Mary Kay Magistad
Encyclopedia
Mary Kay Magistad is an award-winning American journalist and correspondent.
Magistad has covered Northeast Asia
for the Public Radio International
program, PRI's The World
, a co-production between the BBC World Service
, PRI, and WGBH Radio Boston since 1996. In that capacity she has covered "the geopolitical struggle over North Korea's weapons program, to the SARS epidemic, to tensions in Kashmir, Magistad has brought local perspective to stories with international impact." She has also been a correspondent and reporter for National Public Radio, The Washington Post, and the Christian Science Monitor. She was responsible for opening the first Beijing bureau for National Public Radio. She has covered stories as varied as the rise of China
as an economic power over the last decade, the fabric of Chinese society, Chinese war games preceding Taiwan
's first presidential elections, the crackdown on the Falun Gong
spiritual sect, and increasing tensions in the Sino-US relationship. She has also been a regular correspondent in Africa
, where she has covered Ethiopian famine, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and the Polisario's forgotten war in the Western Sahara
. She was a 1999-2000 Nieman fellow and a 2001-2002 Radcliffe fellow, both at Harvard University
.
Magistad shared a 2006 Scripps-Howard National Journalism Award
with three colleagues at the PRI's The World for their series on stem cell research in China (Magistad's contribution), Israel
, Britain
and the United States
. The series, which also won a 2006 duPont-Columbia silver baton, offered a primer on stem cell research, as the interests of science, medicine, politics and religion converge and conflict in the ethical debate over their use.
Magistad was trained in journalism receiving her BS in journalism at Northwestern University
. She also has an MA in international relations at the University of Sussex
in England, and completed a Rotary Foundation fellowship.
Magistad has covered Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia
Northeast Asia and Northeastern Asia refers to the northeastern subregion of Asia. Though the precise definition of Northeast Asia changes according to context, it always includes Japan and the Korean Peninsula, and is sometimes used to refer to these two regions exclusively.-Definitions:The...
for the Public Radio International
Public Radio International
Public Radio International is a Minneapolis-based American public radio organization, with locations in Boston, New York, London and Beijing. PRI's tagline is "Hear a different voice." PRI is a major public media content creator and also distributes programs from many sources...
program, PRI's The World
The World (radio program)
PRI's The World is a global news radio, audio and multi-platform program created by Public Radio International based on the program's congruence with PRI's mission, and in order to fulfill the critical need for more original global news created for and provided to Americans. This was partly a...
, a co-production between the BBC World Service
BBC World Service
The BBC World Service is the world's largest international broadcaster, broadcasting in 27 languages to many parts of the world via analogue and digital shortwave, internet streaming and podcasting, satellite, FM and MW relays...
, PRI, and WGBH Radio Boston since 1996. In that capacity she has covered "the geopolitical struggle over North Korea's weapons program, to the SARS epidemic, to tensions in Kashmir, Magistad has brought local perspective to stories with international impact." She has also been a correspondent and reporter for National Public Radio, The Washington Post, and the Christian Science Monitor. She was responsible for opening the first Beijing bureau for National Public Radio. She has covered stories as varied as the rise of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
as an economic power over the last decade, the fabric of Chinese society, Chinese war games preceding Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
's first presidential elections, the crackdown on the Falun Gong
Falun Gong
Falun Gong is a spiritual discipline first introduced in China in 1992 by its founder, Li Hongzhi, through public lectures. It combines the practice of meditation and slow-moving qigong exercises with the moral philosophy...
spiritual sect, and increasing tensions in the Sino-US relationship. She has also been a regular correspondent in Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
, where she has covered Ethiopian famine, the aftermath of genocide in Rwanda, and the Polisario's forgotten war in the Western Sahara
Western Sahara
Western Sahara is a disputed territory in North Africa, bordered by Morocco to the north, Algeria to the northeast, Mauritania to the east and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the west. Its surface area amounts to . It is one of the most sparsely populated territories in the world, mainly...
. She was a 1999-2000 Nieman fellow and a 2001-2002 Radcliffe fellow, both at Harvard University
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
.
Magistad shared a 2006 Scripps-Howard National Journalism Award
National Journalism Awards
The National Journalism Awards are awards of US$10,000 to $25,000 in American journalism given by the Scripps Howard Foundation that recognize the best work in journalism in 17 categories, including: human interest writing; environmental and public service reporting; investigative reporting;...
with three colleagues at the PRI's The World for their series on stem cell research in China (Magistad's contribution), Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. The series, which also won a 2006 duPont-Columbia silver baton, offered a primer on stem cell research, as the interests of science, medicine, politics and religion converge and conflict in the ethical debate over their use.
Magistad was trained in journalism receiving her BS in journalism at Northwestern University
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston and Chicago, Illinois, USA. Northwestern has eleven undergraduate, graduate, and professional schools offering 124 undergraduate degrees and 145 graduate and professional degrees....
. She also has an MA in international relations at the University of Sussex
University of Sussex
The University of Sussex is an English public research university situated next to the East Sussex village of Falmer, within the city of Brighton and Hove. The University received its Royal Charter in August 1961....
in England, and completed a Rotary Foundation fellowship.