Revision as of 03:33, 17 January 2019 editWyatt Tyrone Smith (talk | contribs)Extended confirmed users5,907 edits Mentioned Ortega linking ABCMouse with financing Scientology← Previous edit | Latest revision as of 20:41, 11 December 2024 edit undoQreligious (talk | contribs)160 editsm Minor punctuation. Removed double spaces.Tag: Visual edit | ||
(81 intermediate revisions by 42 users not shown) | |||
Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{short description|American author and journalist monitoring Scientology}} | |||
{{About|the American journalist|the American musician|Tony Ortega (musician)|other uses|Anthony Ortega (disambiguation)}} | {{About|the American journalist|the American musician|Tony Ortega (musician)|other uses|Anthony Ortega (disambiguation)}} | ||
{{use mdy dates|date=January 2023}} | |||
{{Infobox writer <!-- For more information see ]. --> | |||
{{Infobox journalist | |||
| name = Tony Ortega | | name = Tony Ortega | ||
| image = | | image = Tony Ortega at Kensico Dam.jpg | ||
| alt = | | alt = | ||
| caption = | | caption = | ||
| birth_date = <!-- This MUST include a reliable source demonstrating that this information is public knowledge, per WP:DOB --> | |||
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1963|05|23}} | |||
| birth_place = ], ] | | birth_place = ], ], U.S. | ||
| death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) --> | | death_date = <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{Death-date and age|Month DD, YYYY|Month DD, YYYY}} (death date then birth date) --> | ||
| death_place = | | death_place = | ||
| education = ]| | | education = ] (], ]) | ||
| occupation = |
| occupation = Journalist, author, and editor | ||
| spouse = | | spouse = | ||
| website = {{URL|tonyortega.org}} | | website = {{URL|tonyortega.org}} | ||
| known_for = Coverage of Scientology | |||
| portaldisp = | |||
| notable_works = ''The Unbreakable Miss Lovely'' | |||
}} | }} | ||
{{listen |filename=Tony Ortega Voice.ogg |title=Tony Ortega's voice |description=recorded June 2019}} | |||
'''Tony Ortega''' (born 1963) is an American |
'''Anthony "Tony" Ortega''' <!-- (born 1963) --> is an American journalist and editor who is best known for his coverage of the ] and his blog ''The Underground Bunker''.<ref name="repeat-laz">{{cite interview |last=Ortega |first=Tony |url=http://www.965thebuzz.com/pages/11294215.php?contentType=31&contentId=5805&pid=126172 |interviewer=Lazlo |title=Tony Ortega, editor of The Village Voice and Scientology enthusiast |publisher=96.5theBUZZ |location=] |date=3 August 2011 |work= The Church of Lazlo |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="repeat-ahwmm">{{Cite episode |title=Truth Beyond Scientology Hysteria with Tony Ortega |url=http://thelip.tv/truth-beyond-scientology-hysteria-with-tony-ortega/ |access-date=17 August 2013 |series=Media Mayhem |network=TheLip.tv |date=10 January 2013 |last=Weiner |first=Allison Hope (host) |season=2013 |number=73}}</ref> He was executive editor of '']'' from 2013 until 2015.<ref name="raw2017">{{cite web|last1=Cooper|first1=Roxanne|title=Village Voice editor Tony Ortega to helm editorial at Raw Story|url=http://www.rawstory.com/2013/10/village-voice-editor-tony-ortega-to-helm-editorial-at-raw-story/|website=]|date=31 October 2013|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref><ref name="raw22017">{{cite web|last1=Gettys|first1=Travis|title=WATCH: California candidate stunned when he's outed as Scientology spy at City Council meeting|url=http://www.rawstory.com/2016/09/watch-california-candidate-stunned-when-hes-outed-as-scientology-spy-at-city-council-meeting/|website=]|date=16 September 2016|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> Previously, he had been a journalist at the '']'',<ref name="slate2017">{{cite web|last1=Dessem|first1=Matthew|title=New TV Show Will Argue That O.J. Is Innocent|url=http://www.slate.com/blogs/browbeat/2016/03/30/new_tv_show_o_j_is_innocent_and_martin_sheen_can_prove_it.html|website=The Slate|date=31 March 2016|access-date=11 April 2017}}</ref> the editor-in-chief of the '']'' from 2005 to 2007, and the ] of '']'' from 2007 to 2012. In 2015, he was executive editor of the YouTube channel TheLipTV.<ref name="pnt">{{cite news|last1=Isenberg|first1=Robert|title=Tony Ortega to Discuss Scientology and the Changing Face of Media at ASU in Downtown Phoenix|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/arts/tony-ortega-to-discuss-scientology-and-the-changing-face-of-media-at-asu-in-downtown-phoenix-7632697|access-date=April 11, 2016|work=] |date=September 11, 2015}}</ref> He is author of the non-fiction book ''The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper'', about journalist ] and the ]'s attempts to silence her after her own book was published. | ||
