Maura Johnston

Maura Johnston
Johnston in 2013
Johnston in 2013
Born (1975-05-28) May 28, 1975 (age 49)
Syosset, New York, United States
OccupationMusic critic, music journalist
NationalityAmerican
Alma materNorthwestern University
Years active1997–present
Website
www.maura.com

Maura K. Johnston (born May 28, 1975) is a writer, editor and music critic. A member of Boston College's journalism faculty, she has written for Rolling Stone, The Boston Globe, Pitchfork, The Awl, The New York Times, Spin and The Guardian. She is working on a critical biography of Madonna for the Harlequin Enterprises subsidiary Hanover Square Press.[1]

Johnston was a founding editor of Gawker Media's Idolator, where she worked until November 2009.[2] In April 2011, she became the music editor of The Village Voice,[3] holding that position until September 2012.[4] In 2013, she launched the culture periodical Maura Magazine, which was published by 29th Street Publishing through 2015.[5]

She is an adjunct professor at Boston College, which named her the inaugural Institute for Liberal Arts Journalism Fellow in 2013.[6] From 2010 to 2013, she taught at New York University's Clive Davis Institute of Recorded Music.

Johnston is involved with Boston College's non-commercial radio station WZBC as a DJ and advisory board member and has DJed at WNUR and WPRB. She has discussed music and popular culture on NPR, WNYC, WBUR and CBC Radio. She has appeared in a handful of music videos, including Speedy Ortiz's "The Graduates",[7] and contributed violin and viola to records by artists including Lefty's Deceiver and Kincaid.[8]

A native of Hicksville, New York, Johnston graduated from Northwestern University in 1997.

  1. ^ "Maura Johnston". Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  2. ^ Johnston, Maura (November 9, 2009). "It's Time (For Me) To Say Goodbye". Idolator. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  3. ^ Harvilla, Rob (March 14, 2011). "Please Welcome Maura Johnston, Your New Village Voice Music Editor". The Village Voice. Archived from the original on March 18, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  4. ^ "Maura Johnston Leaves Village Voice". Billboard. September 14, 2012. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  5. ^ "Maura Magazine launches". kottke.org. January 14, 2013. Retrieved May 10, 2018.
  6. ^ Smith, Sean (August 1, 2013). "Digital Media Pioneer Johnston Is First ILA Journalism Fellow". The Boston College Chronicle. Retrieved September 29, 2014.
  7. ^ Marotta, Michael. "Watch Speedy Ortiz and some familiar faces trip out at the Allston Diner in 'The Graduates'". Vanyaland. Retrieved April 22, 2015.
  8. ^ "Maura Johnston". AllMusic. Retrieved May 10, 2018.