnessed a bit of a creative side. He began writing and drawing comics when he was a young boy, and by the late 1980s was working as a cartoonist for the British comic book magazine Oink!. When it came time to enter college, Brooker enrolled in the University of Westminster, where he took classes in Media Studies. He completed most of his studies at the University, but dropped out before he could graduate so that he could take a job as a video game reviewer at PC Zone. Brooker wrote for the tech-themed magazine for a number of years and also contributed columns to the British newspaper The Guardian. Then in 1999 he launched a website called TVGoHome, which featured mock television schedules that were surrealistic in nature. The website drew a cult following for is irreverent humor, as well as Brooker's noticeably biting wit, and by the early 2000s Brooker was hired to write for a variety of comedy shows on Channel 4 and the BBC. Brooker landed his first big break in 2006 when he was given the opportunity to write and present his very own TV series called "Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe" (BBC Four, 2006-08). On the show, Brooker offered colorful commentary on current television shows, both mainstream and obscure, with the show being successful enough to run for 27 episodes. In 2008 Brooker wrote and created the horror series "Dead Set" (E4, 2008), which chronicled a zombie apocalypse as it overtook the set of the popular British reality series "Big Brother." "Dead Set" was a critical hit, and when on to earn a BAFTA TV nomination. With his TV career steadily on the rise, Brooker premiered the anthology fantasy series "Black Mirror" on Channel 4 in 2011. The show, which examined the inescapability of new technologies in the modern world, became a smash hit across the pond, and was eventually shown on Netflix in the United States. The show was equally well-received here in America. A third season of "Black Mirror" was released on the streaming service in the fall of 2016, with Brooker either writing or co-writing all six of the new episodes.
- Birthplace: Reading, England, UK
- Louis Carl Dobbs (September 24, 1945 – July 18, 2024) was an American conservative[1] political commentator, author and television host who presented Lou Dobbs Tonight from 2003 to 2009 and 2011 to 2021. From 2021 until his death, he hosted The Great America Show on iHeartRadio and loudobbs.com. Dobbs was an early promoter of the Barack Obama birtherism conspiracy theory, which posits that Obama is not a natural born US citizen, a theory also widely promoted by candidate Donald Trump prior to his election in 2016. He is known for anti-immigration views, as well as for various deep state conspiracy theories, and opposition to NAFTA and other trade deals. A Trump confidante, his show is known for its pro-Trump coverage Dobbs resigned from CNN for a short period of time in 1999 but rejoined the network in 2001. He resigned once again in November 2009. In 2011, he joined the Fox Business Network, resuming and anchoring his show, Lou Dobbs Tonight.
- Birthplace: Texas, USA, Childress
- Martin Henry Bashir (born 19 January 1963) is a Pakistani-British journalist. He came to prominence on British television with his BBC interview with Diana, Princess of Wales, and then his controversial fly-on-the-wall documentary with pop singer Michael Jackson on ITV. On 4 December 2013, Bashir resigned from his position at MSNBC after he made "ill-judged comments" about the former Governor of Alaska and Vice Presidential candidate Sarah Palin.Bashir was born and raised in Wandsworth, London, to parents of Pakistani Christian origin. He started work as a journalist in 1986. He worked for the BBC until 1999 on programmes including Songs of Praise, Public Eye and Panorama and then joined ITV. Bashir was an anchor for ABC's Nightline, a political commentator for MSNBC, hosting Martin Bashir, and a correspondent for NBC's Dateline NBC. Bashir was appointed as BBC News Religious Affairs correspondent from October 2016, taking over the post from Caroline Wyatt.
- Birthplace: London, England, UK
- Wolf Isaac Blitzer (born March 22, 1948) is a German-American journalist, television news anchor and author who has been a CNN reporter since 1990. He is the host of The Situation Room. Blitzer also serves as the network's lead political anchor.
- Birthplace: Buffalo, New York, USA
- Morgan Valentine Spurlock (November 7, 1970 – May 23, 2024) was an American documentary filmmaker and television producer. Spurlock's films include Super Size Me (2004), Where in the World Is Osama bin Laden? (2008), POM Wonderful Presents: The Greatest Movie Ever Sold (2011), Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope (2011), and One Direction: This Is Us (2013). He was the executive producer and star of the reality television series 30 Days (2005-2008). In June 2013, Spurlock became host and producer of the CNN show Morgan Spurlock Inside Man (2013–2016). He was also the co-founder of short-film content marketing company Cinelan, which produced the Focus Forward campaign for GE.
- Birthplace: Parkersburg, West Virginia, USA
- Bryant Charles Gumbel (born September 29, 1948) is an American television journalist and sportscaster, best known for his 15 years as co-host of NBC's Today. He is the younger brother of sportscaster Greg Gumbel. Since 1995, he has hosted HBO's acclaimed investigative series Real Sports with Bryant Gumbel, which has been rated as "flat out TV's best sports program" by the Los Angeles Times. It won a Peabody Award in 2012.Gumbel was hired by NBC Sports in the fall of 1975 as co-host of its National Football League pre-game show GrandStand with Jack Buck. From 1975 until January 1982 (when he left to do The Today Show), he hosted numerous sporting events for NBC including Major League Baseball, college basketball and the National Football League. He returned to sportscasting for NBC when he hosted the prime time coverage of the 1988 Summer Olympics from Seoul and the PGA Tour in 1990. NBC News made Gumbel the principal anchor of Today beginning September 27, 1982, and broadcast from Vietnam, Vatican City, Europe, South America, and much of the United States followed between 1984 and 1989. Gumbel's work on Today earned him several Emmys and a large fanbase. He is the third longest serving co-host of Today, after former hosts Matt Lauer and Katie Couric. He stepped down from the show on January 3, 1997, after 15 years. Gumbel moved to CBS, where he hosted various shows before becoming co-host of the network's morning show The Early Show on November 1, 1999. Gumbel was hosting The Early Show on the morning of September 11, 2001. He was the first to announce the September 11 attacks to CBS viewers. Gumbel left CBS and The Early Show on May 17, 2002.
