
Cynthia Gorney
Professor510-642-4579 | Send E-Mail
Cynthia Gorney joined the faculty in 1999, after a career at The Washington Post that included serving as an award-winning national features writer, South American bureau chief and the first writer for the Post’s Style section based on the West Coast. She is the author of Articles of Faith: A History of the Abortion Wars, and has written for many magazines, including The New Yorker, National Geographic, Harper’s, Sports Illustrated, The New York Times Magazine, Runners World, O: The Oprah Magazine, and the American Journalism Review. She is currently a contributing writer for The New York Times Magazine and National Geographic. Gorney is a graduate of the University of California at Berkeley.
She has also worked as a visiting Poynter Institute teacher, a newsroom writing coach and consultant, and a host and interviewer on "Forum," the Northern California public affairs radio program on KQED-FM. Gorney is a past recipient of the American Society of Newspaper Editors feature writing award.
Published Stories:
- Ripped (or Torn Up?)
- The New York Times Magazine
For The New York Times Magazine, Cynthia Gorney profiles the international tennis champion Rafael Nadal, whose most serious battle right now is with his own beaten-up knees.
- Anti-Abortion Rhetoric Still Strong
- NPR
The murder of Kansas abortion doctor George Tiller has put the abortion debate back in the national spotlight. Journalism professor Cynthia Gorney, author of Articles of Faith: A History of the Abortion Wars discusses the state of the abortion debate on NPR.
- A Feel For the Water
- The New Yorker
For The New Yorker, Cynthia Gorney profiles U.C. Berkeley's international swimming champion Natalie Coughlin.
- Chicken Soup Nation
- The New Yorker
For The New Yorker, Cynthia Gorney explores the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" publishing empire.
- The Urge to Merge
- The New York Times Magazine
For For The New York Times Magazine, Cynthia Gorney examines on-road hostilities between traffic lineuppers, whom she regards as civilized and evolved, and sidezoomers, who are scourge-of-earthish even though some of them are her best friends.
- True Lifer
- New York Times Magazine
For New York Times Magazine, Oct. 19, 2008, Professor Cynthia Gorney writes an essay on Sarah Palin's strongly-held right-to-life views and the complications they present the Republican ticket.
- A People Apart
- National Geographic
For National Geographic, Nov 2008, Professor Cynthia Gorney reports from Copper Canyon, Mexico, on the ambivalent relationship between the indigenous Tarahumara people and encroaching modern Mexico.
- Letter From South Dakota: Reversing Roe
- The New Yorker
For The New Yorker, Professor Cynthia Gorney reports from South Dakota on the abortion ban state legislators hoped would serve as a challenge to Roe v. Wade.
- A Six Minute Difference
- Runner's World
For Runner's World, Professor Cynthia Gorney profiles a competive runner who makes the decision to transition from male to female -- and discovers the most surprising cost.
- Dean Karnazes Is On The Road--Again
- Runner's World
For Runner's World, Professor Cynthia Gorney interviews ultramarathoner Dean Karnazes on his latest strenuous enterprise: 50 marathons, 50 states, 50 days.
- Imagaine a Nation Without Roe
- The New York Times Week in Review
For The New York Times Week in Review, Professor Cynthia Gorney writes about the state-by-state legislative upheaval that would follow a reversal of Roe v. Wade.
- Law And Revulsion
- The American Prospect
For The American Prospect, Professor Cynthia Gorney examines the implications of the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Partial-Birth Abortion Ban.
- Mommy, What Are Bail Bonds?
- Salon.com
For Salon.com, Professor Cynthia Gorney makes certain first-hand observations about Las Vegas' effort to promote itself as a jolly family destination.
- A Mother's War
- The New York Times Magazine
For The New York Times Magazine,, Professor Cynthia Gorney describes the war in Iraq as experienced through a circle of Missouri women whose sons have served in the military.
- Gambling With Abortion
- Harper's Magazine
For the November 2004 cover story in For Harper's Magazine, Professor Cynthia Gorney explores the "partial birth abortion" controversy, which began with one doctor's medical paper and grew into the fiercest abortion battle of the decade. In March 2005, this story was named a finalist for the National Magazine Award.
