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Rachel Maddow
Maddow hosting KPTK's "Changing the Media, Changing America" event in Seattle
Born
Rachel Anne Maddow

(1973-04-01) April 1, 1973 (age 51)
Castro Valley, California, U.S.
EducationB.A., Stanford University
D.Phil, University of Oxford
Occupation(s)News anchor
Political commentator
Television host
Notable credit(s)The Rachel Maddow Show (MSNBC)
The Rachel Maddow Show (Air America Radio)
Websitewww.rachelmaddow.com

Rachel Anne Maddow (pronounced /ˈmædoʊ/; born April 1, 1973) is an American television host, political commentator, and author.[1][2] Maddow hosts a nightly television show, The Rachel Maddow Show, on MSNBC.[3] Her syndicated talk radio program of the same name aired on Air America Radio. Maddow is the first openly gay anchor of a prime-time news program in the United States.[4][5][6][7]

Asked about her political views by the Valley Advocate, Maddow replied, "I'm undoubtedly a liberal, which means that I'm in almost total agreement with the Eisenhower-era Republican party platform."[8]

Early life and education

Maddow was born in Castro Valley, California. Her father, Robert B. "Bob" Maddow, is a former United States Air Force captain who resigned his commission the year before her birth and found civilian work as a lawyer for the East Bay Municipal Utility District. Her mother, Elaine Maddow (née Gosse), is a school program administrator from Newfoundland, Canada.[9][10][11] She has one older brother, David. Her father is of Russian and Dutch descent and her mother is of English and Irish ancestry.[11] Maddow's mother was raised a strict Roman Catholic, and Maddow herself grew up in a community that her mother has described as "very conservative."[12][13] Maddow was a competitive athlete and played three sports in high school.[14] Referencing John Hughes films, she describes herself in high school as "a cross between the jock and the antisocial girl."[13]

A graduate of Castro Valley High School in Castro Valley, California, she attended Stanford University. While a freshman, she was outed by the college newspaper when an interview with her was published by the student newspaper before she could tell her parents.[15] Maddow earned a degree in public policy from Stanford in 1994.[16] At graduation she was awarded the John Gardner Fellowship. [17] She was also the recipient of a Rhodes Scholarship and began her postgraduate study in 1995 at Lincoln College, Oxford. In 2001, she earned a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in politics from Oxford University.[18] Her thesis is titled HIV/AIDS and Health Care Reform in British and American Prisons (supervisor: Dr Lucia Zedner). She was the first openly gay American to win a Rhodes scholarship.[19][20]

Radio career

Maddow's first radio hosting job was at WRNX (100.9 FM) in Holyoke, Massachusetts, after she entered and won a contest the station held to find a new on-air personality.[21] She was hired to co-host WRNX's morning show, The Dave in the Morning Show. She went on to host Big Breakfast on WRSI, in Northampton, Massachusetts, for two years. She left the show in March 2004 to join the new Air America.[18] There she hosted Unfiltered along with Chuck D (of the hip hop group Public Enemy) and Lizz Winstead (co-creator of The Daily Show), until its cancellation in March 2005.[22] Two weeks after the cancellation of Unfiltered in April 2005, Maddow's weekday two-hour radio program, The Rachel Maddow Show, began airing; in March 2008 it gained an hour, broadcasting from 6 to 9 p.m. EST with David Bender filling in the third hour for the call-in section, when Maddow was on TV assignment. In September 2008, the show's length returned to two hours when Maddow began a nightly MSNBC television program. In February 2009, after renewing her contract with Air America, Maddow returned to the 5 am hour-long slot.[23] Her last Air America show was on January 21, 2010, two weeks before its owners filed for bankruptcy.[24]

Television career

In June 2005, Maddow became a regular panelist on MSNBC's Tucker.[25] During and after the November 2006 election, she was a frequent guest on CNN's Paula Zahn Now. In January 2008, Maddow was given the position of MSNBC political analyst and was a regular panelist on MSNBC's Race for the White House with David Gregory and MSNBC's election coverage,[26] as well as a frequent contributor on Countdown with Keith Olbermann.[18]

