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Jane Velez-Mitchell

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Jane Velez-Mitchell
Velez-Mitchell at the 2010 Gay Pride Parade
in West Hollywood, California
Born1955 or 1956 (age 68–69)[1]
New York City, U.S.
EducationNew York University
Occupation(s)Television and social media journalist, author
Websitewww.janevelezmitchell.com

Jane Velez-Mitchell is a television and social media journalist[2][3] and author with specialties in vegan lifestyles, animal rights,[4][5] addiction, and social justice. She is a New York Times bestselling author, former CNN Headline News (HLN) host,[6][7][8][9] and founder of UnchainedTV.[10][11][12][13][14][15]

Early life

Velez-Mitchell was born to a Puerto Rican mother[16] and an Irish American father. She graduated from New York University with a BA in Broadcast Journalism in 1977.[17]

Career

Early years

She began her career as a reporter at WCBS-TV in New York, billed at the time as Jane Mitchell. She made the decision to add "Velez" to her name after covering the New York City Puerto Rican Day Parade.

In early 1990, Velez-Mitchell was a co-anchor alongside Jerry Dunphy on the debut of a three-hour news broadcast on KCAL-TV, a local Los Angeles TV station. She also made anchor appearances on KCAL-TV sister station KCBS-TV. Other hosting duties included talk radio KABC (AM), Los Angeles.

2008–2014: HLN

From 2008 to 2014, she hosted her own show on HLN,[18][19][6] Jane Velez-Mitchell (formerly known as Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell)[20][21][22] replacing Glenn Beck, who moved to Fox News Channel.[23] As a former CNN journalist,[24] Velez-Mitchell has often commented on high-profile cases for CNN, TruTV, E! and other national cable TV shows. Velez-Mitchell guest hosted for Nancy Grace on her Headline News show. Velez-Mitchell reported for the nationally syndicated show Celebrity Justice (produced by corporate sibling Telepictures) until 2005.[22] She also appears as a substitute host on HLN's Showbiz Tonight. In October 2014, HLN's Jane Velez-Mitchell show was cancelled.[25]

While covering a story regarding sororities on her television show Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell (retitled in February 2012 as simply Jane Velez-Mitchell), she stated that she attended New York University.[26] She was in the courtroom during the entire child sexual abuse trial against singer Michael Jackson.[27] During the trial, Velez-Mitchell appeared daily on Nancy Grace. She featured on CNN's Larry King Live on several occasions, including on the evening of the verdict.[28] In November 2014, she founded JaneUnchained, a social media news outlet that focuses on social justice.[29]

2014–present: UnchainedTV

In November 2014, she founded JaneUnchained,[30][31][32][12][11][10][33] a digital news network for animal rights and the vegan lifestyle which uses more than 60 volunteer contributors from around the world to showcase vegan festivals, animal rights conferences, organizations, vegan restaurants and cooking. The videos originate on Velez-Mitchell's Facebook page. The network is a 501 c (3) non profit based in Marina del Rey, California. In 2019, JaneUnChained (in conjunction with Eamonn McCrystal's "Inspired.") launched "New Day New Chef", a vegan cooking series for Amazon Prime Video.[34]

She is co-executive producer and host of New Day New Chef.[35][20][36][37][6] This vegan cooking series has won two Taste Awards, considered the Oscars of food and streams on Amazon Prime and UnchainedTV, and has aired on local public television stations across the US through NETA.[36] Also that year JaneUnChained released its first documentary "Countdown to Year Zero" featuring Dr. Sailesh Rao.[38][22] The award-winning documentary Countdown to Year Zero, is now streaming on Amazon Prime and UnchainedTV. Countdown to Year Zero has won several awards.[39]

UnchainedTV streams Pig Little Lies, an UnchainedTV Original Series,[40][13] made with Eamonn McCrystal.[41][14]

In 2022,[32] JaneUnchained was re-branded as UnchainedTV, with Velez-Mitchell as managing editor.[21]

Books

Velez-Mitchell wrote the non-fiction Secrets Can Be Murder: What America’s Most Sensational Crimes Tell Us About Ourselves, in 2007. The book's premise is that by studying the secrecy and deceit in more than twenty widely covered murder cases, we can learn to opt for honesty in our own lives and avoid similar outcomes.

In September 2009, Velez-Mitchell released her memoir on addiction recovery, iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life.[42]

In February 2011, Velez-Mitchell released a third book, titled Addict Nation: an Intervention for America. This book examines what Velez-Mitchell believes to be growing levels of addiction in the United States to both illegal drugs and to legal phenomena like the Internet, prescription drugs, and fast food.[43]

Velez-Mitchell' fourth book, Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias, was released in August 2013 and debuted at #5 on the New York Times Bestseller list.[21] The book examines the life of Jodi Arias, leading up to her murder of her ex-boyfriend, and the ensuing murder trial.[44][45]

Personal life

Velez-Mitchell is openly lesbian.[46] She came out on Al Rantel's radio show on KABC-AM in Los Angeles in 2007.[47] She also has dedicated her time and resources to various charitable and humane causes.[48] She is well known for her animal rights advocacy and is a vegan and an environmentalist.

