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Kara Swisher

From Alfawiki
Kara Swisher
Born (1962-12-11) December 11, 1962 (age 63)
Roslyn Harbor, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)Journalist, podcast host
Years active1994–present
Known forTechnology journalism, Recode, On with Kara Swisher, Pivot
Notable workaol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads, and Made Millions in the War for the Web, There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story

Kara Anne Swisher ( ; born December 11, 1962) is a prominent American journalist who has focused on the internet business sector since 1994. As of 2023, she serves as a contributing editor at New York Magazine, hosts the podcast On with Kara Swisher, and co-hosts the show Pivot.

In 2014, Swisher co-launched Vox Media's Recode alongside Walt Mossberg. Between 2018 and 2022, she contributed opinion pieces to The New York Times before rejoining Vox Media. Her writings have also been featured in publications such as The Wall Street Journal and The Washington Post. Additionally, she co-produced the influential All Things Digital conference and its accompanying online platform, All Things D.

Early life and education

Swisher spent her early years in Roslyn Harbor, Long Island, New York, until her father passed away when she was five years old. Following this, her family relocated to Princeton, New Jersey, where she was raised. In a 2021 conversation with Bryan Elliott for Inc., Swisher revealed that she initially aimed for a career in military intelligence or the CIA.

She pursued her undergraduate studies at Georgetown University's Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service, contributing to student publications such as The Hoya and The Georgetown Voice. Internships at The Washington Post during her sophomore and junior years played a pivotal role in confirming her path in journalism. She graduated with a bachelor's degree in 1984 and obtained a Master of Science in journalism from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism in 1985. Swisher also undertook studies on misinformation and propaganda at Duke University, subjects she regards as fundamental to her journalistic approach.

Following the collapse of the Berlin Wall, Swisher was awarded a fellowship that allowed her to reside for nearly a year in Berlin's Kreuzberg district, preparing for a potential role within "the security apparatus," although she never became fluent in German. She gained experience working at the Washington City Paper before returning to The Washington Post in 1986 as a news aide on the Style desk, subsequently covering local retail stories.

The Washington Post

Swisher attributes much of her technological expertise to her tenure at The Post, where she first gained national recognition by covering AOL and the dot-com era during the 1990s. While assigned to the business section, she departed briefly to author AOL.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads, and Made Millions in the War for the Web, during which time she connected with veteran technology journalist Walt Mossberg, who later became a key collaborator.

The Wall Street Journal

Kara Swisher joined The Wall Street Journal in 1997, working out of their San Francisco office where she launched Boom Town, a column dedicated to Silicon Valley’s companies and culture. This column regularly appeared on the front page of the Marketplace section as well as online. She earned recognition as a top internet journalist from Industry Standard magazine.

In 2003, Swisher partnered with Mossberg to initiate the All Things Digital conference, which later expanded into the AllThingsD.com blog. The conference became known for featuring exclusive interviews with prominent technology figures like Bill Gates, Steve Jobs, and Larry Ellison.

Books

Swisher authored aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads and Made Millions in the War for the Web (1998), followed by its sequel, There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for a Digital Future (2003). In 2021, she secured a two-book memoir contract with Simon & Schuster, culminating in the release of Burn Book: A Tech Love Story in February 2024.

Recode

On January 1, 2014, Swisher and Mossberg introduced the Recode website from San Francisco. That spring, they held the first Code Conference near Los Angeles. Vox Media acquired Recode in May 2015. The following month marked the launch of Recode Decode, a weekly podcast hosted by Swisher featuring interviews with technology leaders; Stewart Butterfield was the inaugural guest.

In September 2018, Recode and Vox Media debuted Pivot, a semi-weekly news analysis podcast co-hosted by Swisher alongside Scott Galloway. By April 2020, Pivot transitioned into New York Magazine's platform, dropping the Recode name while Swisher took on an editor-at-large position there. In May 2020, Swisher revealed she had not been involved in Recode’s editorial activities for several years.

The New York Times

Swisher began contributing to the New York Times' Opinion section in August 2018, concentrating on technology-related subjects such as Elon Musk, Instagram’s Kevin Systrom exit, Google censorship issues, and digital rights.

In September 2020, the Times launched Sway, a semiweekly podcast hosted by Swisher that explores themes of power and influence. Its debut guest was then-Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. Subsequent notable guests have included voting rights advocate Stacey Abrams, Airbnb CEO Brian Chesky, Apple CEO Tim Cook, entrepreneur Mark Cuban, philanthropist Bill Gates, former Senator Amy Klobuchar, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, filmmaker Spike Lee, and social activist Monica Lewinsky.

Swisher announced her departure from The New York Times in June 2022 to embark on a new venture with New York magazine.

Vox Media

Joining New York Magazine as editor-at-large, Swisher launched her podcast On with Kara Swisher in September 2022, premiering its first episode on September 26.

Other activities

Swisher has served as a judge for Mayor Michael Bloomberg's NYC BigApps competition. She has openly expressed candid opinions about tech personalities, often highlighting their lack of experience.

She appeared as herself in a 2015 episode of HBO's Silicon Valley. In 2018, she wrote an article for Slate detailing her time on The McLaughlin Group, accusing host John McLaughlin of abusive conduct.

In January 2019, Swisher attracted attention for a controversial tweet related to a Gillette commercial and an incident at the Lincoln Memorial; she subsequently apologized for her remarks.

Swisher hosted official companion podcasts for HBO's Succession seasons three and four in 2021 and 2023. Her 2024 book, Burn Book: A Tech Love Story, received criticism for being perceived as "anti-worker."

Plan to Run for Mayor of San Francisco

In 2016, Swisher announced intentions to run for San Francisco mayor as a member of the Democratic Party in 2023. Her proposed platform focused on progressive initiatives including expanding housing availability, legalizing marijuana, and reforming labor laws to address challenges posed by the gig economy prevalent in San Francisco.

We all complain about politicians and how poor things are, but I believe it is crucial to stop griping and take action if we desire change. This election cycle has resonated deeply with me about professional politicians and how we must rethink who should serve and citizens’ responsibilities. Good governance plays an essential role, and I dislike this wholesale dismantling of it. Also, I often consider the growing divide between tech companies and the city itself. Though I don’t yet have solutions.

Personal life

Swisher married engineer and tech executive Megan Smith in Marin County in 1999 before same-sex marriage was legally recognized in California. They held additional legal ceremonies in Niagara Falls (2003), San Francisco (2004), and again in 2008 prior to California Proposition 8 which invalidated same-sex marriages. The couple had two sons named Louis and Alexander. They separated in 2014 and finalized their divorce by 2017. On October 3, 2020, Swisher married Amanda Katz; they have two children together.

In 2011, while traveling to Hong Kong, Swisher experienced a transient ischemic attack ("mini-stroke") which required hospitalization and anticoagulant therapy. She has since spoken publicly about this health event.

Known for wearing dark aviator sunglasses indoors due to light sensitivity, Swisher was raised Catholic but now identifies as agnostic.

Bibliography

  • aol.com: How Steve Case Beat Bill Gates, Nailed the Netheads, and Made Millions in the War for the Web. New York: Random House International, 1999.
  • Kara Swisher and Lisa Dickey, There Must Be a Pony in Here Somewhere: The AOL Time Warner Debacle and the Quest for the Digital Future. New York: Three Rivers Press, 2003.
  • Burn Book: A Tech Love Story. New York: Simon & Schuster, 2024.

Awards

External links

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