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Betty Medsger

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Betty Medsger is the former chair of the Department of Journalism and Professor Emerita at San Francisco State University.[1][2]

Early life

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Betty Medsger was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, on March 14, 1942, to Alice and Richard Medsger. She obtained a degree from Grove City College in 1964. She obtained a degree from San Francisco State University in 1982.[3]

Career

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1964-1966, Medsger was a reporter for The Tribune-Democrat. 1967, Medsger was a medical writer for Temple University. 1967-1969, Medsger was a reporter for Philadelphia Bulletin. 1970-1973, Medsger was a reporter for The Washington Post.

During the 1971 Muhammad Ali - Joe Frazier heavyweight fight, eight burglars stole files from the FBI office in Media, Pennsylvania. In 1971, Medsger, a Washington Post investigative reporter, was a recipient[4] of the FBI files stolen[5] from Media, Pennsylvania.[6]

Medsger worked with The Freedom Forum on A Study of Journalism Education.[7]

Works

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Medsger is the author of several books, including The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI.[8][9][10][11] Medsger was instrumental in uncovering the work of COINTELPRO and secret activities by the FBI.[12][13][14]

Personal life

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Betty Medsger was married to Ben Bagdikian.[15] Betty Medsger married John T. Racanelli.[16]

See also

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References

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  1. ↑ Gaffni, Matthias (7 March 2021). "'Something had to be done'". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  2. ↑ "Journalism Professor Emerita Betty Medsger Broke Story of 1971 Break-In to FBI Office". San Francisco State University. Archived from the original on 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  3. ↑ "Betty Medsger". PEN America. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  4. ↑ "Betty Medsger". The Conversation (website). 30 October 2019. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  5. ↑ The Citizen's Committee to Investigate the FBI (March 1972). The Complete Collection of Political Documents Ripped off from the FBI Office in Media, PA, March 8 1971. WIN (pacifist magazine), War Resisters League – via archive.org.
  6. ↑ "Betty Medsger". The Nation. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  7. ↑ "Letter to Betty Medsger on journalism courses; Letter to The Freedom Forum on A Study of Journalism Education, discussing the importance of teaching ethics and integrity in journalism education". archive.org. 22 May 1995. Retrieved 15 August 2026 – via UCLA Irv and Xiaoyan Zhao Drasnin Communication Archive.
  8. ↑ Medsger, Betty (2014). The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret F.B.I.. New York: Alfred A. Knopf. ISBN 978-0-307-96295-9.
  9. ↑ "Betty Medsger". Investigating Power. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  10. ↑ Garrow, David (2014-01-23). "Review: 'The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI' by Betty Medsger". Washington Post. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  11. ↑ Shaffer, Robert (2015-10-23). "BettyMedsger. The Burglary: The Discovery of J. Edgar Hoover's Secret FBI. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2014". Peace & Change. 40 (4): 572–575. doi:10.1111/pech.12155.
  12. ↑ Oshinsky, David (2014-01-31). "Breaking In". New York Times. Retrieved 8 November 2018.
  13. ↑ Johnson, Carrie. "The Secret Burglary That Exposed J. Edgar Hoover's FBI". NPR. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
  14. ↑ Oppenheimer, Martin (2014). "How We Found Out About COINTELPRO". Monthly Review. 66 (4): 54–60. doi:10.14452/MR-066-04-2014-08_7.
  15. ↑ Nolte, Carl (12 March 2016). "Ben Bagdikian, noted media critic, dies at 96". SFGATE. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
  16. ↑ Egelko, Bob (14 October 2017). "John Racanelli, former California appeals court justice, dies at 91". SFGATE. Retrieved 15 August 2026.
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‘Something had to be done’ - newspaper article about the original burglary, how Medsger became involved in reporting on the story, and how she learned who the burglars were

Papers

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