- I'd Give A Knee To Figure It All Out
- The Washington Post
For The Washington Post, Professor Cynthia Gorney writes about the contemporary curse of being medically over-informed and still bewildered about how to apply clinical test results in any way that makes sense.
- Complex Skill Sets in Young Journalists
- American Journalism Review
For the American Journalism Review, Professor Cynthia Gorney writes about the complex set of skills media organizations are looking for in young journalists.
- 10 Reasons to Love The Recount
- San Francisco Chronicle
For the San Francisco Chronicle, Professor Cynthia Gorney offers 10 reasons why the Florida election recount is good for us all.
- Newspaper Wars
- American Journalism Review
American Journalism Review, Professor Cynthia Gorney writes on the San Francisco Bay Area newspaper wars.
Other Works:
From North Gate News: The Making of a Book
Gorney is appointed as associate professor.
Courses Taught by Cynthia Gorney:
- Fall 2011: Tackling the Long Form Story--Reading Section Only
- Fall 2011: Tackling the Long Form Story
- Fall 2011: Reporting the news-lab--Gorney/Platoni
- Fall 2011: Reporting the News - Gorney/Platoni
- Fall 2010: Reporting the News - Gorney/Platoni
- Fall 2010: Reporting the news-lab--Gorney/Platoni
- Fall 2010: Tackling the Long Form Story
- Fall 2010: Tackling the Long Form Story--Reading Section Only
- Fall 2010: Master's Project Seminar
- Spring 2010: Master's Project Seminar
- Fall 2009: Reporting the News - Gorney/Platoni
- Fall 2009: Reporting the news-lab--Gorney
- Fall 2009: Tackling the Long Form Story
- Fall 2009: Tackling the Long Form Story--Reading Section Only
- Fall 2009: Master's Project Seminar
- Spring 2009: The Writing as Carpentry Workshops
- Spring 2009: Master's Project Seminar
- Fall 2008: Reporting the News - Gorney
- Fall 2008: Reporting the news-lab--Gorney
- Fall 2008: Master's Project Seminar
- Fall 2008: Tackling the Long Form Story
- Fall 2008: Web-Editing
- Spring 2008: The Big Best Draft
- Spring 2008: Master's Project Seminar
- Spring 2008: The Writing as Carpentry Workshops
- Fall 2007: Reporting the News - Gorney
- Fall 2007: Reporting the news-lab--Gorney
- Fall 2007: Tackling the Long Form Story
- Fall 2007: Master's Project Seminar
- Spring 2007: Editing Workshop
- Fall 2006: Reporting the News - Gorney
- Fall 2006: Tackling the Long Form Story
- Spring 2006: Profiles
- Fall 2005: Reporting the News - Gorney
- Fall 2005: Tackling the Long Form Story
- Spring 2002: Profiles
- Fall 2001: Reporting the News-Gorney
- Fall 2001: Master's Project Tutorial
- Fall 2001: Ethics and Law
- Spring 2001: Ethics and Law
- Spring 2001: Master's Project Tutorial
- Spring 2001: Regional Newspaper Feature
- Spring 2001: Personal Essay
- Fall 2000: Reporting the News-Gorney
- Fall 2000: Master's Project Tutorial
- Spring 2000: Master's Project Tutorial
- Spring 2000: Regional Newspaper Feature
- Spring 2000: The American Workplace
- Fall 1999: J200 Weekly Assembly
- Fall 1999: Reporting the News-Gorney
- Spring 2004: Master's Project Seminar
- Spring 2004: Profiles
- Fall 2003: Law and Ethics
- Fall 2003: Reporting the News-Gorney
- Fall 2003: Master's Project Seminar
- Fall 2003: The Ambitious Feature
- Spring 2003: Master's Project Seminar
- Spring 2003: Profiles
- Fall 2002: Reporting the News-Gorney
- Fall 2002: Ethics and Law
- Fall 2002: Master's Project Tutorial
- Fall 2002: Switching Gears: Long-form
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