My Secret Mentor

Tuckernuck

For the longest time, I felt like a journalist without a purpose, just kind of wandering around, trying to figure out where I fit best. One day, I was all about political reporting, and the next I was knee-deep in celebrity gossip, just throwing myself into different styles and hoping something would stick. I knew I loved storytelling, but I didn’t have that one writer who made me say, "That’s the kind of journalist I want to be." 

Until I came across Maureen Orth.

Orth’s work at Vanity Fair didn’t just grab my attention—it basically shook me awake. She balances seriousness with fearlessness. Orth’s strength is in her versatility. She doesn’t just report on big names. She unpacks them, digs into the truth, and lays it all out in a way that’s both sharp and compelling.

Orth is a voice for those without a platform. She amplifies the unheard and challenges the powerful, reminding us what journalism is really about.

Her investigative pieces on figures like Michael Jackson and Woody Allen weren’t just stories. They were game-changers, sparking real conversations and forcing people to confront uncomfortable truths. Orth never shied from controversy or backed down from the tough questions. She held people accountable, regardless of status. 

The thing I admire most about Orth? She’s fearless. 

Shutterstock

In a world where a lot of journalists like to play it safe, Orth goes straight into the hard-hitting stuff. She asks the difficult questions, does the research, and doesn’t back down. She proves that journalism isn’t just about telling stories. It’s about telling stories that matter, even when they make people uncomfortable.

But it’s not just what she writes—it’s how she writes. Her style is so immersive that you feel like you’re right there with her, watching the drama unfold. She blends deep investigative work with storytelling that pulls you in, which is exactly the balance I want to strike in my own writing.

Looking back, I realize I didn’t need to have it all figured out from the start. I didn’t need a journalism role model right away, but discovering Maureen Orth gave me something to aim for—a standard, a direction. If I can develop even a fraction of her skill, courage, or style, I know I’ll be on the right path. 

Journalism needs more voices like hers, and hopefully, someday, mine will be one of them. But until then, check out her website.