Nina Munk
Encyclopedia
Nina Munk is an American journalist and non-fiction author. She is a Contributing Editor at Vanity Fair
, where she writes about finance and business, and is the author of Fools Rush In: Jerry Levin, Steve Case, and the Unmaking of Time Warner.
and University of Toronto professor Linda Munk. She spent her childhood in Switzerland before moving to Toronto
for high school. She received a B.A. in comparative literature from Smith College
in 1988, an M.A. in French literature and language from Middlebury College
in 1989, and, in 1992, an M.S. with honors from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
where she was awarded the Philip Greer Memorial Scholarship for outstanding business and financial journalism. Munk lives in New York City.
as a Contributing Editor, she was a Senior Writer at Fortune and a Senior Editor at Forbes. Among other honors, she has won three Business Journalist of the Year Awards
and three Front Page Awards. Her article "Rich Harvard, Poor Harvard," published in the August 2009 issue of Vanity Fair, was nominated for the 2010 Gerald Loeb Award
.
Her book about the merger of AOL and Time Warner, Fools Rush In: Jerry Levin, Steve Case, and the Unmaking of AOL Time Warner, was published by HarperCollins
in 2004 and widely praised for its in-depth reporting. According to the New York Times Review of Books, it is "the best [book] so far" on the subject of AOL Time Warner. In 2008, Munk co-wrote The Art of Clairtone: The Making of Design Icon, a coffee-table book about the celebrated Canadian stereo manufacturer Clairtone Sound Corporation, a company co-founded by her father in 1958. Archival photographs, documents, and artifacts gathered for and used in The Art of Clairtone were displayed in an exhibition about Clairtone at the Design Exchange
museum in 2008.
Munk is currently writing a book for Doubleday about the crusade to end extreme poverty in Africa. To be published in 2011, the book was inspired by a profile of the economist Jeffrey Sachs
that Munk wrote for Vanity Fair in 2007.
As a sideline to her journalism career, Munk founded UrbanHound.com, a website for dog owners, in 2000. The website led to two spin-off books: Urbanhound: The New York City Dog's Ultimate Survival Guide, co-authored by Munk in 2001; and The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook, written by veterinarian Betsy Brevitz in 2009. But while Urbanhound.com was a critical success, Munk conceded to the New York Times that it never made much money. In November 2009, FetchDog, an e-commerce and catalog company based in Maine, acquired UrbanHound.com from Munk for an undisclosed sum.
Vanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
, where she writes about finance and business, and is the author of Fools Rush In: Jerry Levin, Steve Case, and the Unmaking of Time Warner.
Background
Munk was born in Canada to businessman and philanthropist Peter MunkPeter Munk
Peter Munk, CC is a Canadian businessman. He is the chairman and founder of the mining company Barrick Gold, the world's largest gold-mining corporation.-Early years:...
and University of Toronto professor Linda Munk. She spent her childhood in Switzerland before moving to Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
for high school. She received a B.A. in comparative literature from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1988, an M.A. in French literature and language from Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
in 1989, and, in 1992, an M.S. with honors from Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism
The Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism is one of Columbia's graduate and professional schools. It offers three degree programs: Master of Science in journalism , Master of Arts in journalism and a Ph.D. in communications...
where she was awarded the Philip Greer Memorial Scholarship for outstanding business and financial journalism. Munk lives in New York City.
Career
Munk's work has appeared in Vanity Fair, the New York Times, the New York Times Magazine, the New Yorker, Forbes, and Fortune. Before joining Vanity FairVanity Fair (magazine)
Vanity Fair is a magazine of pop culture, fashion, and current affairs published by Condé Nast. The present Vanity Fair has been published since 1983 and there have been editions for four European countries as well as the U.S. edition. This revived the title which had ceased publication in 1935...
as a Contributing Editor, she was a Senior Writer at Fortune and a Senior Editor at Forbes. Among other honors, she has won three Business Journalist of the Year Awards
Business Journalist of the Year Awards
The Business Journalist of the Year Awards are widely recognised as the most important global awards for business writers and broadcasters. They are the only awards for business writers that are open to journalists of all nationalities, and the only awards to cover the entire spectrum of business...
and three Front Page Awards. Her article "Rich Harvard, Poor Harvard," published in the August 2009 issue of Vanity Fair, was nominated for the 2010 Gerald Loeb Award
Gerald Loeb Award
The Gerald Loeb Award, also referred to as the Gerald Loeb Award for Distinguished Business and Financial Journalism, is a recognition of excellence in journalism, especially in the fields of business, finance and the economy. The award was established in 1957 by Gerald Loeb, a founding partner of...
.
Her book about the merger of AOL and Time Warner, Fools Rush In: Jerry Levin, Steve Case, and the Unmaking of AOL Time Warner, was published by HarperCollins
HarperCollins
HarperCollins is a publishing company owned by News Corporation. It is the combination of the publishers William Collins, Sons and Co Ltd, a British company, and Harper & Row, an American company, itself the result of an earlier merger of Harper & Brothers and Row, Peterson & Company. The worldwide...
in 2004 and widely praised for its in-depth reporting. According to the New York Times Review of Books, it is "the best [book] so far" on the subject of AOL Time Warner. In 2008, Munk co-wrote The Art of Clairtone: The Making of Design Icon, a coffee-table book about the celebrated Canadian stereo manufacturer Clairtone Sound Corporation, a company co-founded by her father in 1958. Archival photographs, documents, and artifacts gathered for and used in The Art of Clairtone were displayed in an exhibition about Clairtone at the Design Exchange
Design Exchange
The Design Exchange is a design museum and centre for the advancement and promotion of Canadian design located in the historic Toronto Stock Exchange building. The DX hosts over 50 programs every year that promote the value of design as it contributes to the economy, quality of life and environment...
museum in 2008.
Munk is currently writing a book for Doubleday about the crusade to end extreme poverty in Africa. To be published in 2011, the book was inspired by a profile of the economist Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey Sachs
Jeffrey David Sachs is an American economist and Director of The Earth Institute at Columbia University. One of the youngest economics professors in the history of Harvard University, Sachs became known for his role as an adviser to Eastern European and developing country governments in the...
that Munk wrote for Vanity Fair in 2007.
As a sideline to her journalism career, Munk founded UrbanHound.com, a website for dog owners, in 2000. The website led to two spin-off books: Urbanhound: The New York City Dog's Ultimate Survival Guide, co-authored by Munk in 2001; and The Complete Healthy Dog Handbook, written by veterinarian Betsy Brevitz in 2009. But while Urbanhound.com was a critical success, Munk conceded to the New York Times that it never made much money. In November 2009, FetchDog, an e-commerce and catalog company based in Maine, acquired UrbanHound.com from Munk for an undisclosed sum.