==Background and education== | ==Background and education== | ||
⚫ | Tony Ortega was raised in ]. He received the John Jay Scholarship to attend ], where he completed three semesters before continuing his studies at ] where he obtained his ] and ] in English.<ref name="repeat=mbprofile">{{cite web |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/So-What-Do-You-Do-Tony-Ortega-a9772.html |title= So What Do You Do, Tony Ortega |author= Neal Ungerleider |date=18 July 2001 |series=Interviews |publisher=] | |
||
⚫ | Tony Ortega was raised in ]. He received the John Jay Scholarship to attend ], where he completed three semesters before continuing his studies at ], where he obtained his ] and ] in English.<ref name="repeat=mbprofile">{{cite web |url=http://www.mediabistro.com/So-What-Do-You-Do-Tony-Ortega-a9772.html |title= So What Do You Do, Tony Ortega |author= Neal Ungerleider |date=18 July 2001 |series=Interviews |publisher=] |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="fishbowlny">{{cite web |url= http://www.mediabistro.com/fishbowlny/confirmed-tony-ortega-new-editor-of-voice-half-mexican-kid-from-la-no-longer-has-mohawk_b4507 |title= Confirmed: Tony Ortega New Editor Of Voice; Half-Mexican Kid From LA No Longer Has Mohawk |author=Dylan |date=5 March 2007 |website=FishbowlNY |series=Newspapers |publisher=] |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="repeat-vvpr2">{{cite news |title=Tony Ortega Named Village Voice Editor |author=Keach Hagey |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2007/03/tony_ortega_nam.php |newspaper=] |date=5 March 2007 |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="repeat-csuf1">{{cite web |url=http://calstate.fullerton.edu/news/2012sp/Vision-Visionaries.asp |title=2012 Vision & Visionaries: Cal State Fullerton Honors Eight Distinguished Alumni |date=24 April 2012 |series=CSUF News |publisher=] |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref> Ortega pursued more graduate work at ] prior to landing his first ] job as a ] at the '']'' in 1995.<ref name="repeat-vvpr2" /> In 1996, Ortega reported on alleged corruption in the office of ] ], writing a series of stories concerning "misuse of state funds, poor morale inside the department, the high cost of the sheriff's posses and evidence of abuse of jail inmates," for which he was nominated for the Arizona Press Club's Virg Hill Award in 1997.<ref name="virg">{{cite web|url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1997-04-03/news/on-the-virg/|title=On the Virg|date=3 April 1997|access-date=26 December 2013}}</ref> | ||
⚫ | As a graduate student at the ], Ortega researched the ] under the tutelage of ]. He later wrote an article about his research in the ''Village Voice''. In her review of Ortega's article, Carolyn Kellogg wrote, "When Ortega gets his grandfather and great half-uncle to tell him stories of the strike, it's exactly the first-person narrative he'd been hoping for. But I found, reading the stories in his article, that they were simply personal |
||
⚫ | As a graduate student at the ], Ortega researched the ] under the tutelage of ]. He later wrote an article about his research in the ''Village Voice''. In her review of Ortega's article, ] wrote, "When Ortega gets his grandfather and great half-uncle to tell him stories of the strike, it's exactly the first-person narrative he'd been hoping for. But I found, reading the stories in his article, that they were simply personal anecdotes—interesting anecdotes, sure, but simple anecdotes. The men camped under eucalyptus trees. They played clarinet and violin for the strikers."<ref name="repeat-lat1">{{cite web |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2008/08/john-steinbeck.html |title=John Steinbeck's migrant workers |author=Carolyn Kellogg |date=19 August 2008 |website=] |series= Jacket Copy |access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="repeat-vv1">{{cite news |title=Louis Owens and John Steinbeck's Ghosts |author=Tony Ortega |url=http://www.villagevoice.com/2008-08-12/news/john-steinbeck-s-ghosts/full/ |newspaper=] |date=12 August 2008 |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref> | ||