In April 2008, Maddow was the substitute host for Countdown with Keith Olbermann, her first time hosting a program on MSNBC. Maddow described herself on air as "nervous." Keith Olbermann complimented her work and she was brought back to host "Countdown" in May 2008. The day she hosted was the highest rated news program among people 25 to 54 years of age, a demographic key to ratings.[27] For her success, the next Monday Olbermann ranked Maddow third in his show's segment "World's Best Persons".[28] Maddow filled in again on Countdown for eight and a half broadcasts while Olbermann was on vacation in July 2008 and the second half of the show on July 21.[29] Maddow also filled in for David Gregory as host of Race for the White House.[18]

The Rachel Maddow Show

Main article: The Rachel Maddow Show (TV series)

In August 2008, MSNBC announced The Rachel Maddow Show would replace Verdict with Dan Abrams in the channel's 9 p.m. slot the following month.[30][31] Following its debut, the show topped Countdown as the highest rated show on MSNBC on several occasions.[32][33] After being on air for more than a month, Maddow's program doubled the audience that hour.[34]

Early reviews for her show were mostly positive. Los Angeles Times writer Matea Gold stated Maddow "finds the right formula on MSNBC,"[35] and The Guardian writes Maddow has become the "star of America's cable news."[20] Associated Press columnist David Bauder said she's "[Keith] Olbermann's political soul mate" and the Olbermann-Maddow shows are a "liberal two-hour block."[36]

Public image and publicity

Maddow has been profiled in People,[37] the Guardian,[38] and the New York Observer,[39] has appeared on “The View” and “Charlie Rose”[40]

Keith Olbermann played a pivotal role in Maddow's hiring at MSNBC. Olbermann was able to pressure Phil Griffin to give Maddow Dan Abram's slot. A fan of Maddow's, Olbermann was able to use his influence, which had become greater as his ratings rose.[41]

A 2011 Hollywood Reporter profile of Maddow said that she was able to deliver news "with agenda, but not hysteria.”[42] A Newsweek profile noted that “At her best, Maddow debates ideological opponents with civility and persistence...But for all her eloquence, she can get so wound up ripping Republicans that she sounds like another smug cable partisan. Baltimore Sun critic David Zurawik has accused Maddow of acting like 'a lockstep party member.'”[43]

A Time profile called her a “whip-smart, button-cute leftie.” It said that she radiates an essential decency, and suggested that her career rise might signify that “nice is the new nasty.”[44]

Political views

Distinguishing herself from others on the left, Maddow said she's a "national security liberal" and in a different interview that she's not "a partisan."[45][46] The New York Times called her a "defense policy wonk" who is writing a book on the role of the military in postwar American politics.[35][45] During the 2008 presidential election, Maddow did not formally support any candidate. Concerning Barack Obama's candidacy, Maddow said during the primaries, "I have never and still don't think of myself as an Obama supporter, either professionally or actually."[47]

In March 2010, Republican Scott Brown, the junior United States Senator from Massachusetts, speculated that Maddow was going to run against him for his seat in 2012. He used this premise for a fundraising email that read "...The Massachusetts political machine is looking for someone to run against me. And you're not going to believe who they are supposedly trying to recruit — liberal MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow." Maddow said Brown's speculation was false. On her March 23, 2010, TV program, Maddow said, "I have the best job in the world. I am not running for office. Scott Brown didn't ask me if I was running or planning to run for office, before he wrote a fundraising letter with my name. No, it's completely made up by him." Despite her comments, the next day Brown continued along the same line, telling a Boston radio station, "Bring her on." To help put an end to the matter, Maddow ran a full-page advertisement in the Boston Globe confirming she was not running, and separately demanded Brown's apology. She added that despite repeated invitations over the months, Brown had refused to appear on her TV program.[48][49][50][51]

