Today we’d like to introduce you to Maureen Lenker.
Hi Maureen, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I have always loved writing and film/pop culture. In high school, in between rehearsals for drama club, I’d concoct story ideas in my head, watch TCM, and read EW cover to cover. I always thought working at EW would be a dream job, but I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I studied film and history at USC, and then, thinking I wanted to be a professor, I went to Oxford my for MA in British History. I decided academia wasn’t for me and returned home to LA with my degree, certain I wanted to work in the entertainment industry but not clear on how, why, or what. I took a job at USC, but shortly before that, I interned for the annual AFI film festival. Thrown onto the red carpet to gather photos and some color from the world premiere of “Saving Mr. Banks,” I found myself confronted by a publicist asking me if I was ready to interview BJ Novak and Jason Schwartzman. I don’t know what possessed me, I had nothing prepared, but I said yes. And my boss loved it. So much so that he had me prep questions for the rest of the festival and do formal red carpet interviews. After that, I decided to apply for the USC MA in Specialized Journalism with an emphasis on entertainment reporting. I did that program for three years part-time, and in my final year, I left my job to intern at THR, E!, and finally EW, my dream job for so long that became my full-time job of four years.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Definitely not. A lot of it has been the struggle of just figuring out exactly what I want and what my path should be and how to get there — something I’m honestly still working on. Figuring out how to transition from grad school to the field was a challenge, and it took a leap of faith (and amazing support from my parents, including a free place to live) to give me the privilege and ability to take minimum wage internships that led to the series of events that unlocked doors to get to where I am now.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I cover a wide assortment of film, TV, books, and theaters. But there are a few things in particular I’m proud of. I’m so proud to be part of a small team at a major magazine that is one of the few publications of our ilk to do serious theater coverage. In terms of personal contributions, I have dubbed myself the “romance whisperer” of EW. Four and a half years ago, I started the EW romance review column Hot Stuff, giving romance novels the literary criticism and credence they deserve and fighting to push back against so much of the biased, sexist reporting the genre has faced. It’s something that’s a central part of my work and I’m very proud of the way I’ve been able to shine a light on a genre that means so much to so many and also really often foregrounds women’s stories. I also am a big classic movie buff, and I have fought hard to bring a lot of classic movie coverage to EW. Since this spring, I’ve started a small Hollywood History column in the magazine that I’m super proud to have as a place to reach deeper into our past and collective cultural history. I’m also very proud of being a part of the organizing committee of the Meredith Union, working to make our workplace a more equitable, better environment for all alongside my colleagues.
Are there any books, apps, podcasts or blogs that help you do your best?
You Must Remember This always inspires me in terms of how to tell Hollywood history in fresh, exciting, and compelling ways. I regularly turn to the writing and interviews of Nora Ephron and Mindy Kaling for advice/a reset on life.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ew.com/author/maureen-lee-lenker
- Instagram: @themaureenlee
- Twitter: @themaureenlee
