New York Times journalist speaks as part of Willie Morris Writers Series Feb. 28

The University of Mississippi School of Journalism and New Media will welcome a New York Times journalist and author who is known for writing award-winning celebrity profiles Friday, Feb. 28.

Taffy Brodesser-Akner, who has worked as a freelance writer and contributor for GQ and is now a staff writer at The NYT, will speak in the Overby Center Auditorium at 11 a.m. Her profiles of celebrities have won her the New York Press Club Award and Mirror Award.

R. J. Morgan, a UM professor who is helping organize the event, said her appearance is part of the Willie Morris Writers Series.

“When Willie Morris was a Writer-in-Residence here, one of the most powerful things he did was to bring in a long, long list of other fantastic writers and have them speak to his students,” Morgan said.

“Anytime you can add new voices and perspectives to the mix like that, you dramatically improve the quality of your school and your students and their abilities. That’s our goal with this speaker series, and Taffy is certainly a voice we’re excited to have join us in conversation.”

Brodesser-Akner’s first novel, Fleishman Is in Trouble, was published in June 2019 by Random House in the U.S. and by Wildfire in the UK.

The event is free and open to the public. ESPN’s Wright Thompson will share the stage with Brodesser-Akner. A brief reception will follow.