Laurie Penny
Encyclopedia
Laurie Penny is a British columnist
, blogger
and author.
. She has written about her hospitalisation at seventeen for anorexia
and subsequent recovery.
She studied English at Wadham College
, Oxford, graduating in 2007. Whilst a student she joined and performed in a burlesque
troupe, and was a committee member and appeared in amateur dramatic productions with the Oxford University Light Entertainment Society. She then completed her NCTJ
journalism training certificate in London.
in 2010. She began her career as a staff writer at One in Four magazine and then worked as a reporter and sub-editor for the socialist newspaper The Morning Star
. She has written columns and features for several publications, and is a columnist for the New Statesman
and regular contributor to The Guardian
.
Penny is the author of the Zero Books publication Meat Market: Female Flesh Under Capitalism (2011). In it she mounts an attack on liberal feminism, which sees embracing the consumer choice offered by capitalism as the path to female emancipation.
In April 2011, Penny presented the Channel 4
Dispatches
programme "Cashing In on Degrees", and appeared on the same channel's satirical
current affairs
programme 10 O'Clock Live
. and BBC Two
's Newsnight
.
In November 2011, Penny was selected by Truthdig
as "Truthdigger of the Week" for the week of November 25th.
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
, blogger
Blog
A blog is a type of website or part of a website supposed to be updated with new content from time to time. Blogs are usually maintained by an individual with regular entries of commentary, descriptions of events, or other material such as graphics or video. Entries are commonly displayed in...
and author.
Early life and education
Penny was born in London and grew up in Brighton. She attended Brighton CollegeBrighton College
Brighton College is an institution divided between a Senior School known simply as Brighton College, the Prep School and the Pre-Prep School. All of these schools are co-educational independent schools in Brighton, England, sited immediately next to each another. The Senior School caters for...
. She has written about her hospitalisation at seventeen for anorexia
Anorexia nervosa
Anorexia nervosa is an eating disorder characterized by refusal to maintain a healthy body weight and an obsessive fear of gaining weight. Although commonly called "anorexia", that term on its own denotes any symptomatic loss of appetite and is not strictly accurate...
and subsequent recovery.
She studied English at Wadham College
Wadham College, Oxford
Wadham College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, located at the southern end of Parks Road in central Oxford. It was founded by Nicholas and Dorothy Wadham, wealthy Somerset landowners, during the reign of King James I...
, Oxford, graduating in 2007. Whilst a student she joined and performed in a burlesque
Burlesque
Burlesque is a literary, dramatic or musical work intended to cause laughter by caricaturing the manner or spirit of serious works, or by ludicrous treatment of their subjects...
troupe, and was a committee member and appeared in amateur dramatic productions with the Oxford University Light Entertainment Society. She then completed her NCTJ
National Council for the Training of Journalists
The National Council for the Training of Journalists was founded in 1951 as an organisation to oversee the training of journalists for the newspaper industry in the United Kingdom and is now playing a role in the wider media.-Purpose:...
journalism training certificate in London.
Career
Penny's blog, "Penny Red", was launched in 2007 and was shortlisted for the Orwell PrizeOrwell Prize
The Orwell Prize used to be regarded as the pre-eminent British prize for political writing.Three prizes are awarded each year: one for a book, one for journalism and another for blogging...
in 2010. She began her career as a staff writer at One in Four magazine and then worked as a reporter and sub-editor for the socialist newspaper The Morning Star
The Morning Star
The Morning Star is a left wing British daily tabloid newspaper with a focus on social and trade union issues. Articles and comment columns are contributed by writers from socialist, social democratic, green and religious perspectives....
. She has written columns and features for several publications, and is a columnist for the New Statesman
New Statesman
New Statesman is a British centre-left political and cultural magazine published weekly in London. Founded in 1913, and connected with leading members of the Fabian Society, the magazine reached a circulation peak in the late 1960s....
and regular contributor to The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
.
Penny is the author of the Zero Books publication Meat Market: Female Flesh Under Capitalism (2011). In it she mounts an attack on liberal feminism, which sees embracing the consumer choice offered by capitalism as the path to female emancipation.
In April 2011, Penny presented the Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
Dispatches
Dispatches (TV series)
Dispatches is the British television current affairs documentary series on Channel 4, first transmitted in 1987. The programme covers issues about British society, politics, health, religion, international current affairs and the environment, usually featuring a mole in an organisation.-Awards:*...
programme "Cashing In on Degrees", and appeared on the same channel's satirical
Satire
Satire is primarily a literary genre or form, although in practice it can also be found in the graphic and performing arts. In satire, vices, follies, abuses, and shortcomings are held up to ridicule, ideally with the intent of shaming individuals, and society itself, into improvement...
current affairs
Current affairs
Current affairs can refer to:*Current affairs : a genre of broadcast journalism* an approximate synonym for current events* an approximate synonym for politics* "Current Affairs", a song by Zion I from Heroes in the City of Dope...
programme 10 O'Clock Live
10 O'Clock Live
10 O'Clock Live is a British satirical comedy/news television programme presented by Charlie Brooker, Jimmy Carr, Lauren Laverne and David Mitchell....
. and BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
's Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
.
In November 2011, Penny was selected by Truthdig
Truthdig
Truthdig is a Web magazine that provides a mix of long-form articles, interviews, and blog-like commentary on current events, delivered from a progressive point of view. The site is built around major "digs" led by authorities in their fields who write multifaceted pieces about contemporary, often...
as "Truthdigger of the Week" for the week of November 25th.