- Birthplace: USA, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Chauncey Wendell Bailey Jr. (October 20, 1949 – August 2, 2007) was an American journalist noted for his work primarily on issues of the African American community. He served as editor-in-chief of The Oakland Post in Oakland, California from June 2007 until his murder. His 37-year career in journalism included lengthy periods as a reporter at The Detroit News and The Oakland Tribune. He was shot dead on a Downtown Oakland street on August 2, 2007, the victim of a crime syndicate he was investigating for a story. His death outraged fellow journalists, who joined together to create the Chauncey Bailey Project dedicated to continuing his work and uncovering the facts of his murder. In June 2011 Yusuf Bey IV, a local bakery owner, and his associate Antoine Mackey were convicted of ordering Bailey's murder. A third man, bakery handyman Devaughndre Brousard, had earlier confessed to being the triggerman. Bailey was the first American journalist killed for domestic reporting since 1976.
- Birthplace: Oakland, California
- William Frank Buckley Jr. (born William Francis Buckley; November 24, 1925 – February 27, 2008) was an American public intellectual and conservative author and commentator. In 1955 Buckley founded National Review, a magazine that stimulated the conservative movement in the late-20th century United States. Buckley hosted 1,429 episodes of the public affairs television show Firing Line (1966–1999), the longest-running public affairs show in US television history with a single host, where he became known for his distinctive idiolect and wide vocabulary.Buckley wrote God and Man at Yale (1951) and more than fifty other books on diverse topics, including writing, speaking, history, politics, and sailing. His works include a series of novels featuring fictitious CIA agent Blackford Oakes. He also penned a nationally syndicated newspaper column.Buckley called himself either a libertarian or a conservative. George H. Nash, a historian of the modern American conservative movement, said in 2008 that Buckley was "arguably the most important public intellectual in the United States in the past half century. For an entire generation, he was the preeminent voice of American conservatism and its first great ecumenical figure." Buckley's primary contribution to politics was a fusion of traditionalist conservatism and classical liberalism; it laid the groundwork for the rightward shift in the Republican Party exemplified by Barry Goldwater and Ronald Reagan.
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
- Josh Dolgin, better known by his stage name Socalled, is a Canadian rapper and record producer, known for his eclectic mix of hip hop, klezmer, and other styles such as drum & bass and folk music. A pianist and accordion player, he has taught the latter at Klezfest London, where he has also run workshops in "hiphopkele". He has played with clarinetist David Krakauer's Klezmer Madness!, and has also worked with artists such as rapper C-Rayz Walz, Chilly Gonzales, funk trombonist Fred Wesley, and Sophie Solomon. Dolgin has Ukrainian, Romanian and Russian roots. Dolgin's Socalled collective and guests celebrated the Jewish Festival of Lights with the seasonal concert "Hip Hop Hanukkah" in 2007. He is the subject of The "Socalled" Movie, a documentary released in 2010 by Garry Beitel for the National Film Board of Canada, which also features Krakauer and Wesley. The documentary includes footage of the first "Klezmer Cruise", in which a boatload of klezmer fans sailed down the Dnieper River in the Ukraine. In 2013, his remix of Moe Koffman's "Curried Soul" became the new theme music for CBC Radio One's As It Happens.
- Birthplace: Ottawa, Canada
- Charles David Todd (born April 8, 1972) is an American television journalist who is the 12th and current moderator of NBC's Meet the Press. He also hosts MTP Daily on MSNBC and is the Political Director for NBC News. Prior to taking the helm of Meet the Press, Todd was Chief White House correspondent for NBC and host of The Daily Rundown on MSNBC. He also serves as NBC News' on-air political analyst for NBC Nightly News with Lester Holt and Today.
- Birthplace: Miami, Florida, USA
- James Phillip Rome (born October 14, 1964) is an American sports radio talk show host syndicated by CBS Sports Radio. Broadcasting from a studio near Los Angeles, California, Rome hosts The Jim Rome Show on radio. For a number of years Rome hosted a television show Jim Rome Is Burning (formerly Rome Is Burning), which aired on ESPN in the United States and TSN2 in Canada. In 2011, Rome ended his relationship with ESPN to join the CBS network where he hosts his own show, as well as an interview-format show on the Showtime channel. His past hosting jobs included sports discussion television shows Talk2 (ESPN2), The FX Sports Show (FX), and The Last Word (Fox Sports Net). The Jim Rome Show is tied for the #21 most listened to talk radio show in the United States and Rome is the #29 most influential talk radio personality according to Talkers Magazine. From April 2012 to March 2015, Rome had a television sports talk show on CBS Sports Network named Rome. During the same time period he had a monthly TV sports/entertainment talk show on Showtime named Jim Rome on Showtime.
- Birthplace: Tarzana, California, USA
Daniel Johnson
Age: 67Daniel Benedict Johnson is a British journalist who is the founding editor of Standpoint.- With his distinctive look -- over six feet and 300 pounds, with thick, black-rimmed glasses, a full beard and a hairstyle untamed by the Afro-Pick he habitually kept stuck in it -- Ahmir "Questlove" Thompson became one of the most immediately recognizable figures in hip-hop, working as the drummer and musical director of The Roots. When The Roots became the house band on "Late Night With Jimmy Fallon," Questlove found a new audience for his cool yet cerebral style, which only expanded when Fallon and The Roots took over "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" (NBC 2014- ).
- Birthplace: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Virtually an unknown commodity when he took over as co-anchor of ABC's "World News Tonight," Bob Woodruff had been a foreign correspondent for the second place nightly news program for years. Despite plenty of air time during major news stories, audiences were hard-pressed to put a name to a face when he and former "20/20" host Elizabeth Vargas began delivering the nightly news in January 2006, following the death of longtime anchor Peter Jennings from lung cancer in August 2005. More at home abroad than in a New York studio, Woodruff wanted to step out from behind the anchor desk to report from all corners of the globe, particularly from the Middle East and the war in Iraq. Despite the danger, he nonetheless enjoyed the challenge and the opportunity to report on stories firsthand. Unfortunately, less than a month after assuming his prestigious new post, Woodruff was seriously injured in a bombing attack in Iraq.