Personal life

Maddow lives in Manhattan and western Massachusetts with her partner, artist Susan Mikula.[52][53] The couple met in 1999, when Mikula hired Maddow to do yard work at her home. Maddow was working on her doctoral dissertation at the time.[52] Their first date was at a National Rifle Association "Ladies' Day on the Range" event.[54] Although Massachusetts and New York recognize same-sex marriage, as of 2009 Maddow and Mikula had no plans to marry.[13]

Honors and awards

  • Maddow was named in Out magazine's "Out 100" list of the "gay men and women who moved culture" in 2008.[55]
  • Maddow was voted "Lesbian/Bi Woman of the Year (American)" in AfterEllen's 2008 Visibility Awards.[56]
  • Maddow won a Gracie Award in 2009, presented by the American Women in Radio and Television.[57]
  • In 2009, Maddow was nominated for GLAAD's 20th Annual Media Awards for a segment of her MSNBC show, "Rick Warren, Change To Believe In?", in the Outstanding TV Journalism Segment category.[58]
  • On March 28, 2009, Maddow received a Proclamation of Honor from the California State Senate, presented in San Francisco by California State Senator Mark Leno.[59]
  • In April 2009, she was listed at number four in Out magazine's Annual Power 50 List.[60]
  • Maddow placed sixth in the "2009 AfterEllen.com Hot 100" list (May 11, 2009)[61] and third in its "2009 Hot 100: Out Women" version.[62]
  • Maddow was included on a list of openly gay media professionals in The Advocate's "Forty under 40" issue of June/July 2009.[63]
  • In 1994, Maddow was an Honorable Mention in the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity Prize in Ethics.[64]
  • In June 2009, Maddow's MSNBC show was the only cable news show nominated for a Television Critics Association award in the Outstanding Achievement in News and Information category.[65]
  • In March 2010, Maddow won at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards in the category, Outstanding TV Journalism- Newsmagazine for her segment, "Uganda Be Kidding Me".[66]
  • Maddow was the 2010 commencement speaker and was given an honorary Doctor of Laws (LLD) degree at Smith College in Northampton, MA in May 2010.[67]
  • In July 2010, Maddow was presented with a Maggie Award for her ongoing reporting of healthcare reform, the murder of Dr. George Tiller, and the anti-abortion movement.[68]
  • In August 2010, Maddow won the Walter Cronkite Faith & Freedom Award, which was presented by The Interfaith Alliance.[69] Past honorees included Larry King, Tom Brokaw, and the late Peter Jennings.[69]
  • In November 2011, she was included on the list of "Over-Rated Thinkers" by the editors of The New Republic.[70]
  • In February 2012, Maddow was presented the John Steinbeck Award by the Martha Heasley Cox Center for Steinbeck Studies at San Jose State University.[71]

Bibliography

  • Maddow, Rachel (2012). Drift: The Unmooring of American Military Power. Crown. ISBN 978-0307460981.

