Photo: Martin Schoeller

 

In honor of Women’s History Month, 221B is concluding its series of impactful female investigators by highlighting two journalists who helped ignite a movement benefiting women around the world: Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey.

Kantor and Twohey are investigative reporters for The New York Times who first broke the explosive story in October 2017 that revealed decades of sexual misconduct allegations against powerful Hollywood movie producer Harvey Weinstein. Their reporting helped ignite the #MeToo movement, which raised awareness of sexual harassment and abuse, particularly in the workplace. The movement encouraged people to publicly share their stories of sexual abuse and post them on social media with the hashtag #MeToo.

Kantor and Twohey told Marie Claire they pursued the story for their daughters. “I'd sit with my baby girl before work every morning and say, ‘Mom is going to the office to do something really important,’” Twohey said. “It will hopefully make the world a safer place for girls like you.”

Weinstein was ultimately convicted and imprisoned for crimes related to sexual abuse, and the #MeToo movement brought to light misconduct by many other powerful men. Kantor and Twohey received a Pulitzer Prize for their work and wrote a book about their experiences called “She Said,” which was adapted into a movie. 

Below is a bit about the backgrounds of these dogged reporters. 

Jodi Kantor

Raised in New York City, Kantor was an obsessive reader who, by eighth grade, was reading The New York Times daily. She dropped out of Harvard Law School to pursue a career in journalism. "I never thought I could make it as a journalist," Kantor said. "I thought it was like being an actor; I thought for every successful journalist, there were two or three thousand talented young wannabes who had just never gotten their chance at success."

Kantor did, in fact, become a very successful journalist, joining The New York Times in 2003 as editor of its Arts & Leisure section. She was 27 at the time. She went on to cover politics for the paper and wrote the book The Obamas, documenting Barack and Michelle Obama’s transition to life in the White House. 

In addition to covering Harvey Weinstein, Kantor has reported other stories that have made a real difference: She wrote an article in 2006 about the difficulties nursing mothers who work hourly jobs face in pumping breast milk on the job. Her reporting inspired the creation of a company that connects moms to more than 10,000 lactation stations.

Kantor continues to report for The New York Times, stating, “Whatever the topic, my mission is the same: to build people’s confidence in telling the truth, scrutinize the powerful, reflect the complexity and nuance of real life, never be intimidated, ensure that my sources stay safe, make independent assessments, and be fair to everyone involved.”

Megan Twohey

The daughter of journalists, Twohey grew up in a household where discussions about current events were the norm.  Her mother, Mary Jane, was a TV news producer and writer, and her father, John, worked as an editor and executive at The Chicago Tribune.

Twohey went to college at Georgetown University, telling the university’s magazine in 2020, “I was an idealist who was concerned about poverty and inequality.” Twohey initially thought she might pursue social work, teaching, or government work, but an “inspiring” college internship at Nightline changed her plans.

Twohey pursued a journalism career after graduating from college in 1998 and reported for publications like The Moscow News, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel and Chicago Tribune. In 2016, she joined The New York Times, where she continues to work. Her reporting on Harvey Weinstein is just one of many impactful stories she’s covered over the years.

Twohey states in her New York Times biography: “At every turn, I seek to hold powerful individuals and institutions to account.”