- Birthplace: Bloomfield Hills, Michigan, USA
- Donald Fifield Bolles (July 10, 1928 – June 13, 1976) was an American investigative reporter for The Arizona Republic whose murder in a car bombing has been linked to his coverage of the Mafia, especially the Chicago Outfit.
- Birthplace: Teaneck, New Jersey
- A prolific writer who has written in a variety of mediums, J. Michael Straczynski began his professional career dabbling in stage, radio and spec scripts while working as a newspaperman at the Los Angeles Times in the early 1980s. He landed his first TV gig when one of his scripts was picked up by the people behind the celebrated "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" animated series. From there, he wrote for the female-aimed spin-off series "She-Ra: Princess of Power," the vehicle-heavy "Jayce and the Wheeled Warriors," and the enjoyably spooky "The Real Ghostbusters." After branching out from animation in the late '80s, he was hired to make over the popular but waning amateur-sleuth series "Murder, She Wrote" and increased the show's ratings by moving main character Jessica Fletcher to New York City. He also co-produced 22 episodes of the show. It was this experience and success that allowed him the opportunity to create what would become his signature project, the hugely immersive sci-fi saga "Babylon 5." The hit '90s series had a 110-episode run, including five offshoot TV movies. Straczynski extended the franchise with "Crusade," a suspenseful spin-off series that, like its predecessor, was meant to unfold over a five-year run before it was cut short in its first season. He broke into film writing with the script for Clint Eastwood's wrenching missing-child drama "Changeling" ('08) and continues to work frequently in the comic-book genre.
- Birthplace: Paterson, New Jersey, USA
- Walt Whitman (; May 31, 1819 – March 26, 1892) was an American poet, essayist, and journalist. A humanist, he was a part of the transition between transcendentalism and realism, incorporating both views in his works. Whitman is among the most influential poets in the American canon, often called the father of free verse. His work was controversial in its time, particularly his poetry collection Leaves of Grass, which was described as obscene for its overt sensuality. Whitman's own life came under scrutiny for his presumed homosexuality. Born in Huntington on Long Island, Whitman worked as a journalist, a teacher, and a government clerk. At age 11, he left formal schooling to go to work. As a child and through much of his career he resided in Brooklyn. Whitman's major work, Leaves of Grass, was first published in 1855 with his own money. The work was an attempt at reaching out to the common person with an American epic. He continued expanding and revising it until his death in 1892. During the American Civil War, he went to Washington, D.C. and worked in hospitals caring for the wounded. His poetry often focused on both loss and healing. Two of his well known poems, "O Captain! My Captain!" and "When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd", were written on the death of Abraham Lincoln. After a stroke towards the end of his life, Whitman moved to Camden, New Jersey, where his health further declined. When he died at age 72, his funeral was a public event.Whitman's influence on poetry remains strong. Mary Smith Whitall Costelloe argued: "You cannot really understand America without Walt Whitman, without Leaves of Grass ... He has expressed that civilization, 'up to date,' as he would say, and no student of the philosophy of history can do without him." Modernist poet Ezra Pound called Whitman "America's poet ... He is America."
- Birthplace: West Hills, New York
- David Barry Brudnoy (June 5, 1940 – December 9, 2004) was an American talk radio host in Boston from 1976 to 2004. His radio talk show aired on WBZ radio. He was known for espousing his libertarian views on a wide range of political issues, in a manner that was courteous. Thanks to WBZ's wide signal reach, he gained a following from across the United States as well as Canada. On December 9, 2004, he succumbed to Merkel cell carcinoma after it had metastasized to his lungs and kidneys.
- Birthplace: Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Joseph Philippe Pierre Yves Elliott Trudeau (; French: [tʁydo]; October 18, 1919 – September 28, 2000), often referred to by the initials PET, was a Canadian politician who was 15th prime minister of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party between 1968 to 1984, with a brief period as Leader of the Opposition from 1979 to 1980. His tenure of 15 years and 164 days makes him Canada's third longest-serving Prime Minister, behind William Lyon Mackenzie King and John A. Macdonald. Trudeau rose to prominence as a lawyer, intellectual, and activist in Quebec politics. He joined the Liberal Party of Canada and was elected to the Canadian Parliament in 1965, quickly being appointed as Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson's Parliamentary Secretary. In 1967, he was appointed Minister of Justice. Trudeau's outgoing personality caused a media sensation, inspiring "Trudeaumania", and helped him to win the leadership of the Liberal Party in 1968, when he was appointed Prime Minister of Canada. From the late 1960s until the early 1980s, Trudeau's personality dominated the political scene to an extent never before seen in Canadian political life. After his appointment as Prime Minister, he won the 1968, 1972 and 1974 elections, before narrowly losing in 1979. He won a fourth election victory shortly afterwards, in 1980, and eventually retired from politics shortly before the 1984 election. Despite his personal motto, "Reason before passion", his personality and political career aroused polarizing reactions throughout Canada during his time in office. Admirers praised what they consider to be the force of Trudeau's intellect and his political acumen, maintaining national unity over the Quebec sovereignty movement, suppressing a Quebec terrorist crisis, fostering a pan-Canadian identity, and in achieving sweeping institutional reform, including the implementation of official bilingualism, patriation of the Constitution, and the establishment of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms. Critics accused him of arrogance, of economic mismanagement, and of unduly centralizing Canadian decision-making to the detriment of the culture of Quebec and the economy of the Prairies.His eldest son, Justin Trudeau, became the 23rd and current Prime Minister following the 2015 election, and is the first prime minister of Canada to be a descendant of a former prime minister.
- Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
- Alistair Cooke (20 November 1908 – 30 March 2004) was a British writer whose work as a journalist, television personality and radio broadcaster was done primarily in the United States. Outside his journalistic output, which included Letter from America and America: A Personal History of the United States, he was well known in the United States as the host of PBS Masterpiece Theatre from 1971 to 1992. After holding the job for 22 years, and having worked in television for 42 years, Cooke retired in 1992, although he continued to present Letter from America until shortly before his death. He was the father of author and folk singer John Byrne Cooke.
- Birthplace: Salford, Lancashire, England, UK
- Kurt Loder worked on a variety of projects during his entertainment career. Loder worked on a variety of projects during his early entertainment career, including "Airheads" (1994), "Rolling Stone Magazine's 20 Years of Rock 'n' Roll" (ABC, 1987-88) and "The Adventures of Ford Fairlane" with Andrew Dice Clay (1990). He also contributed to "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1989-), "What's Love Got to Do With It" (1993) starring Angela Bassett and "Who's the Man?" (1993) starring Dr. Dre. He kept working in film throughout the nineties, starring in the Michael Keaton dramatic comedy "The Paper" (1994), "Fear of A Black Hat" (1994) with Mark Christopher Lawrence and the Earl "DMX" Simmons dramatic musical "Belly" (1998). Film continued to be his passion as he played roles in "Pups" (2000), the Marla Sokoloff comedy "Sugar & Spice" (2001) and "Last Days" (2005). He also appeared in the comedy "Get Him to the Greek" (2010) with Jonah Hill. Most recently, Loder acted on "Portlandia" (IFC, 2010-).
- Birthplace: Ocean City, New Jersey, USA
- Robert Upshur Woodward (born March 26, 1943) is an American investigative journalist. He has worked for The Washington Post since 1971 as a reporter, and is currently an associate editor.While a young reporter for The Washington Post in 1972, Woodward teamed up with Carl Bernstein; the two did much of the original news reporting on the Watergate scandal. These scandals led to numerous government investigations and the eventual resignation of President Richard Nixon. The work of Woodward and Bernstein was called "maybe the single greatest reporting effort of all time" by longtime journalism figure Gene Roberts.Woodward continued to work for The Washington Post after his reporting on Watergate. He has since written 19 books on American politics, 13 of which topped best-seller lists.
- Birthplace: USA, Geneva, Illinois
- Louis Alan "Pete" Williams (born February 28, 1952) is an American journalist and former government official. Since 1993, he has been a television correspondent for NBC News. He served in the administration of President George W. Bush. Williams was raised in Casper, Wyoming; his mother was a realtor and his father was an orthodontist. "Pete" is a nickname he has used since childhood. After he graduated from Stanford University, where he had originally studied engineering but subsequently changed to journalism, he began his career in local news with the Casper, Wyoming, television station KTWO and its eponymous radio station in 1974. In 1986, Williams became press secretary for U.S. Representative Dick Cheney and followed Cheney to the United States Department of Defense as Cheney became United States Secretary of Defense to be the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Public Affairs in 1989 during the George H. W. Bush administration. Williams became a correspondent for NBC News in late March 1993, after leaving the Defense Department; his main areas of news coverage for NBC include the Department of Justice and Supreme Court.
- Birthplace: Casper, Wyoming, USA
- Nicknamed 'The Hamster' due to his diminutive stature, TV presenter Richard Hammond was the most affable member of the "Top Gear" (BBC2, 1977-) team that turned the motoring show into a British institution. Unlike colleagues Jeremy Clarkson and James May, Hammond often ventured outside his specialist subject, hosting various popular science programs including "Brainiac: Science Abuse" (Sky 1, 2003-08) and "Should I Worry About?..." (BBC1, 2004-05), fronting a string of historical documentaries, and becoming a regular face on the Saturday night schedules with "Total Wipeout" (BBC1, 2009-2012) and "That Puppet Game Show" (BBC1, 2013-14). Hammond also imparted his vast knowledge of cars, science and technology to a younger generation with a series of children's books and hit game show "Richard Hammond's Blast Lab" (CBBC, 2009-2011). But, of course, it was his work on the world's most watched factual show that turned him into a household name, none more so than in 2006 when the dragster vehicle he was driving for a segment crashed spectacularly at a speed of 288 mph, leaving Hammond in a coma for two weeks. Hammond eventually made a full recovery and remained a vital part of the show's phenomenal success for the next decade.
- Birthplace: Solihull, West Midlands, England, UK
- Norman Kingsley Mailer (January 31, 1923 – November 10, 2007) was an American novelist, journalist, essayist, playwright, film-maker, actor, and liberal political activist. His novel The Naked and the Dead was published in 1948 and brought him early and wide renown. His 1968 nonfiction novel Armies of the Night won the Pulitzer Prize for non-fiction as well as the National Book Award. His best-known work is widely considered to be The Executioner's Song, the 1979 winner of the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. In over six decades of work, Mailer had eleven best-selling books, at least one in each of the seven decades after World War II—more than any other post-war American writer.Along with Truman Capote, Joan Didion, Hunter S. Thompson, and Tom Wolfe, Mailer is considered an innovator of creative nonfiction, a genre sometimes called New Journalism, which uses the style and devices of literary fiction in fact-based journalism. Mailer was also known for his essays, the most famous and reprinted of which is "The White Negro". He was a cultural commentator and critic, expressing his views through his novels, journalism, essays, and frequent media appearances. In 1955, Mailer and three others founded The Village Voice, an arts- and politics-oriented weekly newspaper distributed in Greenwich Village. In 1960, he was convicted of assault and served a three-year probation after he stabbed his wife, Adele Morales, with a penknife, nearly killing her. In 1969, he ran an unsuccessful campaign to become the mayor of New York. While principally known as a novelist and journalist, Mailer was not afraid to bend genres and venture outside his comfort zone; he lived a life that seemed to embody an idea that echoes throughout his work: "There was that law of life, so cruel and so just, that one must grow or else pay more for remaining the same."
