Jodi Kantor

Jodi Kantor
Name	Jodi Kantor
Birth date	20 March 1975
Birth place	New York City, New York, U.S.
Alma mater	Columbia University (BA), Harvard Law School (JD)
Occupation	Journalist, author
Spouse	Ron Lieber, 2007
Employer	The New York Times
Notable works	She Said, The Obamas
Awards	Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (2018), George Polk Award (2017), Gerald Loeb Award (2018)

Jodi Kantor is an American investigative journalist and author, best known for her groundbreaking reporting on workplace sexual harassment. A staff reporter for The New York Times, she co-wrote the 2017 exposé of allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein, a story that ignited the global #MeToo movement. Her subsequent book, She Said, chronicled that investigation and was adapted into a major motion picture. Kantor has also authored a bestselling book on President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama and has received numerous accolades, including a Pulitzer Prize.

Early life and education

Jodi Kantor was born in New York City and grew up in a Jewish family in Queens. She attended Hunter College High School, a selective public school in Manhattan. Kantor earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Columbia University, where she was editor-in-chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator. She later pursued a Juris Doctor from Harvard Law School, though she chose a career in journalism over practicing law.

Career

Kantor began her journalism career at Slate before joining The New York Times in 2003. At the Times, she initially covered culture and family issues, writing extensively about the changing American workplace and gender dynamics. She served as the editor of the paper's Sunday Review section and later as a correspondent, where her reporting often focused on the intersection of politics, policy, and personal life. Her profile expanded significantly with her in-depth coverage of the Obama administration, leading to her 2012 book The Obamas, which examined the personal and political dynamics of the White House.

The Weinstein investigation and #MeToo

In October 2017, Kantor, along with fellow reporter Megan Twohey, published a detailed investigation in The New York Times documenting decades of sexual harassment allegations against powerful Hollywood film producer Harvey Weinstein. The report, based on interviews with victims like Ashley Judd and former employees of The Weinstein Company, revealed secret settlements and a pervasive culture of intimidation. This journalism was pivotal, encouraging countless women to come forward with their own stories and catalyzing the global resurgence of the #MeToo movement. Their continued reporting, which included allegations against figures like Russell Simmons, was chronicled in their 2019 book She Said. The 2019 film adaptation of the same name starred Carey Mulligan and Zoe Kazan.

Other notable work

Beyond the Weinstein effect, Kantor has pursued other significant investigative projects. She has reported on labor practices at Amazon and Starbucks, and on sexual misconduct allegations within the Southern Baptist Convention. Her earlier work includes a major story on Facebook and its impact on American elections, as well as profiles of influential figures like Sheryl Sandberg. Kantor continues to write for the Times on power, accountability, and gender in American institutions.

Awards and recognition

For their work on the Weinstein story, Kantor and Twohey were awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, one of journalism's highest honors. They also shared the 2017 George Polk Award for Justice Reporting and the 2018 Gerald Loeb Award for Investigative Business Journalism. Kantor has been named to the TIME 100 list of the world's most influential people and has received an ASNE Award. Her book She Said was a finalist for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the National Book Critics Circle Award.

Personal life

Jodi Kantor is married to Ron Lieber, the "Your Money" columnist for The New York Times. They live in Brooklyn with their two daughters. Kantor has spoken publicly about the challenges of balancing intensive investigative work with family life, a topic she has also explored in her reporting on modern parenthood and workplace policies.

Category:American journalists Category:Pulitzer Prize winners Category:1975 births Category:Living people Category:The New York Times people