Tony's father, also named Tony Ortega (1938-2019), was a musician, guitarist, and songwriter, starting in the late 1950s and throughout his life. He also had a career in the steel industry, joining at the entry level and rising through the ranks to become a general manager.<ref>{{cite web |author=Tony Ortega |title=Tony Ortega: Musician, songwriter, and steel executive, 1938-2019 |url=https://tonyortega.org/2019/02/20/tony-ortega-musician-songwriter-and-steel-executive-1938-2019/ |website=The Underground Bunker |publisher=Tony Ortega |access-date=7 July 2019 |language=en}}</ref> | |||
==Career== | ==Career== | ||
⚫ | Ortega spent nearly seventeen years working for various ] newspapers in the ] (VMG). He has worked at the '']'', the '']'' and '']''. His earliest positions ranged from ] to ] and ].<ref name="repeat=mbprofile" /><ref name="repeat-pnt2">{{cite news |title=Press Club: Winners Circle |author=Staff |url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2004-05-20/news/press-club/ |newspaper=] |date=20 May 2004 |access-date=19 August 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thetearsofthings.net/archives/000041.html |title=Local Visual Arts Coverage |author=Jerome du Bois |date=9 August 2003 |website=The Tears of Things |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref> | ||
===Alternative weeklies and other media=== | |||
⚫ | In 2001, Ortega spent time with and profiled detective and conspiracy theorist ] for the ''New Times LA'' newspaper after Dear spent several years constructing a case around Jason Simpson (son of ]) in the ]. Ortega was highly critical of his methods, in particular spending two weeks ] a doctor in an attempt to access Jason Simpson's medical records.<ref name=slate2017/> | ||
⚫ | Ortega spent nearly seventeen years working for various ] newspapers in the ] (VMG). He has worked at the '']'', the '']'' and '']''. His earliest positions ranged from ] to ] and ].<ref name="repeat=mbprofile" /><ref name="repeat-pnt2">{{cite news |title=Press Club: Winners Circle |author=Staff |url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/2004-05-20/news/press-club/ |newspaper=] |date=20 May 2004 | |
||
⚫ | In 2001 Ortega spent time with and profiled detective and conspiracy theorist ] for the |
||
He became the ] at the '']'' in 2005 and then at '']'' in 2007.<ref name="repeat-vvpr2" /> | He became the ] at the '']'' in 2005 and then at '']'' in 2007.<ref name="repeat-vvpr2" /> He was executive editor at online news website '']'' from 2013 to 2015.<ref name=raw2017/> | ||
⚫ | ==Coverage of Scientology== | ||
On 31 October 2013, it was announced that Ortega had been hired as executive editor at online news website '']'', a position he held until 2015.<ref name=raw2017/> | |||
Tony Ortega has been covering Scientology for over 20 years and, according to the '']'', "has become one of the foremost reporters on the Scientology ]".<ref name="pnt"/><ref>{{cite AV media |title=Voice of Tony Ortega |url=https://en.wikipedia.org/File:Tony_Ortega_Voice.ogg |date=22 June 2019}}</ref> | |||
⚫ | == |
||
Tony Ortega first reported on Scientology in 1995 while working at the ''Phoenix New Times''<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/1995-11-30/news/hush-hush-sweet-charlatans/|title=Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans|author=Tony Ortega|publisher=Phoenix New Times|date=30 November 1995|accessdate=29 December 2013}}</ref> and continued covering the subject throughout his career under various media outlets in the ].<ref name="repeat-laz" /><ref name="repeat-ahwmm" /> In September 2012, Ortega publicly announced his resignation from '']'' in a post to the ''Voice's'' "Runnin' Scared" blog.