- Birthplace: Long Branch, New Jersey, USA
- Marv Albert, born Marvin Philip Aufrichtig on June 12, 1941, in Brooklyn, New York, grew into one of the most recognizable voices in sports broadcasting. His career was studded with significant moments that defined him as an unparalleled describer of sports action across various platforms, including television and radio. Albert's love for sports was apparent early in his life, with his first broadcasting gig at a local radio station while still attending Syracuse University. This marked the beginning of his illustrious six-decade-long career. Albert made a name for himself as a highly versatile commentator covering a variety of sports, but he became synonymous with basketball. His signature "Yes!" call during NBA games became a staple of American sports culture, establishing him as a legendary figure in the world of sportscasting. He served as the voice of the New York Knicks from 1967 to 2004, his dynamic style and energy adding an unforgettable vibe to the games. His work wasn't confined to the NBA; he was also a prominent presence in NFL broadcasts, boxing matches, and even the Olympics, demonstrating his vast range and adaptability. Despite a controversial personal life and temporary fallout from the broadcasting world in the late 1990s, Albert demonstrated resilience by bouncing back stronger. He returned to the broadcasting scene in 1999, resuming his role as a top-tier sports commentator and reaffirming his position in the industry. In 2015, he was rightfully inducted into the Sports Broadcasting Hall of Fame, a testament to his enduring influence and notable contributions to sports journalism. A true titan of his craft, Marv Albert's legacy is firmly etched in the annals of sports broadcasting history.
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York
Wilhelm Wieben
Age: 89Wilhelm Wieben (2 June 1935 – 13 June 2019) was a German journalist, actor and author. He was best known for presenting the daily news in Tagesschau, by far the most watched news program on German television, from 1973 to 1998.- Birthplace: Hennstedt, Dithmarschen, Germany
- For over 30 years, Andy Rooney was an integral part of the CBS news magazine "60 Minutes" (1968- ). A veteran journalist and celebrated war correspondent, Rooney's show-closing editorials, entitled "A Few Minutes with Andy Rooney," ran the gamut in subject matter from the topical - politics, social ills, the march of time - to the mundane, which took the form of amusing and often curmudgeonly rants on computers, desk clutter, changes in social graces and the foibles of everyday life. His commentary, which was also documented in newspapers, magazines and a number of books, made him among the most popular segments on the program, as well as one of its most parodied. No matter which side of the fence viewers found themselves on in regard to Rooney, there was no denying his position as one of the most well-known and regarded television figures of the late 20th century and into the new millennium.
- Birthplace: Albany, New York, USA
- Jacob Paul Tapper (born March 12, 1969) is an American journalist, author, and cartoonist. He is the Chief Washington Correspondent for CNN, weekday television news show The Lead with Jake Tapper, and Sunday morning affairs program State of the Union. Prior to joining CNN, Tapper worked for ABC News. The White House Correspondents' Association honored his work as Senior White House Correspondent with ABC News with three Merriman Smith Memorial Awards for broadcast journalism.Tapper contributed to the coverage of the inauguration of President Obama that earned an Emmy Award for Outstanding Live Coverage of a Current News Story. Tapper was part of a team that was awarded an Edward R. Murrow award for Video: Breaking News for "Target bin Laden: The Death of Public Enemy #1." His book The Outpost: An Untold Story of American Valor debuted at number 10 in November 2012 on The New York Times Bestseller list for hardback non-fiction. Tapper's book and his reporting on the veterans and troops were cited when the Congressional Medal of Honor Society awarded him the "Tex" McCrary Award for Excellence in Journalism.The Republican primary debate Tapper moderated in September 2015 drew more than 23 million viewers, making it the most-watched program in the history of CNN and the second-most watched primary debate ever. He also moderated the Republican presidential debate in Miami on March 10, 2016, which drew almost 12 million viewers and, according to Variety, "garnered acclaim for its substance".
- Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
- Georgi Ivanov Markov (Bulgarian: Георги Иванов Марков; 1 March 1929 – 11 September 1978) was a Bulgarian dissident writer. Markov originally worked as a novelist and playwright in his native country, the People's Republic of Bulgaria, until his defection in 1968. After relocating, he worked as a broadcaster and journalist for the BBC World Service, the US-funded Radio Free Europe and West Germany's Deutsche Welle. Markov used such forums to conduct a campaign of sarcastic criticism against the incumbent Bulgarian regime, which, according to his wife at the time he died, eventually became "vitriolic" and included "really smearing mud on the people in the inner circles".Georgi Markov was assassinated on a London street via a micro-engineered pellet containing ricin, fired into his leg from an umbrella wielded by someone associated with the Bulgarian Secret Service. It has been speculated that they asked the KGB for help.
- Birthplace: Bulgaria
- Mel Allen (born Melvin Allen Israel; February 14, 1913 – June 16, 1996) was an American sportscaster, best known for his long tenure as the primary play-by-play announcer for the New York Yankees. During the peak of his career in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, Allen was arguably the most prominent member of his profession, his voice familiar to millions. Years after his death, he is still promoted as having been "The Voice of the Yankees." In his later years, he gained a second professional life as the first host of This Week in Baseball. In perhaps the most notable moment of his distinguished career, Allen called Game 7 of the 1960 World Series, in which Bill Mazeroski hit a walk-off home run off Ralph Terry to win the fall classic for the Pittsburgh Pirates. This is the only walk-off home run ever to occur in a Game 7 of a World Series.
- Birthplace: Birmingham, USA, Alabama
- Carl August Sandburg (January 6, 1878 – July 22, 1967) was an American poet, biographer, journalist, and editor. He won three Pulitzer Prizes: two for his poetry and one for his biography of Abraham Lincoln. During his lifetime, Sandburg was widely regarded as "a major figure in contemporary literature", especially for volumes of his collected verse, including Chicago Poems (1916), Cornhuskers (1918), and Smoke and Steel (1920). He enjoyed "unrivaled appeal as a poet in his day, perhaps because the breadth of his experiences connected him with so many strands of American life", and at his death in 1967, President Lyndon B. Johnson observed that "Carl Sandburg was more than the voice of America, more than the poet of its strength and genius. He was America."