References

  1. ^ Adler, Margot (2008-10-23). "Rachel Maddow: Sassy, Acerbic And — Yes — Liberal". National Public Radio. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  2. ^ Caroll, Jon (August 11, 2009). "Rachel Maddow is my sweetie". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-01-15.
  3. ^ Weisbert, Julie (2007-08-23). "Talking things up". Bay Windows. Retrieved 2007-09-08. [dead link]
  4. ^ "Maddow the first out News Anchor of a prime-time news program". Lesbiatopia.com. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  5. ^ Johnson, Ted (March 6, 2009). "Maddow's unique style spikes ratings". Variety.
  6. ^ "Olbermann welcomes Rachel Maddow to MSNBC". lgbtQnews. August 19, 2008.
  7. ^ Whitehill, Simcha (December 18, 2008). "The Greatest & Gayest Headlines Of 2008". The Frisky.
  8. ^ Sturm, Tom (2010-05-06). "Wonk and Circumstance". The Valley Advocate. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
  9. ^ "November 6, 2008: Rachel Maddow". The Colbert Report. Comedy Central. November 6, 2008.
  10. ^ France, Louise (February 8, 2009). "Interview: 'I'm not a TV anchor babe. I'm a big lesbian who looks like a man'". The Observer.
  11. ^ a b LaBerge, Germaine (1997-02-03). "INTERVIEW WITH ROBERT MADDOW". University of California Berkeley. Retrieved 2009-08-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  12. ^ Baird, Julia (2008-11-22). "When Left is Right". Newsweek. Retrieved 2009-08-02. {{cite news}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  13. ^ a b c Cricket, Xander (2009). Rachel Maddow: A Neowonk Guide to the Leftist, Lesbian Pundit. ISBN 978-1442122673.
  14. ^ Garofoli, Joe (September 11, 2008). "Bay Area's Maddow is cable talk's newest star". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2010-10-26.
  15. ^ "Rachel Maddow on Being Outed by Her College Newspaper". The Daily Beast. March 12, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  16. ^ Sheridan, Barrett (May/June 2008). "Making Airwaves: Broadcaster Rachel Maddow is succeeding at her goal of 'lefty rabblerousing'". Stanford Magazine. {{cite news}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)
  17. ^ John Gardner Fellowship Program
  18. ^ a b c d Barnhart, Aaron (June 15, 2008). "MSNBC's Chuck Todd and Rachel Maddow are young, geeky and hot". Kansas City Star. p. G1.
  19. ^ Warn, Sarah (August 20, 2008). "Rachel Maddow Becomes First Out Lesbian to Host Prime-Time News Show". afterellen.com.
  20. ^ a b Goodwin, Christopher (September 28, 2008). "Gay TV host is liberal queen of US news". The Guardian. Retrieved March 11, 2010.
  21. ^ Lehoczky, Etelka (2004-08-31). "Left and centered: Air America radio's Rachel Maddow is out, brilliant, and ready to defend the other L word: liberal". The Advocate.
  22. ^ Bagby, Dyana (2005-01-28). "Two 'L-words'; Morning host adds 'lesbian' to 'liberal' radio's success". Southern Voice Atlanta.
  23. ^ "Rachel Maddow Renews With Air America Media". Air America.com. February 2, 2009.
  24. ^ Kary, Tiffany (2010-02-04). "Air America Files for Chapter 7 Liquidation After Sales Drop". Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  25. ^ Parnass, Larry (June 15, 2005). "Maddow joins new program on MSNBC". Daily Hampshire Gazette.
  26. ^ "Rachel Maddow - Host, 'The Rachel Maddow Show'". MSNBC. August 20, 2008. Retrieved March 9, 2011.
  27. ^ "The Scoreboard: Friday, May 16". TV Newser. 2008-05-16.
  28. ^ Olbermann, Keith (2008-05-19). "Countdown with Keith Olbermann May 19, 2008". MSNBC.
  29. ^ Steinberg, Jacques (2008-07-17). "Now in Living Rooms, the Host Apparent". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-07-17.
  30. ^ "Political commentator Maddow gets own show". Associated Press. 2008-08-20.
  31. ^ Carter, Bill (2008-08-19). "Rachel Maddow to Replace Dan Abrams on MSNBC". The New York Times.
  32. ^ Shae, Danny (2008-09-18). "Rachel Maddow Ratings: Beats Olbermann's "Countdown" To Be MSNBC's Top Show". Huffington Post.
  33. ^ Stanley, Alessandra (2008-09-25). "A Fresh Female Face Amid Cable Schoolboys". The New York Times.
  34. ^ Stelter, Brian (October 21, 2008). "Fresh Face on Cable, Sharp Rise in Ratings". The New York Times. p. C1.
