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'{{short description|American journalist}} {{Infobox person | name = Megan Twohey | image = Pulitzer2018-megan-twohey-20180530-wp.jpg | alt = Portrait of Megan Twohey at the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes | caption = Twohey at the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes | birth_date = | birth_place = [[Evanston, Illinois]], U.S. | nationality = American | alma_mater = [[Georgetown University]] | occupation = Journalist | awards = 2018 [[Pulitzer Prize for Public Service]] (named contributor) }} '''Megan Twohey''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|t|uː|i}})<ref>{{cite podcast|last=Twohey|first=Megan|date=September 15, 2020|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/15/podcasts/the-daily/oregon-wildfires.html|title=A Deadly Tinderbox|work=The Daily|publisher=The New York Times|time=0:00|access-date=October 4, 2022}}</ref> is an American journalist with ''[[The New York Times]]''. She has written [[Investigative journalism|investigative reports]] for [[Reuters]], the ''[[Chicago Tribune]],'' and the ''[[Milwaukee Journal Sentinel]]''.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/by/megan-twohey|title=Megan Twohey|date=2018-01-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-17|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Twohey's investigative reports have exposed exploitative doctors, revealed untested [[rape kit]]s, and uncovered a secret underground network of abandoned unwanted adopted children.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/CJF-to-present-Special-Citation-to-New-York-Times-reporters-who-broke-Harvey-Weinstein-story-1008010104|title=CJF to present Special Citation to New York Times reporters who broke Harvey Weinstein story|last=GmbH|first=finanzen.net|work=markets.businessinsider.com|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref> Her investigative reports have led to criminal convictions and helped prompt new laws aimed at protecting vulnerable people and children.<ref name=":2" /> On October 5, 2017, Twohey and fellow ''New York Times'' journalist [[Jodi Kantor]] published a report about [[Harvey Weinstein]] detailing [[Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations|decades of sexual abuse allegations]], and more than 80 women publicly accused Weinstein of sexually abusing or assaulting them.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/sexual-harassment-2017-jodi-kantor-megan-twohey-reporting-impact/|title=NYT reporters on breaking Harvey Weinstein story, #MeToo "reckoning"|work=NBC News|date=December 19, 2017|access-date=2018-01-17|language=en}}</ref> This led to Weinstein's firing and helped to ignite the viral [[Me Too (hashtag)|#MeToo]] movement started by the American activist [[Tarana Burke]].<ref name=":1" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/05/us/harvey-weinstein-harassment-allegations.html|title=Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades|last=Kantor|first=Jodi|date=2017-10-05|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|last2=Twohey|first2=Megan|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> That work was honored in 2018, when ''The New York Times'' was awarded the [[2018 Pulitzer Prize#Journalism|2018]] [[Pulitzer Prize for Public Service]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.poynter.org/news/here-are-winners-2018-pulitzer-prizes|title=Here are the winners of the 2018 Pulitzer Prizes|website=Poynter|first=Ren|last=LaForme|date=April 16, 2018|language=en|access-date=April 16, 2018}}</ref> Kantor and Twohey won the [[George Polk Awards|George Polk award]] and were named to [[Time 100|Time magazine]]'s list of 100 most influential people of the year. Twohey and Kantor subsequently authored a book which chronicled their report about Weinstein, titled ''[[She Said (book)|She Said]]''. The book was published in 2019, and adapted into a [[She Said (book)|film of the same name]] in 2022. In addition to winning the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, Twohey was a finalist for the [[Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting]] in 2014.<ref name=":0" /><ref name=":3" /> == Biography == Twohey is from [[Evanston, Illinois|Evanston]], [[Illinois]].<ref name=":0" /> She went to [[Evanston Township High School]], and graduated from [[Georgetown University]] in 1998.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://alumnius.net/georgetown_universit-8063-302#id18963972|title=Alumni US {{!}} Georgetown University, Washington D.C. Metro Area|website=alumnius.net|language=en|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref> Twohey's parents were both involved in news media; her mother Mary Jane Twohey produced news for television and her father John Twohey was an editor for the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''. Twohey initially joined ''The New York Times'' in 2016 to investigate [[Donald Trump]]'s tax history, possible business ties to Russia, and his past treatment of women.