- Birthplace: Galesburg, Illinois, USA
- John Anthony Burgess Wilson, (; 25 February 1917 – 22 November 1993), who published under the name Anthony Burgess, was an English writer and composer. Although Burgess was predominantly a comic writer, his dystopian satire A Clockwork Orange remains his best-known novel. In 1971, it was adapted into a highly controversial film by Stanley Kubrick, which Burgess said was chiefly responsible for the popularity of the book. Burgess produced numerous other novels, including the Enderby quartet, and Earthly Powers. He wrote librettos and screenplays, including the 1977 TV mini-series Jesus of Nazareth. He worked as a literary critic for several publications, including The Observer and The Guardian, and wrote studies of classic writers, notably James Joyce. A versatile linguist, Burgess lectured in phonetics, and translated Cyrano de Bergerac, Oedipus Rex, and the opera Carmen, among others. Burgess also composed over 250 musical works; he considered himself as much a composer as an author, although he enjoyed considerably more success in writing.
- Birthplace: England
Don Mellett
Dec. at 34 (1891-1926)Donald Ring Mellett (September 26, 1891 – July 16, 1926) was an American newspaper editor, who was assassinated after confronting local organized crime in his newspaper. Mellett was born in Elwood, Indiana as the child of a newspaper editor. He followed with the family tradition by becoming a journalist, as did several of his siblings. He studied at Indiana University, where he became the editor of the school's newspaper, The Daily Student (now the Indiana Daily Student).- Birthplace: Indiana
- Mark James Patrick Kermode (né Fairey; born 2 July 1963) is an English film critic and musician. He is the chief film critic for The Observer, contributes to the magazine Sight & Sound, presents the BBC Four documentary series Mark Kermode's Secrets of Cinema, co-presents the BBC Radio 5 Live show Kermode and Mayo's Film Review, and previously co-presented the BBC Two arts programme The Culture Show. Kermode is a member of the British Academy of Film and Television Arts. Kermode is a founding member of the skiffle band the Dodge Brothers, for which he plays double bass. In January 2019, it was announced that Kermode would be presenting a movie soundtrack themed show on Bauer Media Group's new classical radio station, Scala Radio.
- Birthplace: United Kingdom
Walter Liggett
Dec. at 49 (1886-1935)Walter William Liggett (February 14, 1886 – December 9, 1935), was an American journalist who worked at several newspapers in New York City, including the New York Times, The Sun, New York Post, and the New York Daily News.In the Twin Cities during the 1930s, Liggett worked as an investigative journalist and editor of the newspaper Midwest American. He specialized in exposés of Minneapolis and Saint Paul organized crime and their connections to corrupt politicians.- For 25 years, Ted Koppel anchored the popular late-night news program, "Nightline" (ABC, 1980- ), sending millions of viewers to sleep with a confidence matching his own that the day's news - and the leaders shaping events - were not left unexamined. Whether it was the Iran hostage crisis, the 1995 terrorist bombing of the Murrah Federal Building or the mind-numbing minutia of the O.J. Simpson murder trial, Koppel covered the news with a probing intelligence and keen eye for fairness, earning him a reputation as one of the best interviewers in professional journalism. Atop his assured on-camera persona, Koppel was well-respected by coworkers and colleagues alike. By 2005, however, Koppel's era at ABC was over. For his final sign off, Koppel demanded the same fairness of his audience that they routinely received from him, asking them to give the new anchor team a "fair shake" and to know that, despite the transition, they were still in good hands.
- Birthplace: Lancashire, England, UK
- David Benjamin Rakoff (November 27, 1964 – August 9, 2012) was a Canadian-born American writer based in New York City, who wrote humorous and sometimes autobiographical non-fiction essays. Rakoff was an essayist, journalist, and actor, and a regular contributor to WBEZ's This American Life. Rakoff described himself as a "New York writer" who also happened to be a "Canadian writer", a "mega Jewish writer", a "gay writer", and an "East Asian Studies major who has forgotten most of his Japanese" writer.
- Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
- William Kristol (; born December 23, 1952) is an American neoconservative political analyst. A frequent commentator on several networks, he was the founder and editor-at-large of the defunct political magazine The Weekly Standard. A Republican, he is known for playing the leading role in the defeat of President Bill Clinton's health care plan and advocating for the U.S. invasion of Iraq. Kristol has since become a prominent critic of President Donald Trump.Kristol has been associated with a number of conservative think tanks. He was chairman of the New Citizenship Project from 1997 to 2005. In 1997, he co-founded the Project for the New American Century (PNAC) with Robert Kagan. He is a member of the board of trustees for the free-market Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a member of the Policy Advisory Board for the Ethics and Public Policy Center, and a director of the Foreign Policy Initiative. He is also one of the three board members of Keep America Safe, a national-security think tank co-founded by Liz Cheney and Debra Burlingame, and serves on the board of the Zionist Emergency Committee for Israel and the Susan B. Anthony List (as of 2010). He has featured in a web program of the Foundation for Constitutional Government, Conversations with Bill Kristol, since 2014.
- Birthplace: New York City, New York, USA
- Anthony David "Tony" Blankley (January 21, 1948 – January 7, 2012) was an American political analyst who gained fame as the press secretary for Newt Gingrich, the first Republican Speaker of the House in forty years, and as a regular panelist on The McLaughlin Group. He later became an Executive Vice President with Edelman public relations in Washington, D.C. He was a Visiting Senior Fellow in National-Security Communications at the Heritage Foundation, a weekly contributor to the nationally syndicated public radio programme Left, Right & Center, the author of The West's Last Chance: Will We Win the Clash of Civilizations? and American Grit: What It Will Take to Survive and Win in the 21st Century. He served as the editorial page editor for The Washington Times from 2002-2009.