<ref name="repeat-vvmsg">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/09/scientology_watchers_a_message_from_tony_ortega.php |title=Scientology Watchers: A Message from Tony Ortega |author=Tony Ortega |date=14 September 2012 |website=] |series=Runnin’ Scared News Blog |location=] |accessdate=20 August 2013}}</ref> According to former staffers, Ortega's "exit from the ''Voice'' was not his decision" and "his relentless pursuit of scoops on the controversial church may have been a distraction during his final months at the paper."<ref name="Kara Bloomgarden-Smoke"/><ref name="David Sessions"/><ref name="repeat-cnyupd">{{cite web |url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2013/08/8532695/catching-former-village-voice-editor-tony-ortega |title=Catching up with former Village Voice editor Tony Ortega |author=Joe Pompeo |date=9 August 2013 |website=Capital New York |accessdate=21 August 2013}}</ref> | |||
Ortega first reported on Scientology in 1995 while working at the ''Phoenix New Times''<ref>{{Cite web|last=Ortega|first=Tony|title=Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans|url=https://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/hush-hush-sweet-charlatans-6426159|access-date=2022-01-13|website=] |language=en}}</ref>''.'' after he came across a ] from ] who complained that a story published in ] about Ross's loss of a lawsuit against him left out the fact that the plaintiff was actually hired by the Church of Scientology to sue Ross, which also caused harm to his ].<ref>{{Cite web|last1=Remini|first1=Leah|author-link=Leah Remini|last2=Rinder|first2=Mike|author-link2=Mike Rinder|date=2021-02-23|title=Episode 29: Journalist Tony Ortega - Scientology: Fair Game|url=https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-scientology-fair-game-68514402/episode/episode-29-journalist-tony-ortega-77994808/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210223235215/https://www.iheart.com/podcast/1119-scientology-fair-game-68514402/episode/episode-29-journalist-tony-ortega-77994808/|archive-date=2021-02-23|access-date=2021-05-15|website=iHeartRadio|language=en}}</ref> Ortega continued covering the subject of Scientology throughout his career under various media outlets in the ].<ref name="repeat-laz" /><ref name="repeat-ahwmm" /> In September 2012, Ortega publicly announced his resignation from '']'' in a post to the ''Voice's'' "Runnin' Scared" blog.<ref name="repeat-vvmsg">{{cite web |url=http://blogs.villagevoice.com/runninscared/2012/09/scientology_watchers_a_message_from_tony_ortega.php |title=Scientology Watchers: A Message from Tony Ortega |author=Tony Ortega |date=14 September 2012 |website=] |series=Runnin' Scared News Blog |location=] |access-date=20 August 2013}}</ref> | |||
⚫ | The executive editor of the ''Voice'' told the Media Decoder blog of ''The New York Times'' that Ortega "...did a great job for us and managed a difficult transition in a miserable economy... During that time he became the single most informed reporter on Scientology. No one is better positioned to write the book on that organization. |
||
⚫ | The executive editor of the ''Voice'' told the Media Decoder blog of ''The New York Times'' that Ortega "...did a great job for us and managed a difficult transition in a miserable economy... During that time he became the single most informed reporter on Scientology. No one is better positioned to write the book on that organization."<ref name="David Sessions">{{cite news |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/07/06/the-best-longreads-on-scientology-daily-beast-picks-for-july-6-2012.html |title= The Web's Best Scientology Longreads |author=David Sessions |date=6 July 2012 |newspaper=] |series=Longreads (weekly) |access-date=22 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="repeat-cnyupd">{{cite web |url=http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2013/08/8532695/catching-former-village-voice-editor-tony-ortega |title=Catching up with former Village Voice editor Tony Ortega|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150707144130/http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/media/2013/08/8532695/catching-former-village-voice-editor-tony-ortega|archive-date=July 7, 2015|url-status=dead|author=Joe Pompeo |date=9 August 2013 |website=Capital New York |access-date=21 August 2013}}</ref><ref name="NYT on Ortega-Voice is Losing its Editor">{{cite news|last=Carr/Sisario|first=David/Ben|title=Village Voice Is Losing Its Editor in Chief and Music Editor|url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/09/14/at-village-voice-editor-and-music-editor-depart-and-weekly-will-have-a-new-address/|access-date=21 December 2013|newspaper=New York Times|date=September 14, 2012}}</ref> | ||