<ref name="Twohey">{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/13/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html|title=Two Women Say Donald Trump Touched Them Inappropriately|last=Twohey|first=Megan|date=2016-10-12|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|last2=Barbaro|first2=Michael|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Twohey is currently a regular contributor for ''The New York Times''.<ref name=":0" /> == Investigative reports == === Untested rape kits === In 2009, Twohey reported in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' that several suburban police departments around Chicago were not submitting all rape kits for testing.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-rape-kits-14-jun14-story.html|title=Dozens of rape kits not submitted for testing by Chicago suburban police departments|last=Twohey|first=Megan|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref> In the following year, Illinois became the first U.S. state to require every rape kit be tested, and many other states in the U.S. followed soon after.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-rape-kit-law-20100706-story.html|title=Illinois to test every rape kit|last=reporter|first=Megan Twohey, Tribune|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.endthebacklog.org/illinois|title=Illinois {{!}} ENDTHEBACKLOG|website=www.endthebacklog.org|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref> === Predatory doctors === From 2010 to 2011, Twohey published a series of articles in the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' detailing cases of doctors who had been convicted of violent felonies or sex crimes and were still practicing and abusing patients.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/lifestyles/health/chi-doctor-sex-charges-gallery-storygallery.html|title=Doctors operate unchecked|last=Tribune|first=Chicago|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref> Her reporting has been credited for leading to new legislation and policies in [[Illinois]] aimed at protecting patients, for example requiring background checks for healthcare providers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-met-doctor-reform-bills-20110302-story.html|title=Legislation puts medical licenses of sex offenders in cross hairs|last=reporter|first=Megan Twohey, Tribune|work=chicagotribune.com|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-07-22/news/ct-met-medical-license-revocations-20110722_1_medical-licenses-health-care-sue-hofer|title=Sex offenders barred from health care|work=tribunedigital-chicagotribune|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en}}</ref> === Abandoned children === In 2013, Twohey published an investigative report in [[Reuters|Reuters News]] that detailed how some people in America were using the internet to find places to abandon their adopted children.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/investigates/adoption/|title=Reuters Investigates - The Child Exchange|website=Reuters|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref> Several segments of this story were broadcast on the [[NBC Nightly News|Nightly News]] and the [[Today (U.S. TV program)|Today Show]] on [[NBC]].<ref name=":2" /> She received a [[The Sidney Award|Sydney Award]] and the [[Michael Kelly Award]] for her work revealing these underground networks.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=http://www.kellyaward.com/2014/alberto-arce/|title=Megan Twohey {{!}} The Michael Kelly Award|website=www.kellyaward.com|language=en-US|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.hillmanfoundation.org/sidney-awards/megan-twohey-wins-october-sidney-exposing-america%E2%80%99s-underground-market-adopted|title=Megan Twohey Wins October Sidney for Exposing America's Underground Market for Adopted Children|date=2013-10-09|work=Hillman Foundation|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en}}</ref> Twohey was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize for this work.<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pulitzer.org/finalists/megan-twohey|title=Finalist: Megan Twohey of Reuters|website=www.pulitzer.org|language=en|access-date=2018-01-18}}</ref> === Donald Trump === In 2016, Twohey and [[Michael Barbaro]] published several investigative pieces to ''The New York Times'' about sexual misconduct by then-presidential candidate [[Donald Trump]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/05/15/us/politics/donald-trump-women.html|title=Crossing the Line: How Donald Trump Behaved With Women in Private|last=Barbaro|first=Michael|date=2016-05-14|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|last2=Twohey|first2=Megan|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref><ref name="Twohey"/> She has continued to report on the incidents into 2017.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/01/us/politics/trumps-female-accusers-feel-forgotten-a-lawsuit-may-change-that.html|title=Trump's Female Accusers Feel Forgotten. A Lawsuit May Change That.|last=Twohey|first=Megan|date=2017-11-01|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Trump has threatened to sue ''The New York Times'' if they don't take down the articles,<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2016/10/13/us/politics/david-mccraw-trump-letter.html|title=The New York Times's Lawyer Responds to Donald Trump|date=2016-10-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> though ''The Times'' refused.