Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists from The New York Times, delve into their groundbreaking investigation of Harvey Weinstein's abuses, igniting the #MeToo movement. They reflect on the challenges of reporting and the immense courage shown by Zelda Perkins and Rowena Chiu, former Weinstein assistants who broke their silence against powerful adversaries. The discussion underscores the emotional toll of secrecy, the need for systemic change regarding NDAs, and the importance of empowering women to speak their truths in the face of injustice.
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question_answer ANECDOTE
Rumors and Protection
Rumors about Weinstein existed for decades within the film industry and his company.
Despite this, the allegations took a long time to surface publicly due to systemic protection.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Initial Contact
Laura Madden was approached by Jodi Kantor 25 years after the incident.
Kantor's sensitive approach and trust-building helped Madden feel safe to share her story.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Rowena Chiu's Silence
Rowena Chiu felt terrified when approached by reporters due to her NDA and personal considerations.
She initially chose silence to protect her family and career, prioritizing her immediate needs.
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Breaking the Sexual Harassment Story That Helped Ignite a Movement
Megan Twohey
Jodi Kantor
She Said is a thrilling account of the investigative journalism that led to the exposure of Harvey Weinstein's decades-long history of sexual abuse and harassment. Written by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, the book chronicles their meticulous investigation, including secret meetings, harrowing phone calls, and private text exchanges with A-list actresses and other sources. It also explores the systemic structures of power that enabled Weinstein's behavior and the broader impact of the #MeToo movement, including the testimony of Christine Blasey Ford against Brett Kavanaugh. The book is praised for its detailed and suspenseful narrative, offering insights into the rigorous process of quality reporting and the significant cultural shifts it helped catalyze.
Equal
Carrie Gracie
In 'Equal', Carrie Gracie recounts her battle against unequal pay at the BBC, weaving together her personal story with historical, academic, and legal insights into gender inequality. The book serves as both a memoir and a guide for achieving pay equality, offering advice for women, men, and employers alike.
Intelligent Times is a live event series collaboration between The New York Times and Intelligence Squared, bringing together leading New York Times journalists and thought leaders to discuss the key issues facing the globe today. On October 5th 2017, The New York Times published a story that helped set off a change in the relationship between men and women in the workplace and beyond. The piece, by Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, broke the story of the Harvey Weinstein sexual misconduct allegations. Within days, women were coming forward with their own stories of harassment and abuse, igniting the global #MeToo movement. For the launch of our new series, “Intelligent Times” – a partnership between Intelligence Squared and The New York Times – we brought Kantor and Twohey to London for the first time since the story was published. They were joined on stage by three of the women who broke their long-buried silence over the Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations: Rowena Chiu, Laura Madden and Zelda Perkins, who all worked for Weinstein in the 1990s. While many of the women who went on the record for Kantor and Twohey were Hollywood stars accustomed to being in the spotlight, these three accusers showed extraordinary courage in giving up their anonymity in order to pursue justice and try to change a system that many argue is still rigged in favour of sexual aggressors. The event was chaired by BBC News Presenter Carrie Gracie.
Intelligence Squared 
