Edward Wyckoff Williams

Last updated
Edward Wyckoff Williams
Born (1977-02-06) February 6, 1977 (age 47)
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater Yale (1998)
Oxford (2003)
OccupationJournalist

Edward Wyckoff Williams (born 6 February 1978) is an American television producer, correspondent, columnist, political analyst and former investment banker; whose work has appeared on NBC, MSNBC, Al Jazeera, BuzzFeed, PBS, ABC, CNN, CBS, BBC, VICE Media, NPR and national syndicated radio. [1]

Contents

Early life and education

Williams was born in Newark, New Jersey, to Edward Wyckoff Williams (1951–2008) and Audrey (née Felton), and was educated at the preparatory school Newark Academy in Livingston, New Jersey, and then Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, where he was president of the Freshman Class Council. He received his Bachelors in Economics and History from Yale in 1998. While at Yale, Williams interned at the White House in the office of Vice President Al Gore, serving on the staff of Gregory Simon, Gore's Domestic Policy Advisor. He later worked as a legislative aide for Senator Frank Lautenberg.

Williams attended the University of Oxford in England, where he was a member of Oriel College. He completed his Masters of Philosophy degree in Comparative Social Policy from Oxford in 2003 and then began his professional career, working in management consulting and investment banking in the City of London. [2]

Career

Williams has been a contributing editor to The Root , [1] a magazine for African-American news and culture, and a featured columnist for The Washington Post , Slate , Salon , [3] The Advocate , Out Magazine , [4] VICE Media , [5] Ebony Magazine , The Grio [6] and The Huffington Post . [7]

Williams' work has focused on a range of socio-political issues, with interviews of major political figures and notable personalities including U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder; [8] New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio; [9] President Barack Obama's Cabinet Secretary Julian Castro; [10] comedian and actor Chris Rock; [11] former Newark Mayor and current New Jersey Senator Cory Booker; [12] Martin Luther King III [13] activist and eldest son of the civil rights leader; Sybrina Fulton [14] and Tracy Martin, [15] the parents of slain teenager Trayvon Martin; Kentucky's Democratic Governor Steve Beshear on his role in the implementation of Obamacare; [16] Congressman Steve Israel, [17] chairman of the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee; and National Football League wide receiver Laveranues Coles about his career and surviving childhood sexual abuse. [18]

Williams was a regular guest on nationally syndicated radio programs, most notably Chicago's WVON 1690AM; NPR Baltimore Affiliate WEAA 88.9FM; [19] Radio One Inside Detroit with Mildred Gaddis; California's KPFA 94.1FM, Hard Knock Radio and New York's Equality Pride Radio WWRL 1600AM. His work was also featured on National Public Radio by NPR's Talk of the Nation with Neal Conan.

Williams was a contributor to Al Jazeera America and appeared on Al Jazeera, MSNBC, ABC, CBS, BBC and CNN as a political commentator discussing a range of topics including gay and minority rights, healthcare, education, immigration reform, international affairs and President Barack Obama.

In January 2015, Williams received two GLAAD Media Award nominations, the first in Outstanding Television Journalism for "Gay and Muslim in America", [20] a piece he produced and reported for AlJazeera; and the second in Outstanding Digital Journalism for a written piece, "Black Parents, Gay Sons and Redefining Masculinity". [21] He was the only nominee that year whose work was honored twice. [22]

That same year, the United Nations featured Williams in its United Nations Free & Equal campaign highlighting accomplished journalists, activists and laypersons for the International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia. [23] The historic video promotion appeared in New York's Times Square on the Reuters and NASDAQ screens and included then UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon.

In 2017, Williams was named senior producer for talent and booking at BuzzFeed ahead of the launch of their daily news and entertainment programming. [24] During his tenure he produced segments with major celebrities and politicians, including Dolly Parton, Angela Bassett, Priyanka Chopra, Seth Rogen, Madeleine Albright, Jada Pinkett-Smith, Lena Waithe, Gina Rodriguez, Elijah Wood, Anthony Bourdain, Michael Phelps, Gabrielle Union, Rob Reiner, Sting, Clive Davis, Jim Gaffigan, Terry Crews, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Erykah Badu, Mark Ruffalo, Elizabeth Banks, Chrissy Teigen, Questlove, Senator Kamala Harris, Issa Rae and many others. His work was honored at the 10th Annual Shorty Awards as a finalist in Live News Coverage; and the 2018 Webby Awards for news on social platforms. [25] [26]

In 2019, Williams joined VICE Media as senior producer to head talent for its new expanded television and digital programming. [2]

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References

  1. 1 2 "Edward Wyckoff Williams". The Root. Archived from the original on 21 May 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Edward Wyckoff Williams". LinkedIn .
  3. ↑ "Edward Wyckoff Williams's Articles at Salon.com". www.salon.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  4. ↑ "Edward Wyckoff Williams". www.out.com. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  5. ↑ "Edward Wyckoff Williams". Vice. 21 November 2016. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  6. ↑ "About Ewyckoffwilliams". TheGrio. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  7. ↑ "Edward Wyckoff Williams". HuffPost. Archived from the original on 26 January 2013.
  8. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (24 April 2015). "Eric Holder: The Exit Interview". Advocate. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  9. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (15 August 2013). "Can Bill de Blasio Usher in a New NYC?". The Root. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  10. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (18 February 2015). ""A problem no one should ignore": HUD Secretary Julian Castro unloads to Salon on gay rights, homelessness & America". Salon. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  11. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (10 September 2013). "Using Humor in the Dialogue on Race". The Root. Archived from the original on 17 April 2014.
  12. ↑ Land, Monica; Williams, Edward Wyckoff (23 May 2012). "Cory Booker on Bain controversy: 'My loyalties are clear'". TheGrio. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  13. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (28 August 2013). "MLK III: Father's Dream Still Unfulfilled". The Root. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  14. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (18 December 2012). "Gun Control: Ask Shooting Victim's Mom". Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  15. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (10 June 2013). "Trayvon's Dad: 'My Kid Was Perfect to Me'". The Root. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  16. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (1 November 2013). "Success for Kentucky's Copy of Obamacare". The Root. Archived from the original on 22 February 2014.
  17. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (30 May 2013). "What's at Stake for Obama in 2014". The Root. Archived from the original on 23 February 2014.
  18. ↑ Williams, Edward Wyckoff (2 July 2012). "Caged Birds and Broken Wings:Laveranues Coles on Black Boys and the Silence of Child Molestation". Ebony. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  19. ↑ "April 11, 2012 – Segment 2". Marc Steiner. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
  20. ↑ ""Gay and Muslim in America" - al Jazeera - Edward Wyckoff Williams reports". YouTube . 13 July 2014.
  21. ↑ "Being Gay Isn't the Antithesis of Becoming a Strong Black Man". The Root. Archived from the original on 2015-01-22. Retrieved 2015-01-23.
  22. ↑ "The Nominees for the 33rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards". 15 September 2021.
  23. ↑ "For IDAHOT, UN asks people to look beyond the labels". 14 May 2015.
  24. ↑ http://mediawiredaily.com/2017/08/your-media-morning-buzzfeed-backs-down-cnns-boss-is-stressed-out-instyles-september-issue-is-number-one.html Archived 2017-09-25 at the Wayback Machine
  25. ↑ "AM to DM by BuzzFeed News - The Shorty Awards". shortyawards.com.
  26. ↑ "NEW Webby Gallery + Index". NEW Webby Gallery + Index.
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