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/14/us/politics/donald-trump-lawsuit-threat.html|title=Donald Trump Threatens to Sue The Times Over Article on Unwanted Advances|last=Rappeport|first=Alan|date=2016-10-13|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> === Weinstein sexual abuse === [[File:Megan Twohey.jpg|Book signing at [[Evanston Township High School]]|thumb|right]] On October 5, 2017, Twohey and [[Jodi Kantor]] co-wrote a ''[[The New York Times]]'' exposé on [[Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations|sexual misconduct by Harvey Weinstein]]. Twohey said they were encouraged to investigate untold stories, and that [[Dean Baquet]], executive editor, and Rebecca Corbett, head of investigative projects, had supported them even though Weinstein had threatened to sue ''The New York Times'' and the exposé risked hurting advertising money.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/10/15/insider/sexual-harassment-weinstein-oreilly.html|title=How to Break a Sexual Harassment Story|last=Symonds|first=Alexandria|date=2017-10-15|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Twohey and Kantor had two in-person meetings with Weinstein. Twohey, Kantor, and Corbett also had multiple conversations with Weinstein's lawyers and publicists.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.marieclaire.com/career-advice/a13051614/harvey-weinstein-jodi-kantor-megan-twohey/|title=How These Two Women Finally Exposed Harvey Weinstein|date=2017-10-23|work=Marie Claire|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref> A follow-up piece with fellow reporter [[Ellen Gabler]] added more allegations and expanded the Weinstein timeline.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/07/books/jodi-kantor-megan-twohey-book.html|title=2 Times Reporters Will Write Book on Sexual Abuse Scandals|last=Astor|first=Maggie|date=2017-12-07|work=The New York Times|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}</ref> Twohey said it was an emotional experience when she began seeing friends and family using the [[Me Too (hashtag)|#MeToo]] on her social media feed in the aftermath of the Weinstein allegations.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://variety.com/2017/biz/features/new-york-times-harvey-weinstein-report-megan-twohey-jodi-kantor-1202637948/|title=How New York Times Reporters Broke Hollywood's Biggest Sexual Harassment Story|last=Lang|first=Brent|date=2017-12-13|work=Variety|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref> [[Jezebel (website)|''Jezebel'']] announced in 2018 Twohey and Kantor were publishing an international book, set to be published in Spring 2019, based on their investigation that would reveal more about what happened.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://jezebel.com/jodi-kantor-and-megan-twohey-who-broke-the-weinstein-s-1821987655|title=Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, Who Broke the Weinstein Story, Will Publish Book Internationally|last=Cills|first=Hazel|work=Jezebel|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en-US}}</ref> They received a [[The Sidney Award|Sydney Award]] for their exposé. They were also given L.A. Press Club's Inaugural Impact Award and the McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage from the [[Henry W. Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication|Grady College of Journalism]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://hillmanfoundation.org/sidney-awards/jodi-kantor-and-megan-twohey-win-november-sidney-exposing-weinstein-harassment|title=Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey win November Sidney for exposing Weinstein harassment & Hollywood complicity|date=2017-11-08|work=Hillman Foundation|access-date=2018-01-18|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://grady.uga.edu/new-york-times-reporters-receive-2018-mcgill-medal-journalistic-courage/|title=New York Times reporters receive 2018 McGill Medal for Journalistic Courage - Grady College|date=2018-03-06|work=Grady College|access-date=2018-04-03|language=en-US}}</ref> ''The New York Times'' won the [[2018 Pulitzer Prize|2018]] [[Pulitzer Prize]] for public service for Twohey's and Jodi Kantor's reporting, sharing the award with [[Ronan Farrow]] at ''[[The New Yorker]]'',<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/new-york-times-reporting-led-jodi-kantor-and-megan-twohey-and-new-yorker-reporting-ronan |title=The New York Times, for reporting led by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, and The New Yorker, for reporting by Ronan Farrow|website=www.pulitzer.org|accessdate=Nov 22, 2022}}</ref> as well as the 2018 [[Gerald Loeb Award]] for Investigative business journalism.<ref name="LOEB-2018">{{Cite web |url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/ucla-anderson-school-of-management-announces-2018-gerald-loeb-award-winners-300672056.html |title=UCLA Anderson School of Management Announces 2018 Gerald Loeb Award Winners |date=June 25, 2018 |website=PR Newswire |access-date=January 31, 2019}}</ref> ==== ''She Said'' ==== {{main article|She Said (book)|She Said (film)}} Twohey and Kantor authored a book which chronicled their exposé into Weinstein and the structures of power that enabled him, titled ''[[She Said (book)|She Said: Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story that Helped Ignite a Movement]]'', which was published by Penguin Books in September 2019.