- Birthplace: England, London
- Jack London worked on a variety of projects during his entertainment career. London worked on a variety of projects during his early entertainment career, including "Conflict" (1936), "Queen of the Yukon" (1940) and "The Abysmal Brute" (1923). He also contributed to "The Call of the Wild" (1923), "The Sea Wolf" (1930) starring Milton Sills and "White Fang" (1925). London was also credited in "Sign of the Wolf" (1941), "The Fighter" (1952) and "The Assassination Bureau" (1969). He also was recognized in "Der Schrel der Schwarzen Woelfe" with Ron Ely (1972), "Call of the Wild" with Charlton Heston (1975) and "Animal Talk" (CBS, 1979-1980). London was most recently credited in the dramatic adaptation "Call of the Wild 3-D" (2009) with Christopher Lloyd. London passed away in November 1916 at the age of 40.
- Birthplace: San Francisco, California, USA
Matthew Parris
Age: 75Matthew Francis Parris (born 7 August 1949) is a British political writer and broadcaster, formerly a Conservative Member of Parliament. He was born to British parents in South Africa but never held South African citizenship.- Birthplace: Johannesburg, South Africa
- Jeremy Dickson Paxman (born 11 May 1950) is a British broadcaster, journalist, author, and television presenter. Born in Leeds, Paxman was educated at Malvern College and St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he edited the undergraduate newspaper Varsity. At Cambridge, he was a member of a Labour Party club and described himself as a socialist, although in later life described himself as a one-nation conservative. He joined the BBC in 1972, initially at BBC Radio Brighton, although relocated to London in 1977. In coming years, he worked on Tonight and Panorama before becoming a newsreader for the BBC Six O'Clock News and later a presenter on Breakfast Time. In 1989, he became a presenter for the BBC Two programme Newsnight, during which he interviewed a wide number of political figures. Paxman became known for his forthright and abrasive interviewing style, particularly when interrogating politicians. These appearances were sometimes criticised as aggressive, intimidating and condescending, yet also applauded as tough and incisive. In 2014, Paxman left Newsnight after 25 years as its presenter. Since then, he has done occasional work for Channel 4 News. Since its revival in 1994, he has been the presenter of University Challenge.
- Birthplace: England, Leeds
- Steven Cojocaru (; Romanian pronunciation: [koʒoˈkaru]; born July 4, 1970), is a Canadian television fashion critic. He was born in Montreal, Quebec to Romanian parents. Cojocaru started out as a magazine columnist and eventually began working on American television shows as a correspondent and interviewer on Entertainment Tonight, The Today Show, The Insider and Access Hollywood. He graduated from Wagar High School in 1988 and later earned a Bachelor's Degree in Communications from Concordia University.Cojocaru began working in 1995 for the Canadian fashion magazine Flare. After moving to Hollywood, he began writing a column. He was People Magazine's West Coast fashion editor, and has written two autobiographies, Red Carpet Diaries: Confessions of a Glamour Boy (2003) and Glamour, Interrupted (2008). In 2003 and 2004, Cojocaru worked on American Idol, helping the contestants select new wardrobe pieces from show sponsor Old Navy. On May 6, 2008, he appeared with John Oliver in a segment for The Daily Show, "Ticket to the Pollies". Cojocaru has had two kidney transplants. The first (donated by his best friend) was removed when it became infected with polyomavirus. The second transplant in 2005, where his mother Amelia gave her kidney, has to date been successful.
- Birthplace: Montreal, Canada
- It's not every day that a doctor becomes a major television celebrity, best selling author, and political advisor, but Sanjay Gupta accomplished all of these and more. An accomplished neurosurgeon, Gupta even made People magazine's sexiest men alive list, a great height few in medicine get to achieve. Sanjay Gupta was born on October 23, 1969 in India. His family moved to Michigan so his father could work as an engineer for Ford Motors. Pursuing a career in medicine, Gupta received a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan, and a Doctor of Medicine at the University of Michigan Medical School. Gupta finished his residency in 2000 with the University of Michigan Health System, and became associate chief of neurosurgery at Grady Memorial Hospital and assistant professor of neurosurgery at Emory University. Gupta's specialty was spine trauma operations guided by 3-D imaging, and he made the news for saving a 12-year-old girl's life after a Haitian earthquake, as well as for performing emergency surgery during the Iraq war. Eventually Gupta became a commentator for CNN, where he was chief medical correspondent. He also appeared regularly on "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric" (CBS 2006-2011) and "60 Minutes" (CBS 1968- ). As a writer, Gupta had a regular column in Time magazine, and wrote several best-selling books, including the novel Monday Mornings, (2012), which went into development as a TV show with producer David E. Kelley. As a well-known figure in popular culture, Gupta made People's sexiest men list in 2003, and he also endured several controversies. He tangled with filmmaker Michael Moore, criticizing his documentary "Sicko" (2007) on CNN. He made news for reversing his stance on medical marijuana, coming out in favor of it in 2013. Gupta worked as an advisor to Hillary Clinton and was offered the post of Surgeon General for the Obama administration, but declined the position. He became enough of a pop culture fixture that he appeared on an episode of "30 Rock" (NBC 2006-2013) and in Steven Soderbergh's thriller "Contagion" (2011) as himself.
- Birthplace: Novi, Michigan, USA
- Jaime Hernando Garzón Forero (October 24, 1960 – August 13, 1999 in Bogotá) was a Colombian comedian, journalist, politician, and peace activist. He was popular on colombian television during the 1990s for his political satire. In addition to his work on television, he also had roles as a peace negotiator in the release of FARC guerrillas' hostages. He was murdered in 1999 by right-wing paramilitary hitmen, with suspected support from members of the Colombian military and security services, according to testimonies of former paramilitaries commanders. The case remains open and unsolved.
