Francesca Fiorentini
Fiorentini in 2022
Born
Francesca Kate Fiorentini

(1983-09-10) September 10, 1983 (age 40)
Palo Alto, California, U.S.
Citizenship
EducationMenlo-Atherton High School
Alma materNew York University (BA)
Known forContributor to The Young Turks
Spouse
Matt Lieb
​
(m. 2022)​
Children1
Websitewww.francescafiorentini.com

Francesca Kate Fiorentini (born September 10, 1983)[1] is an American journalist, political activist and comedian.[2]

Early life and education

Fiorentini is a second generation American and daughter of immigrants. Her mother is Chinese and her father is Italian. She grew up in Palo Alto, California, and graduated from Menlo-Atherton High School in 2001.[3][4]

From 2001 to 2005, Fiorentini studied Feminist Theory and Colonial Studies at New York University. Her BA thesis was entitled 'Ideas for Action: Postcolonial Feminism'.[5]

Career

Fiorentini began her journalistic work in 2004 with War Resisters League and Left Turn.[6]

From 2013 to 2019, Fiorentini was a host and senior producer at AJ+, the digital media outlet of Al Jazeera. She was the host of AJ+ show Newsbroke.[7] The channel focuses on comedic spins on current events, with a focus on outreach to younger audiences.[8] The program covered issues both current events, as well as larger issues such as white fragility,[9] labour unionism,[10] toxic masculinity, George Soros, and gun control. Newsbroke was shortlisted for an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Short-Form Variety Series in 2018.[11][12] The program was discontinued during June 2018.

Since 2016, Fiorentini has appeared on progressive network The Young Turks as a guest and contributor. She is one of the hosts of The Young Turks show The Damage Report hosted by John Iadarola.[13]

In December 2019, Fiorentini hosted the special Red, White & Who on MSNBC discussing the state of healthcare in the United States and the importance of healthcare to American voters beyond the partisan divide. The program travelled to the states of New York, Texas and Utah to talk to voters and featured interviews with political figures such as Senator Bernie Sanders.[14] Fiorentini concluded in the program that "healthcare in America is often overpriced and even dysfunctional, but it’s the lack of transparency that can be the most insidious".[15]

References

  1. ^ Francesca Fiorentini [@franifio] (September 11, 2021). "For my birthday I want to speak to the manager of @Google and ask them to stop aging me. It's 38 bitches. 1983!!!! (28 if we're being honest about my next level skincare game.)" (Tweet). Retrieved February 8, 2023 – via Twitter.
  2. ^ Levin, Rachel (November 6, 2020). "Commentary: The word of the week is 'eke' (and also 'eek')". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  3. ^ "Graduation 2001_ Menlo-Atherton High School". The Almanac. June 13, 2001. Archived from the original on January 24, 2004. Retrieved February 5, 2023.
  4. ^ Gordon, Jessica (March 2018). "One Woman Show" (PDF). Suited. p. 33.
  5. ^ "Francesca Fiorentini" (PDF). Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  6. ^ "Francesca Fiorentini". Gray Area. Retrieved April 2, 2023. She has worked in alternative media since 2004 as an editor with War Resisters League and with Left Turn Magazine.
  7. ^ Isaac, Bronwyn (June 13, 2017). "Francesca Fiorentini's Newsbroke Is The Antidote For Fake News In Trump's America". Bustle. Retrieved March 2, 2021.
  8. ^ Isaac, Bronwyn (June 13, 2017). "Francesca Fiorentini's Newsbroke Is The Antidote For Fake News In Trump's America". Bustle.
  9. ^ Mirk, Sarah (September 1, 2016). "An Office Training Video for White Fragility". Bitch Media. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
  10. ^ Fearnow, Benjamin (October 2, 2018). "A Wisconsin teacher showed a pro-union video to students that called Mitch McConnell a "human skid mark"". Newsweek. Retrieved February 13, 2020.
  11. ^ Matt Lieb [@mattlieb] (June 14, 2018). "So uhhhh Newsbroke has been shortlisted for an Emmy nomination! ITS AN HONOR JUST TO BE NOMINATED TO BE NOMINATED!" (Tweet). Retrieved April 2, 2023 – via Twitter.
  12. ^ Francesca, Fiorentini. "Newsbroke for Your Emmy Nomination". Facebook.
  13. ^ "The Damage Report". The Young Turks. October 5, 2020. Retrieved March 3, 2021.
  14. ^ MSNBC (December 18, 2019). "'Red, White & Who' explores healthcare in America". MSNBC. Retrieved February 12, 2021.
  15. ^ Fiorentini, Francesca (December 29, 2021). "Health care in America is dysfunctional — but its lack of transparency is downright dangerous". NBC News. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
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