⚫ | Ortega was featured in ]'s documentary '']'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westword.com/news/tonight-tony-ortegas-book-explores-scientologys-war-on-its-critics-6925057|title= |
||
] and Tony Ortega at HowdyCon 2019]] | |||
⚫ | In 2015 Ortega was informed by the ] that his emails had been hacked by New York private investigator Eric Saldarriaga in the previous year. Saldarriaga had received payment by clients whose names remain private and used an illegal overseas hacking group to break into several private accounts including Ortega's and ex-Scientologist and former church spokesperson ]. Both Ortega and Rinder filed ]s and requested the client's name(s) be made public. Goldstein in the ''New York Times'' reported "The client is said to be someone who has done investigations on behalf of the Church of Scientology, said people briefed on the case but not authorized to speak publicly."<ref name="nyt22017">{{cite |
||
⚫ | Ortega was featured in ]'s documentary '']'',<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.westword.com/news/tonight-tony-ortegas-book-explores-scientologys-war-on-its-critics-6925057|title=Tonight: Tony Ortega's Book Explores Scientology's War On Its Critics |work=]|date=17 July 2015 |first=Alan |last=Prendergast}}</ref> discussing how Scientology smeared critics. On the way to the ] both Ortega and another film participant, ex-Scientologist ], were surveilled and photographed at Salt Lake City airport by presumed members of the Church of Scientology, with the '']'' noting "The documentary showed ex-Scientologists being harassed and surveilled, a tactic that according to the film, is part of the doctrine of the church: its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, said that all of the church's attackers were criminals whose own misdeeds should be exposed".<ref name="nyt2017">{{cite web|last1=Buckley|first1=Cara|title=Sundance 2015: Scientology Documentary Draws Crush of Festgoers|url=https://carpetbagger.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/sundance-2015-scientology-documentary-draws-crush-of-festgoers/|website=New York Times|access-date=11 April 2017|date=2015-01-26}}</ref> | ||
⚫ | In 2015, Ortega was informed by the ] that his emails had been hacked by New York private investigator Eric Saldarriaga in the previous year. Saldarriaga had received payment by clients whose names remain private and used an illegal overseas hacking group to break into several private accounts including Ortega's and ex-Scientologist and former church spokesperson ]. Both Ortega and Rinder filed ]s and requested the client's name(s) be made public. Goldstein in the ''New York Times'' reported "The client is said to be someone who has done investigations on behalf of the Church of Scientology, said people briefed on the case but not authorized to speak publicly."<ref name="nyt22017">{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Matthew|title=Hired Hacker Who Named Clients Now Fears Retaliation|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/09/business/dealbook/hacker-feared-retaliation-from-clients-court-documents-show.html|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=11 April 2017|date=2015-07-08}}</ref> Fifty (50) victims of hacking were identified and Saldarriaga was given a 3-month prison sentence in June 2015.<ref name="nyt32017">{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Matthew|title=Investigator Gets 3 Months in Prison in Hacking Case|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/27/business/dealbook/investigator-gets-3-months-in-prison-in-hacking-case.html|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=11 April 2017|date=2015-06-27}}</ref> Saldarriaga claimed he feared retaliation from naming clients while cooperating with the ] and was never required to name the client publicly in court.<ref name="nyt42017">{{cite news|last1=Goldstein|first1=Matthew|title=Prison Term Sought for Private Eye Who Hacked Email|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/26/business/dealbook/prison-term-sought-for-private-eye-who-hacked-email.html|newspaper=New York Times|access-date=11 April 2017|date=2015-06-25}}</ref> | ||