- Birthplace: Bogotá, Colombia
- For more than five decades, author and journalist George Plimpton delved deeply into an array of high-profile and often physically grueling experiences, including professional baseball, boxing, competitive fireworks and stand-up comedy, which informed such celebrated non-fiction books as Paper Lion (1966) and Shadow Box (1977). Born George Ames Plimpton in New York City, New York on March 18, 1927, he was the son of lawyer Francis T.P. Plimpton, who served as U.S. deputy ambassador to the United Nations under President John F. Kennedy, and Pauline Ames; his family tree also publisher George Arthur Plimpton and two governors of Massachusetts. Plimpton was educated at St. Bernard's School and Philips Exeter Academy before enrolling at Harvard College in 1944. His studies were interrupted by service with the U.S. Army as a tank driver during World War II; upon returning to civilian life, he wrote for the Harvard Lampoon and graduated from Harvard in 1950 before pursuing a second degree in English at Cambridge University, from which he graduated in 1952. The following year, Plimpton became the first editor-in-chief of the esteemed literary publication The Paris Review before returning to the United States to teach at Barnard College and contribute to Horizon magazine. In 1958, he began to participate in a series of "participatory" stories in which he drew first-hand experience on an array of singular experiences: pitching against the New York Yankees, sparring for three rounds with champion boxers Archie Moore and Sugar Ray Robinson, training with the Detroit Lions and Boston Bruins, and playing golf on the PGA Tour. These experiences, detailed with dry wit and exceptional attention, became the basis for a string of well-received books, including his baseball memoir Out of My League (1961), Paper Lion (football) and features for Sports Illustrated, among other publications. Many of his exploits were aired as specials on ABC, which helped to endear his clipped delivery and saturnine features to audiences and led to a side career as a pitchman for Oldsmobile and the Intellivision game system, and actor and television host, most notably in "Reds" (1981) and "Good Will Hunting" (1997). Plimpton retained his position as editor of The Paris Review for the next four decades while continuing to contribute features and pen books, including Edie: An American Autobiography (1982), about his friend, the socialite and Andy Warhol superstar Edie Sedgwick, and Fireworks (1984), which detailed his obsession with demolition. In 1985, he penned a story for Sports Illustrated about a New York Mets pitcher named Siddhartha Finch who was a practicing Buddhist with a fastball that clocked at over 160 miles per hour. Though a spoof, the story convinced many readers that Finch was an up-and-coming in the major leagues, and inspired a book, The Curious Case of Sidd Finch (1987). His final book, Truman Capote (1998), was an oral history of the acclaimed author; Plimpton worked on a variety of projects, including commentary for the Ken Burns documentary "Baseball" (1994) and "Zelda, Scott and Ernest," a dramatization of correspondence between F. Scott Fitzgerald, his wife Zelda and Ernest Hemingway, in 2002. Plimpton succumbed to a heart attack in his apartment in New York City on September 25, 2003; his passing was honored by numerous peers and admirers, including the oral biography George, Being George (2008) and the feature-length documentary "Plimpton! Starring George Plimpton as Himself" (2012).
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
- Henry Graham Greene (2 October 1904 – 3 April 1991), better known by his pen name Graham Greene, was an English novelist regarded by many as one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. Combining literary acclaim with widespread popularity, Greene acquired a reputation early in his lifetime as a major writer, both of serious Catholic novels, and of thrillers (or "entertainments" as he termed them). He was shortlisted, in 1966 and 1967, for the Nobel Prize for Literature. Through 67 years of writings, which included over 25 novels, he explored the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world, often through a Catholic perspective. Although Greene objected strongly to being described as a Roman Catholic novelist, rather than as a novelist who happened to be Catholic, Catholic religious themes are at the root of much of his writing, especially the four major Catholic novels: Brighton Rock, The Power and the Glory, The Heart of the Matter, and The End of the Affair; which have been named "the gold standard" of the Catholic novel. Several works, such as The Confidential Agent, The Quiet American, Our Man in Havana, The Human Factor, and his screenplay for The Third Man, also show Greene's avid interest in the workings and intrigues of international politics and espionage. Greene was born in Berkhamsted in Hertfordshire into a large, influential family that included the owners of the Greene King Brewery. He boarded at Berkhamsted School in Hertfordshire, where his father taught and became headmaster. Unhappy at the school, he attempted suicide several times. He attended Balliol College, Oxford, to study history, where, while an undergraduate, he published his first work in 1925—a poorly received volume of poetry, Babbling April. After graduating, Greene worked first as a private tutor and then as a journalist—first on the Nottingham Journal and then as a sub-editor on The Times. He converted to Catholicism in 1926 after meeting his future wife, Vivien Dayrell-Browning. Later in life he took to calling himself a "Catholic agnostic". He published his first novel, The Man Within, in 1929; its favourable reception enabled him to work full-time as a novelist. He supplemented his novelist's income with freelance journalism, and book and film reviews. His 1937 film review of Wee Willie Winkie (for the British journal Night and Day), commented on the sexuality of the nine-year-old star, Shirley Temple. This provoked Twentieth Century Fox to sue, prompting Greene to live in Mexico until after the trial was over. While in Mexico, Greene developed the ideas for The Power and the Glory. Greene originally divided his fiction into two genres (which he described as "entertainments" and "novels"): thrillers—often with notable philosophic edges—such as The Ministry of Fear; and literary works—on which he thought his literary reputation would rest—such as The Power and the Glory. Greene had a history of depression, which had a profound effect on his writing and personal life. In a letter to his wife, Vivien, he told her that he had "a character profoundly antagonistic to ordinary domestic life," and that "unfortunately, the disease is also one's material." William Golding praised Greene as "the ultimate chronicler of twentieth-century man's consciousness and anxiety." He died in 1991, at age 86, of leukemia, and was buried in Corseaux cemetery.
- Birthplace: England, Berkhamsted