Awards

In 2001, she received the Gracie Allen Award from the Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television.[49]

In July 2009, Farm Animal Rights Movement awarded Velez-Mitchell the Celebrity Animal Activist Award at the Animal Rights 2009 National Conference held in Los Angeles, California.[50] While working at Celebrity Justice, Velez-Mitchell’s reporting on animal cruelty earned that show two Genesis Awards from the Humane Society of the United States. She earned an additional Genesis Award for her show "Issues" in 2010 and the same year the VegNews magazine named her Media Maven of the Year.[51] In 2013, Mercy for Animals awarded her their Compassionate Leadership Award.[52] In 2014, she was honored for fighting animal abuse by the Animal Legal Defense Fund.[53] In 2015, she received the Nanci Alexander Award at PETA's 35th anniversary celebration.[54]

In January 2010, she was awarded the Ruby Award by Soroptimist International for her "War on Women" coverage on her television show.[55]

In 1993, Velez-Mitchell won a Los Angeles Emmy for her reporting[56] at KCAL-TV; in 1989, she shared a New York Emmy for her reporting at WCBS-TV.

References

  1. ^ "Jane Velez-Mitchell comes clean in 'iWant: My Journey From Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life'". Tampa Bay Times. October 17, 2009. Retrieved February 15, 2021.
  2. ^ Waterfield, Sophia (2020-01-30). "Starbucks Announces Plant-Based Breakfast Sandwich". Newsweek. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  3. ^ "Starbucks Now Offers Gluten-Free, Vegan Cupcakes in Florida!". One Green Planet. 2017-10-20. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  4. ^ "Joaquin Phoenix, Super-Vegan, Raced to L.A. Slaughterhouse After SAG Win: "This Is an Injustice"". Vanity Fair. 2020-01-21. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  5. ^ Lupica, Diana (2017-11-06). "VIDEO: Jane Velez-Mitchell Explains Why The Mainstream Media Ignores Veganism". Plant Based News. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  6. ^ a b c Chiorando, Maria (2020-08-31). "U.S Vegan Cooking Show Goes Global After Amazon Prime Success". Plant Based News. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  7. ^ "Defense Team Begins in Conrad Murray Trial". Inside Edition. 2011-10-24. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  8. ^ "TMZ Live: 7/5/11 - Did Casey Walk Because She's a Celebrity?". TMZ. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  9. ^ "Gentleman's club to Casey: You're hired", CNN, 2012-01-17, retrieved 2023-07-27
  10. ^ a b Day, Nate (2020-01-20). "Joaquin Phoenix comforts pigs at slaughterhouse after SAG win: 'I have to be here'". Fox News. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  11. ^ a b ""Peeled" - new vegan reality show on UnchainedTV". Good Day Sacramento. September 20, 2022. Archived from the original on September 23, 2022. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  12. ^ a b Starostinetskaya, Anna. "Los Angeles Just Became the Largest US City to Join the Plant Based Treaty". VegNews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  13. ^ a b Burton, Sasha Urban,Wilson Chapman,Carson; Urban, Sasha; Chapman, Wilson; Burton, Carson (2022-06-13). "Martin Luther King III to Host New Docuseries With Calabasas Films (TV News Roundup)". Variety. Retrieved 2023-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ a b "Pig Little Lies Is The World's First Reality Show Starring Pigs". The Table Read. June 7, 2022. Archived from the original on June 5, 2023. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  15. ^ "Move Over Kardashians, Pig Little Lies is the New Reality Show About an Amazing Family of Pigs". One Green Planet. 2022-06-14. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  16. ^ Green, Laurie (September 14, 2009). "Anchored Woman". The Advocate. Archived from the original on December 8, 2015. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  17. ^ "Show Pages - ISSUES with Jane Velez-Mitchell". CNN. Archived from the original on March 24, 2009. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  18. ^ Chariton, Jordan (2015-03-05). "Former HLN Anchor Jane Velez-Mitchell to Launch Digital Show". TheWrap. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  19. ^ "Pierce Brosnan Hosts Malibu Fundraiser To Benefit Four-Legged Friends". SM Mirror. 2014-11-21. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  20. ^ a b Mucerino, Caitlin (2020-02-20). "Jane Velez-Mitchell Debuts New Vegan Cooking Show on Amazon Prime". The Beet. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  21. ^ a b c Blanchet, Stacey (2022-06-20). "UnchainedTV Challenges You to Connect Your Own Dots". VIVA GLAM MAGAZINE™. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  22. ^ a b c Smith, Kat. "How Jane Velez-Mitchell Built a Vegan Media Empire". VegNews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  23. ^ "Jane Velez Mitchell to Anchor HLN's 7pmET Hour". 17 October 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2018.
