Brandy Zadrozny (born August 30, 1980) is an American investigative journalist and reporter with NBC News who specializes in radicalization, extremism and disinformation on the Internet.[2][3]
Brandy Zadrozny | |
|---|---|
 Brandy Zadrozny at SXSW 2019 | |
| Born | August 30, 1980 |
| Alma mater | Pratt Institute |
| Occupation | Journalist |
| Employer | NBC News |
| Children | 3[1] |
Early life and education
editBefore entering journalism, Zadrozny previously worked as a librarian for the New York Board of Education from 2003 to 2007 and for the Champlain College in Burlington, Vermont in 2011.[4] Zadrozny also worked as a news librarian and researcher for ABC News, and later for Fox News.[4][5]
Career
editZadrozny started her career in journalism in 2013 at The Daily Beast.[6] Since 2018, Zadrozny has been working as a journalist for NBC News.[7] At NBC News, Zadrozny has written on the "depressing" aspects of the Internet, focusing on political extremism and conspiracy theories like QAnon and the Stop the Steal movement, and disinformation on social media, particularly as it pertains to the COVID-19 pandemic and anti-vaccination activism.[5][7] Discussing her motivation to cover these movements in her journalism, Zadrozny said that "suddenly, the stupid stuff on the internet, the scary stuff on the internet, became just so mainstream and important. And that totally should not be."[5]
In October 2020, Zadrozny was criticized on Tucker Carlson's Fox News show Tucker Carlson Tonight. Carlson's guest Darren Beattie, a former speechwriter for Donald Trump, accused Zadrozny of trying to "dig up personal information about anonymous Trump supporters online ... basically, so she can ruin their lives."[8] NBC News issued a statement rebuking what they described as "Carlson dangerously and dishonestly" _targeting Zadrozny, saying that the claims were a "smear" and had led to Zadrozny being harassed.[7][8] In their statement, NBC News said Zadrozny is "relentlessly well-researched and sophisticated in her understanding of disinformation and conspiracy theories on the Internet", and that they "couldn’t be prouder of Brandy, and we will continue to vigorously support her work."[9][7]
References
edit- ^ Velshi, Ali (July 5, 2020). "Working mom of three: 'Every day just seems impossible'". MSNBC. Archived from the original on April 28, 2021. Retrieved April 28, 2021.
- ^ "Brandy Zadrozny". NBC News. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ "Brandy Zadrozny". Knight Center Journalism Center. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Beard, David (March 4, 2018). "Librarian-turned-journalist rises; she helped us be this giant scoop factory". Poynter. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c Esposito, Brad (April 8, 2021). ""The idea that we can change anything, I have given up on": NBC News' Brandy Zadrozny on documenting the "depressing" internet". Nieman Lab. Archived from the original on August 23, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ "Brandy Zadrozny". The Daily Beast. February 26, 2018. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Steinberg, Brian (October 22, 2020). "NBC News Says Tucker Carlson 'Dangerously and Dishonestly _targeted' Its Reporter". Variety. Archived from the original on March 15, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.
- ^ a b Barr, Jeremy (April 15, 2021). "Tucker Carlson villainizes journalists on his top-rated show. Then the threats pour in". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on August 11, 2021. Retrieved August 23, 2021.
- ^ Johnson, Ted (October 22, 2020). "NBC News Says Fox News "Has Chosen To Smear" Reporter Brandy Zadrozny With Tucker Carlson Segment". Deadline. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved April 11, 2021.