⚫ | In September 2018 Ortega started publishing short video clips of issues in Scientology that had been previously covered by his website. In the first video he linked ], the founder and CEO of Age of Learning, Inc. (also known as ]) with large donations to the Church of Scientology<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ortega |first1=Tony |title=The Underground Bunker |url=https://tonyortega.org/2018/09/18/giving-scientology-tv-a-run-for-its-money-its-the-premiere-of-the-bunker-network/ |website=tonyortega.org |date=18 September 2018 | |
||
⚫ | In September 2018, Ortega started publishing short video clips of issues in Scientology that had been previously covered by his website. In the first video he linked ], the founder and CEO of Age of Learning, Inc. (also known as ]) with large donations to the Church of Scientology.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ortega |first1=Tony |title=The Underground Bunker |url=https://tonyortega.org/2018/09/18/giving-scientology-tv-a-run-for-its-money-its-the-premiere-of-the-bunker-network/ |website=tonyortega.org |date=18 September 2018 |access-date=16 January 2019}}</ref> | ||
===''The Underground Bunker''=== | |||
⚫ | After leaving the ''Voice'' in September 2012, Ortega began writing a ] blog entitled ''The Underground Bunker'' that is focused mainly on Scientology. His website has been described as "the most popular blog on Scientology"{{r|skep2017}}, "devastating" to the organisation<ref>{{cite web|last1=Sweeney|first1=John|author-link=John Sweeney (journalist)|title=Going Clear: the film Scientologists don't want you to see|url=https://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/apr/28/going-clear-the-film-scientologists-dont-want-you-to-see|website=The Guardian|date=28 April 2015|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> and "influential".<ref>{{cite news|last1=Alexander|first1=Harriet|title=Is Scientology the reason why Mariah Carey and Australian billionaire James Packer broke up?|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/11/01/is-scientology-the-reason-why-mariah-carey-and-australian-billio/|newspaper=The Telegraph|access-date=10 April 2017|date=1 November 2016}}</ref> It concentrates on monitoring activity within Scientology and is updated daily.{{r|skep2017}} | ||
===''The Unbreakable Miss Lovely''=== | ===''The Unbreakable Miss Lovely''=== | ||
⚫ | In May 2015, Ortega released a book about Scientology critic ] and her conflict with the organization, entitled ''The Unbreakable Miss Lovely'', which was published by Silvertail Books, an imprint of London-based literary agent and independent publisher Humfrey Hunter.<ref name="repeat-cnyupd"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Village Voice Editor Tony Ortega Is Leaving To Write A Scientology Book |author=Christopher Zara |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/village-voice-editor-tony-ortega-leaving-write-scientology-book-789384 |newspaper=International Business Times |date=14 September 2012 | |
||
⚫ | In May 2015, Ortega released a book about Scientology critic ] and her conflict with the organization, entitled ''The Unbreakable Miss Lovely'', which was published by Silvertail Books, an imprint of London-based literary agent and independent publisher Humfrey Hunter.<ref name="repeat-cnyupd"/><ref>{{cite news |title=Village Voice Editor Tony Ortega Is Leaving To Write A Scientology Book |author=Christopher Zara |url=http://www.ibtimes.com/village-voice-editor-tony-ortega-leaving-write-scientology-book-789384 |newspaper=International Business Times |date=14 September 2012 |access-date=5 July 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebookseller.com/news/scientology-account-silvertail|title=Scientology account to Silvertail|publisher=thebookseller.com|date=January 16, 2015|author=Joshua Farrington|access-date=May 20, 2015}}</ref> The book focuses on the journalist Paulette Cooper, codenamed "Miss Lovely" by the church, who became one of the first journalists to investigate the practices of harassment and intimidation of anyone who spoke publicly against the organization with her own published book, '']''.