Farai Chideya

A modern day wordsmith and humanitarian who can go from serious journalism to free spirited fiction, Farai Chideya has worked in print, television, online, and radio. Chideya's stereotype-shattering book, Don’t Believe the Hype: Fighting Cultural Misinformation about African Americans, is now in its eighth printing. Using statistics, she systematically undercuts the argument that African Americans are at the root of problems like crime, welfare, and drugs. Her book, The Color of Our Future, was named one of the best books for teens by the New York Public Library and Trust: Reaching the 100 Million Missing Voters, shows why half of Americans are cut out of the political system—and what we can do about it. Chideya recently released her first novel, Kiss the Sky, which author Colin Channer declares “may end up being a defining novel of the Obama generation.” Her latest book will deal with this generation’s political worldview.

Chideya has made a significant impact through national broadcast media, hosting NPR’s award-winning “News & Notes” from 2006 to 2009. She currently has a new radio show in development. Chideya has been a television correspondent for ABC News, anchored the primetime program Pure Oxygen on the Oxygen channel, and contributed commentaries to CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and BET. She covered the 1996 presidential election during her time as a CNN political analyst and was named to The New York Daily News’ “Dream Team” of political reporters and commentators. She can also be seen as a frequent guest on HBO’s Real Time with Bill Maher.

Chideya founded PopandPolitics.com in 1995, an online journal for young Americans that remains one of the longest running commentary sites on the Internet. PopandPolitics.com provides an antidote to mainstream political and cultural reporting. Her blog’s straight-up, non-partisan style has earned Chideya several awards, including a MOBE IT Innovator Award, being named one of Alternet's New Media Heroes, and a ranking in PoliticsOnline.com’s worldwide survey of “25 Who Are Changing the World of Internet and Politics.”

Chideya began her journalism career as a researcher and reporter at Newsweek magazine, which named her to its Century Club of “100 People to Watch.” Her fearless attitude toward journalism has led her to profile white supremacists for Mademoiselle, examine child sexual abuse allegations for The Los Angeles Times, and probe affirmative action for The New York Times. Chideya’s honors include a National Education Reporting Award, a WIN Young Woman of Achievement Award, and a GLAAD Award. She currently serves on the Journalism Advisory Committee of the Knight Foundation, which disburses over $20 million in journalism related grants each year. Chideya speaks passionately about the power of students and grassroots communities to make their own media in order to shape society.