Michelle Fields
Michelle Fields | |
|---|---|
 Fields speaking at the 2013 Young Americans for Liberty National Convention at George Mason University in Arlington, Virginia. | |
| Born | Michelle Joann Fields January 10, 1988 |
| Education | Pepperdine University (B.A.) |
| Occupation | Political journalist |
| Years active | 2011–present |
| Employer | The Huffington Post |
| Website | michellefields |
Michelle Joann Fields (born January 10, 1988) is an American political journalist who writes for The Huffington Post.[1] She was formerly a Breitbart News Network reporter as well as a Fox News Channel contributor.[2] Upon graduating from Pepperdine University in 2011, she gained national attention after having a confrontation with actor Matt Damon over teacher tenure reform.[3] After the altercation, Fields was hired as a reporter at The Daily Caller. She later became a correspondent for PJ Media.[4] Fields is a former panelist on the Fox News program Cashin' In.[5] In 2016, Fields gained notability when she accused Donald Trump's campaign manager Corey Lewandowski of grabbing her arm at a press conference. At the time, Fields was a reporter for Breitbart News Network; she resigned her position there in March 2016 due to the organization's handling of the Lewandowski incident.
Early life
Fields was raised in the Los Angeles area and attended Calabasas High School in Calabasas, California.[6] Fields is of partial Honduran descent and is the daughter of television and film writer Greg Fields.[6]
She studied political science at Pepperdine University, graduating in 2011.[7] She served as the president of the Pepperdine chapter of Students For Liberty, a libertarian student organization.[7][8]
Journalism career
Fields films and edits her videos in a citizen journalism style. She credits the Internet for launching her career and believes that the popularity of her videos is due to her style of reporting. In an interview with C-SPAN in 2011 she said that the use of the Internet has empowered people so much that now "one voice can be just as powerful as the New York Times.".[6]
In 2011, Fields was interviewed by Brian Lamb on C-SPAN's Q&A about her reporting style.[6] Fields has appeared on CNBC, Sky News, Fox News, Hannity, The O'Reilly Factor, Fox and Friends First, Your World with Neil Cavuto, America's Newsroom, Fox and Friends, America Live with Megyn Kelly, Stossel, and Red Eye w/Greg Gutfeld. Fields was featured in Details magazine as one of "the next wave of political pundits."[9]
In November 2011, Fields, at the time a Daily Caller reporter, said she and videographer Direna Cousins were struck by NYPD officers as police tried to clear Wall Street of protesters during her coverage of Occupy Wall Street.[10]
In 2012, Fields gave a TEDx talk on her career and the future of Internet journalism.[11] In 2015, The Hill newspaper named her one of the 50 most beautiful people in Washington, D.C.[12]
In September 2014, Fields became a contributor at the Fox News Channel.[13] In November 2015, Fields joined the Breitbart News Network as a political reporter.[14] Fields resigned from Breitbart News in March 2016.
In May 2016, Fields became a reporter at The Huffington Post.[1] She published a book, "Barons of the Beltway: Inside the Princely World of our Washington Elite," in June 2016. The book was quickly edited close to the time of release in order to include an accounting of Fields' incident involving the Trump campaign.
Allegations against Corey Lewandowski
On March 10, 2016, Fields wrote her account of what occurred after she asked Donald Trump a question as he was exiting a March 8, 2016 press conference in Jupiter, Florida, including that she was "jolted backward when someone grabbed her tightly by the arm and yanked her down."[15] Fields stated that The Washington Post reporter Ben Terris identified the individual as Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.[15] Fields filed a police report with the Jupiter Police Department on March 11, alleging simple battery.[16] Fields resigned from Breitbart News on March 13, 2016, citing the organization's handling of the matter.[17] On March 29, 2016, Lewandowski was charged with simple battery by the Jupiter Police Department and turned himself in.[18][19]
On April 14, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg filed court documents saying that his office would not prosecute Lewandowski. Prosecutors determined that "there was probable cause to make an arrest" and "the facts support the allegation that Mr. Lewandowski did grab Ms. Fields' arm against her will" but that "the evidence cannot prove all legally required elements of the crime alleged and is insufficient to support a criminal prosecution."[20]
Personal life
Fields is in a relationship with Jamie Weinstein, senior editor of The Daily Caller.[21] The two became engaged in late May 2016.[22]
References
- ^ a b Rogers, Katie (May 23, 2016). "Ex-Breitbart Reporter Michelle Fields Moves to Huffington Post". The New York Times. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
- ^ Gold, Hadas (March 9, 2016). "Trump campaign manager gets rough with Breitbart reporter". Politico. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ "Matt Damon's clash with libertarian journalist Michelle Fields on education is a viral hit". The Washington Post. August 3, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
- ^ Chariton, Jordan (September 15, 2014). "Fox News Signs Michelle Fields as a Contributor". Ad Week. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ Gold, Hadas (March 17, 2016). "Fox News and Michelle Fields 'mutually agree' to reevaluate weekly 'Cashin' In' appearances after Trump dispute". Politico. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ a b c d "Q&A With Michelle Fields". C-SPAN. November 30, 2011. Retrieved February 17, 2012.
- ^ a b McKay Coppins, Young, Pretty, and Political: The Highs and Lows of Conservative Media Stardom, Buzzfeed News (March 10, 2014).
- ^ "2011 SFL Awards Finalists". Students For Liberty. Retrieved June 20, 2012.
- ^ "Meet the Next Wave of Political Pundits: The Daily Details: Blog". Details. October 24, 2012. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- ^ "Daily Caller reporter, videographer assaulted by NYPD during 'Occupy' protests". The Daily Caller. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ "I will be giving a TED Talk in Miami". MichelleFields.com. Retrieved July 13, 2014.
- ^ "Michelle Fields - 50 Most Beautiful 2015". TheHill. Retrieved October 16, 2015.
- ^ Gold, Hadas (September 15, 2014). "Fox News adds Michelle Fields as contributor". Politico. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ "Breitbart News Announces Addition of Michelle Fields". Breitbart.com. November 2, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2016.
- ^ a b "Michelle Fields: In Her Own Words". Breitbart.com. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
- ^ Somaiya, Ravi (March 11, 2016). "Breitbart Journalist Files Police Report Alleging Battery at Trump Event". The New York Times.
- ^ "Breitbart Reporter, Editor Resign After Alleged Assault From Trump Campaign Manager". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 4, 2016.
- ^ Haberman, Maggie; Grynbaum, Michael M. (March 29, 2016). "Corey Lewandowski, Donald Trump's Campaign Manager, Is Charged With Battery". The New York Times. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
- ^ Lee, M.J.; Stelter, Brian; Murray, Sara (March 30, 2016). "Donald Trump's campaign manager charged with simple battery". CNN. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 31, 2016.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Anderson, Curt (April 14, 2015). "Prosecutor won't pursue battery charge against Trump aide". Associated Press. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved April 14, 2016.
{{cite news}}: Unknown parameter|deadurl=ignored (|url-status=suggested) (help) - ^ Gold, Hadas (March 9, 2016). "Trump campaign manager gets rough with Breitbart reporter". Politico. Archived from the original on March 22, 2016. Retrieved March 15, 2016.
- ^ Nguyen, Tina (June 2, 2016). "Exclusive: Michelle Fields Is Not Done with Donald Trump Just Yet". Vanity Fair. Retrieved June 11, 2016.