Michael Isikoff

Michael Isikoff

Isikoff in October 2007
Born (1952-06-16) June 16, 1952
Syosset, New York
Alma mater Washington University (A.B., 1974)
Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University (M.A., 1976)
Occupation investigative journalist
Spouse(s) Lisa Stein[1] (?–?)
Mary Ann Akers (m. 2007)

Michael R. Isikoff (born June 16, 1952) is an American investigative journalist who is currently the Chief Investigative Correspondent at Yahoo! News.

From July 2010 to April 2014, Isikoff was the national investigative correspondent for NBC News.[2] He resigned from NBC, citing the network's move in a direction that left him with "fewer opportunities" for his work.[3] He had previously worked for Newsweek, which he joined as an investigative correspondent in June 1994, and wrote extensively on the U.S. government's War on Terrorism, the Abu Ghraib torture and prisoner abuse, campaign finance and congressional ethics abuses, presidential politics and other national issues.

Isikoff had been prepared to break the Monica Lewinsky scandal, but several hours before going to print, the article was killed by top Newsweek executives. As a result, the story broke first on Matt Drudge's Drudge Report the following morning. Isikoff's book on the subject, Uncovering Clinton: A Reporter's Story, was named Best Non-Fiction Book of 1999 by the Book of the Month Club.

Early life and career

Isikoff was born to a Jewish family,[4] the son of Gertrude "Trudy" (née Albert) and Morris Isikoff.[5] He was raised in Syosset, New York. He has one sister.[5]

Isikoff graduated from Syosset High School on Long Island in 1970. He received his A.B. from Washington University in 1974, with a junior-year-abroad at the University of Durham, England, and obtained a masters from the Medill School of Journalism from Northwestern University in 1976.

Isikoff is the co-author, with The Nation reporter David Corn, of Hubris: The Inside Story of Spin, Scandal and the Selling of the Iraq War, a 2006 book about the selling of the 2003 Invasion of Iraq to the U.S. public and the ensuing Plame scandal. The book was a New York Times best-seller.[6][7]

His online column with fellow journalist Mark Hosenball, "Terror Watch," won the 2005 award from the Society of Professional Journalists for best investigative reporting online. Isikoff was a part of the Newsweek team that won the Overseas Press Club’s most prestigious award, the 2001 Ed Cunningham Memorial Award for best magazine reporting from abroad for Newsweek's coverage of the war on terror.

In the May 9, 2005, issue of Newsweek, Isikoff co-wrote an article that stated that interrogators at Guantanamo Bay "in an attempt to rattle suspects, flushed a Quran down a toilet." Detainees had earlier made similar complaints but this was the first time a government source had appeared to confirm the story. The article caused widespread rioting and massive anti-American protests throughout some parts of the Islamic world (causing at least 17 deaths in Afghanistan). The magazine later retracted the story after noting that the anonymous official who was their source subsequently could not remember important details.[8] A subsequent June 4, 2005, report by the Pentagon, however, confirmed multiple instances of desecration of the Quran at Guantanamo, including one incident in which urine was splashed on a Quran.[9] Isikoff has been a contributing blogger at The Huffington Post.

He has appeared on the Democracy Now! show.[10]

Personal life

In January 2007, Isikoff married former Washington, D.C. political gossip columnist Mary Ann Akers, who wrote "The Sleuth" for The Washington Post.[11] They have a son, Zachary Akers Isikoff, born in 2009.[12][13] He was previously married to Lisa Stein, with whom he has a daughter, Willa Isikoff.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Colford, Paul D. (May 12, 1999). "Michael Isikoff & Friends / The reporter gets honored these days for revealing the story of Bill and Monica. / But that doesn't stop the guys from hometown Syosset from ribbing him". Newsday.
  2. ↑ Stelter, Brian (June 7, 2010). "NBC News Hires Newsweek's Michael Isikoff". The New York Times.
  3. ↑ "Michael Isikoff leaves NBC News".
  4. ↑ Silbiger, Steve (May 25, 2000). The Jewish Phenomenon: Seven Keys to the Enduring Wealth of a People. Taylor Trade Publishing. p. 190.
  5. 1 2 "Gertrude L. (Albert) Isikoff's Obituary on Newsday". Newsday. May 4, 2008. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  6. ↑ "Michael Isikoff mixes it up with Hugh about the run up to war in Iraq. « The Hugh Hewitt Show". The Hugh Hewitt Show. April 29, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  7. ↑ "Michael Isikoff, Investigative Correspondent". MSNBC. Archived from the original on August 15, 2007. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  8. ↑ Kurtz, Howard (May 16, 2005). "Newsweek Apologizes: Inaccurate Report on Koran Led to Riots". The Washington Post.
  9. ↑ "Pentagon details mishandling of Quran". June 4, 2005.
  10. ↑ "Newsweek: Inspector General Report Reveals CIA Conducted Mock Executions". Democracy Now!. 2009-08-24.
  11. ↑ Glover, Mary Clare (June 1, 2007). "Luxury Homes: June 2007". Washingtonian. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  12. ↑ Dornic, Matt (October 6, 2009). "Isikoff and Akers Welcome Baby Zach!". AdWeek. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
  13. ↑ Allen, Mike (October 8, 2009). "Little one coming home". Politico. Retrieved June 2, 2017.
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