  24. ^ Earth911 (2022-10-07). "Earth911 Podcast: Jane Velez-Mitchell on UnchainedTV's Vegan News Mission". Earth911. Retrieved 2023-07-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  25. ^ Tony Maglio and Jordan Chariton, "CNN, HLN Layoffs: Jane Velez-Mitchell Out, Entertainment Unit Disbanded", The Wrap, October 14, 2014 (accessed September 24, 2018).
  26. ^ "Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell on CNN". CNN. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  27. ^ Chestang, Raphael (April 6, 2015). "Michael Jackson Accused of Paying Millions in Hush Money to Alleged Molestation Victims". Entertainment Tonight. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  28. ^ "Jackson Found Not Guilty". CNN. June 13, 2005. Archived from the original on October 21, 2010. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
  29. ^ Ring, Trudy (April 6, 2015). "Jane Velez-Mitchell: Giving Voice to the Voiceless". The Advocate. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  30. ^ Gardner, Chris (2020-01-20). "Joaquin Phoenix Followed SAG Awards With Vigil for Pigs: "I Have to Be Here"". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  31. ^ "SoCalGas Threatens Ballona Wetlands Activist With Arrest". Yahoo News. 2020-10-06. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  32. ^ a b Moss, Donny (2022-06-18). "UnChainedTV Releases First Ever Animal Rights Reality Show, Pig Little Lies". Their Turn. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  33. ^ Jane Unchained News Network - News For The Voiceless official website (accessed September 24, 2018).
  34. ^ "Vegan Cooking Show Debuts on Amazon Prime".
  35. ^ "Amazon's Vegan Cooking Show Nabs 8 Prestigious Award Nominations". 31 August 2020.
  36. ^ a b Axworthy, Nicole. "Amazon's Vegan Cooking Show Wins Two Prestigious Awards". VegNews.com. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  37. ^ Chiorando, Maria (2020-02-20). "New Vegan Cooking Show Launches On Amazon Prime". Plant Based News. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  38. ^ "Emmy-Winner to Host Q&A at LA Premiere of New PBN Documentary 'Vegan 2019'". 5 November 2019.
  39. ^ "Countdown to Year Zero - Documentaries". UnchainedTV. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  40. ^ "Pig Little Lies". UnchainedTV. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  41. ^ Talamo, Lex (2022-05-31). "New Reality TV Show Features A Love Story — And A Family of Pigs". Lady Freethinker. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  42. ^ "HLN’s Jane Velez-Mitchell Calls Herself a Consuming Addict and Says Most Americans Are Addicted Too" Archived 2009-08-30 at the Wayback Machine, HCI Books, August 24, 2009 (Accessed September 24, 2018).
  43. ^ "Addict Nation". HCI Books. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  44. ^ Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias at Amazon (Accessed September 24, 2018).
  45. ^ "Jodi Arias book on its way from Jane Velez-Mitchell". USA TODAY. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  46. ^ Court, Emily (2023-06-12). "20 LGBTQIA2S+ Vegans To Watch (And Remember) In 2023". Plant Based News. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  47. ^ Velez-Mitchell, Jane. "How I Came Out on Live Radio". Huffington Post, December 15, 2011 (Accessed September 24, 2018).
  48. ^ Sean Kennedy, "The Insider is Out", The Advocate, June 17, 2008. (Accessed September 24, 2018).
  49. ^ "2001 Gracies Winners". Alliance for Women in Media. 2016-12-05. Retrieved 2023-07-27.
  50. ^ "MFA's Executive Director Inducted into U.S Animal Rights Hall of Fame". Mercy for Animals. 27 July 2009. Retrieved September 24, 2018.
  51. ^ "Winners of World's Largest Survey of Vegetarian People, Places, and Products Announced" (PDF).
  52. ^ Kathleen Cahill, MFA's Free to Be Celebrations, Mercy for Animals, June 29, 2013 (accessed September 24, 2018)
  53. ^ The Animal's Advocate, Animal Legal Defense Fund newsletter #13, winter 2013 (accessed September 24, 2018)
  54. ^ Laine Doss, Sublime's Nanci Alexander Presents PETA Activist Award to Jane Velez-Mitchell, New Times Broward, October 2, 2015 (accessed September 24, 2018)
  55. ^ "Jane Velez-Mitchell of HLN to be honored by Soroptimist", Free Press Release, November 13, 2009.
  56. ^ Chiorando, Maria (December 21, 2020). "Kamala Harris: Go Plant-Based Says Petition Signed By Thousands". Plant Based News. Retrieved August 8, 2023.
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