  35. ^ a b Gold, Matea (September 29, 2008). "MSNBC's new liberal spark plug". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  36. ^ Bauder, David (October 26, 2008). "O'Reilly, Olbermann: polar opposites of campaign". Associated Press.
  37. ^ "Rachel Maddow and Her Girlfriend Give Up TV on Weekends". People. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  38. ^ "'I'm not a TV anchor babe. I'm a big lesbian who looks like a man'". The Guardian. 7 February 2009. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  39. ^ "It's a Maddow, Maddow World". New York Observer. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  40. ^ "A conversation with Rachel Maddow of MSNBC". Charlie Rose. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  41. ^ "The Dr. Maddow Show". New York Magazine. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  42. ^ "Rachel Maddow: How This Wonky-Tonk Woman Won TV". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  43. ^ "You Were Expecting Olbermann?". Newsweek. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  44. ^ "Rachel Maddow: MSNBC's New Voice". Time. Retrieved 19 April 2012.
  45. ^ a b Steinberg, Jacques (July 17, 2008). "Now in Living Rooms, the Host Apparent". New York Times. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
  46. ^ Kurtz, Howard (2008-08-27). "Rachel Maddow, MSNBC's Newest Left Hand". Washington Post. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  47. ^ Traister, Rebecca (2008-07-30). "Rachel Maddow's Life and Career". The Nation. Retrieved 2009-03-10.
  48. ^ Finn, Tyler (March 26, 2010). "Rachel Maddow: Scott Brown Claim I'm Running for Office Not True". CBS News. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  49. ^ Linkins, Jason (March 25, 2010). "Scott Brown Is Not Letting This Rachel Maddow Electoral Fantasy Go". The Huffington Post. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  50. ^ Heslam, Jessica (March 26, 2010). "Rachel Maddow slams 'creep' Scott Brown; Rips fund-raising on Dem-fueled rumor". Boston Herald. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  51. ^ Gilbert, Matthew (March 24, 2010). "Maddow vs. Brown in 2012? Nope". Boston Globe. Retrieved March 26, 2010.
  52. ^ a b Goldscheider, Eric (2005-02-24). "Weekday bantering is balanced by quiet New England weekends". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2009-01-22.
  53. ^ "Rachel Maddow Biography". AirAmerica.com. Retrieved 2007-05-26.
  54. ^ Rachel Maddow Accepts Meghan McCain's Invitation To NRA Convention (VIDEO), Huffington Post (January 18, 2011)
  55. ^ "The Out 100: The men and women who made 2008 a year to remember". Out Magazine. November 4, 2008.
  56. ^ "The AfterEllen.com 2008 Visibility Awards". AfterEllen.com. 2008-12-24. Retrieved 2010-06-19.
  57. ^ Tanklefsky, David (February 24, 2009). "Rachel Maddow, Suze Orman Among the Winners of AWRT's Gracie Awards". Broadcasting & Cable.
  58. ^ "Twentieth Annual GLAAD Media Award Nominees". Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. January 27, 2009.
  59. ^ "Mother Jones flikr photo stream". Mother Jones. March 28, 2009.
  60. ^ "3rd Annual Power 50 | 4. Rachel Maddow". Out.com. 2008-06-23. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  61. ^ "The 2009 AfterEllen.com Hot 100". 2009-05-11. Retrieved 2010-05-21.
  62. ^ "The 2009 AfterEllen.com Hot 100: Out Women". AfterEllen.com. 2009-04-25. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  63. ^ "Forty Under 40: Media". Advocate.com. Retrieved 2009-11-14.
  64. ^ "Past Years Winners: Media". Eliewieselfoundation.org. Retrieved 2010-11-14.
  65. ^ "Television Critics Association Announces 2009 Award Nominees". tvcritics.org.
  66. ^ Ram, Archana (2010-03-14). "'Brothers and Sisters' and 'Parks and Recreation' among winners at GLAAD Media Awards". Entertainment Weekly. Time Inc. Retrieved 2010-03-15.
  67. ^ "Smith College: Smith Tradition". Smith.edu. Retrieved 2010-10-14.
  68. ^ "Rachel Maddow, Glamour Magazine, and the AJC's Cynthia Tucker Among Planned Parenthood's 2010 Maggie Award Winners". Planned Parenthood. 2010-07-16. Retrieved 2010-07-19.
  69. ^ a b "Rachel Maddow Wins Walter Cronkite Faith & Freedom Award". Media Bistro. Retrieved August 23, 2010.
  70. ^ Over-Rated Thinkers, The New Republic, November 3, 2011.
  71. ^ http://as.sjsu.edu/steinbeck/index.jsp
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