<ref>{{Cite book|title=She Said: Breaking the sexual harassment story that helped ignite a movement|last=Kantor|first=Jodi|last2=Twohey|first2=Megan|date=2019-09-10|publisher=Penguin Books|isbn=978-0525560340|location=[S.l.]|oclc=1090752916}}</ref> In 2022, the book was adapted into a [[She Said (film)|film of the same name]]. The film is directed by [[Maria Schrader]] from a screenplay by [[Rebecca Lenkiewicz]], and is scheduled for a theatrical release on November 18.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/10/awards-insider-first-look-she-said-movie |last1=Ford |first1=Rebecca |title=The “Sacred Duty” of She Said |website=Vanity Fair |access-date=15 November 2022 |date=10 October 2022}}</ref> ===Transgender healthcare=== In November 2022, a piece co-written by Twohey for the ''New York Times'' came under sharp criticism from medical experts and trans activists for its criticizing the use of puberty blockers to treat trans youth.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.lgbtqnation.com/2022/11/reckless-ny-times-reporting-fuels-disinformation-trans-youth/ |title=Reckless NY Times reporting fuels disinformation about trans youth |last1=Rook |first1=Erin}}</ref> Slate magazine described the piece as “fearmongering”, and noted that it “does not seem to trust the medical consensus view”, <ref>{{Cite web |url=https://slate.com/technology/2022/11/puberty-blockers-side-effects-controversy.html |title=The NYT’s Big Piece on Puberty Blockers Mucked Up the Most Important Point About Them |last1=Urquhart |first1=Evan}}</ref> while many trans voices were quoted by Fox News as referring to the piece as a “moral panic piece” and “anti-trans propaganda”.<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |url=https://www.foxnews.com/media/new-york-times-story-puberty-blockers-fuels-critics-amid-trans-debate-decade-late-story.amp |title=New York Times story on puberty blockers fuels critics amid trans debate: 'Decade late on this story' |last1=Wulfsohn |first1=Joseph}}</ref> The [[World Professional Association for Transgender Health]] later published a statement calling the article "misinformation about the science behind the care of trans youth".<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wpath.org/media/cms/Documents/Public%20Policies/2022/USPATHWPATH%20Statement%20re%20Nov%2014%202022%20NYT%20Article%20Nov%2022%202022.pdf?_t=1669165505&fbclid=IwAR0HLA3jq1rOoJlU5YluT3qXMUTrnRl7KvM1paj7i3fGR7nZN11UgNaSprg |title=USPATH and WPATH Respond to NY Times Article “They Paused Puberty, But Is There a Cost?” published on November 14, 2022}}</ref> Conversely, the piece was praised by gender critical activists, with [[Suzanne Moore]] for ''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'' describing it as showing that more people were “waking up to the truth about trans after years of demonizing terfs”, and Fox News calling it “long delayed coverage”.<ref name="auto"/><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/11/15/even-new-york-times-waking-truth-trans/ |title=Even the New York Times is waking up to the truth about trans |last1=Moore |first1=Suzanne}}</ref> == Personal life == Her father John Twohey is a veteran journalist who joined the ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' in 1977 after serving for five years as design director of ''[[The Washington Post]]''. Earlier in his career, he served as press secretary for [[Sargent Shriver]]'s 1972 Democratic vice presidential run and for [[Fred R. Harris|Sen. Fred Harris]] (D-Okla.);<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.editorandpublisher.com/news/tribune-media-services-exec-john-twohey-to-step-down/|title=Tribune Media Services Exec John Twohey to Step Down|accessdate=Nov 22, 2022}}</ref> Megan's mother Mary Jane Twohey worked as a Congressional aide and as a news producer at [[WETA-TV]] in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, DC]] before serving for many years as a spokesperson and media-relations manager for [[Northwestern University]] in Evanston, Illinois. Twohey's husband Jim Rutman is a literary agent.{{citation needed|date=November 2022}} == References == <references /> ==External links== {{Commonscatinline}} *{{C-SPAN|75718}} {{GeraldLoebAward Investigative}} {{PulitzerPrize PublicService}} {{authority control}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Twohey, Megan}} [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:21st-century American journalists]] [[Category:21st-century American women writers]] [[Category:American women journalists]] [[Category:Chicago Tribune people]] [[Category:Georgetown University alumni]] [[Category:Journalists from Illinois]] [[Category:MSNBC people]] [[Category:The New York Times Pulitzer Prize winners]] [[Category:The New York Times writers]] [[Category:Writers from Evanston, Illinois]] [[Category:Gerald Loeb Award winners for Investigative]] [[Category:Pulitzer Prize for Public Service winners]]'