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Mike Taibbi

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Mike Taibbi
Born
Loren Ames Denny

c. 1949 (age 74–75)
Hawaii, United States
Alma materRutgers University (BS)
OccupationTelevision journalist
SpouseSiobhan Walsh
ChildrenMatt Taibbi

Michael G. Taibbi (born c. 1949) is an American television journalist best known for his work at NBC News.

He retired in 2014, having covered, among other events, the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. During his career, Taibbi also worked at CBS News. He is the recipient of an Emmy Award and a four-time recipient of the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award.[1]

Early life and education

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Taibbi was born Loren Ames Denny to a Filipino-Hawaiian mother, Camila Salinas, in Hawaii, about 1949. At the age of seven or eight he was adopted by Salvatore and Gaetana Taibbi (whose surname is of Sicilian and Lebanese origin).[2] Thereafter, he took the name Mike Taibbi, and was raised in Malverne, New York, a Long Island suburb of New York City.[3] After high school, Taibbi attended Rutgers University. He graduated in 1971 with degrees in journalism and sociology. Taibbi attended the University of Chicago Law School.[1]

Career

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Taibbi worked for the Central New Jersey Home News while going to Rutgers University.[4]

In 1971, Taibbi got the opportunity to be a guest panelist on Firing Line where he, William F. Buckley Jr. and two others interviewed William Kunstler.[citation needed][5][4] This landed him a job as investigative reporter at the Boston station WCVB-TV.[4] In 1977 he was London correspondent for ABC News for six months, before returning to Boston, now working for rival station WNAC-TV as reporter and co-anchor.[6][4] Taibbi worked for WNEV-TV until 1983 when he left to study law at the University of Chicago Law School.[7]

In 1984, Taibbi was hired by WNBC-TV in New York City. He moved on to WCBS-TV in the autumn on 1987.[4]

While at WCBS-TV, Taibbi investigated the later discredited Tawana Brawley rape allegations. In 1989, with Anna Sims-Phillips, Taibbi co-wrote Unholy Alliances: Working the Tawana Brawley Story, which explored the Brawley story.

In 1997, Taibbi joined NBC News to work on Dateline NBC.[8] In the early 2000s, Taibbi reported on the Iraq and Afghanistan Wars for NBC News.[1]

Taibbi announced his retirement from NBC in 2014.[9]

Personal life

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Taibbi’s son, Matt Taibbi, is a well-known independent journalist, media critic, and former contributing editor at Rolling Stone.[1][10][11]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d Staff (June 23, 2010). "Mike Taibbi – NBC News Correspondent". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 15, 2004. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  2. ^ Matt Taibbi [@mtaibbi] (January 6, 2015). "@RaHa762 Taibbi is actually a Sicilian name of Lebanese/Arabic origin. I'm not either (father was adopted)" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  3. ^ Taibbi, Mike (January 20, 2009). "Obama's story inspires search for roots". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 13, 2014.
  4. ^ a b c d e Mann, Robert (October 2, 1988). "Mike Taibbi is a News Hound". The Record.
  5. ^ "Rutgers Trio On Television With Buckley". The Central New Jersey Home News. June 27, 1971.
  6. ^ "In search of Mike Taibbi". The Boston Globe. April 21, 1982.
  7. ^ Matchan, Linda (July 7, 1983). "Meanwhile, behind the cameras..." The Boston Globe.
  8. ^ "Mike Taibbi heads for NBC's 'Dateline'". The Boston Globe. June 27, 1997.
  9. ^ "Mike Taibbi Leaving NBC News". TVNewser. September 19, 2014.
  10. ^ Vernini, James (February 23, 2010). "Lost Exile – The Unlikely Life and Sudden Death of The Exile, Russia's Angriest Newspaper". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 31, 2013.
  11. ^ Taibbi, Mike (October 12, 2009). "An Appreciation for a Humble Irish Priest". World Blog. NBC News. Archived from the original on January 31, 2010. Retrieved January 31, 2013.