<ref name="kirk2017">{{cite web|title=How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper|url=https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/tony-ortega/the-unbreakable-miss-lovely/|website=]|access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> Ortega's research into Cooper's story uncovered many previously unpublished operations by the church against Cooper, and included testimony from FBI Special Agent Christine Hansen.<ref name="bea2017">{{cite news|last1=Nestel|first1=M.L.|title=Scientology's First 'Victim'|url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2015/05/11/scientology-s-first-victim.html|newspaper=The Daily Beast|access-date=10 April 2017|date=2015-05-11}}</ref> In an official response to the book from the church a spokesperson declined to revisit the subject and referred to Ortega as "a parasite".<ref name=bea2017/> The book was well received by critics of Scientology and has been described as among the best of the genre<ref name="skep2017">{{cite web|last1=Lippard|first1=Jim |author-link=Jim Lippard |title=Scientology's Worst Abuses Against a Journalist Revealed|url=http://www.skeptic.com/eskeptic/15-08-12/|website=] |access-date=10 April 2017|date=2015-08-12}}</ref> as well as shocking. Although Cooper reached a financial settlement with the church in 1985,<ref name="abc2017">{{cite web|last1=Cannane|first1=Steve|title=How the Church of Scientology tried to bring down journalist Paulette Cooper, aka Miss Lovely|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-07-17/how-scientology-tried-to-bring-down-miss-lovely/6627782|website=ABC News Australia|access-date=10 April 2017|date=2015-07-17}}</ref> Ortega was accompanied by Cooper on the subsequent international book tour.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tony Ortega & Paulette Cooper: The Unbreakable Miss Lovely|url=http://centreforinquiry.ca/scientology-vs-paulette-cooper-tony-ortega/|website=] |author=Centre for Inquiry Toronto |access-date=10 April 2017}}</ref> | ||
===Freelance blog=== | |||
⚫ | After leaving the ''Voice'' in September 2012, Ortega began writing a ] blog entitled ''The Underground Bunker'' that is focused |
||
{{blockquote|text=The Unbreakable Miss Lovely ... is a comprehensive account of Paulette Cooper's story. By tracking down sources no previous investigator had interviewed, digging into neglected documents, and with some help from individuals who have left Scientology as well as from his subject, Ortega has written the definitive account of the lengths to which Scientology went in its ultimately failed attempts to destroy Paulette Cooper.<ref name="skep2017"/>|author=]}} | |||
The blog's webmaster is Scott Pilutik, who also works as Ortega's legal adviser.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://tonyortega.org/2013/05/28/garcias-answer-scientologys-attempt-to-disqualify-their-attorneys-in-fraud-lawsuit/ |title=Garcias Answer Scientology’s Attempt to Disqualify Their Attorneys in Fraud Lawsuit |author=Tony Ortega |date=28 May 2013 |website=The Underground Bunker |publisher=Tony Ortega |accessdate=5 July 2013}}</ref> | |||
=== ''Battlefield Scientology'' === | |||
In 2018, Tony Ortega and Paulette Cooper co-authored the book ''Battlefield Scientology : Exposing L. Ron Hubbard's Dangerous "Religion"''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.lamag.com/culturefiles/scientology-celebrities/ |title=Is Scientology Losing Its Celebrity Cachet? |date=January 30, 2019 |website=] |first=Steven |last=Blum }}</ref><ref>''Battlefield Scientology : Exposing L. Ron Hubbard's Dangerous "Religion"'' by Tony Ortega and Paulette Cooper {{ISBN|1727131568|9781727131567}}</ref> | |||
===''The Cult Awareness Podcast''=== | |||
Ortega is the co-host, along with ] and ], of ''The Cult Awareness Podcast'' that discusses Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other subjects.<ref>{{cite web |last1=Ortega |first1=Tony |title=Introducing ''The Cult Awreness Podcast'' |url=https://tonyortega.org/2019/07/02/introducing-the-cult-awareness-podcast-recorded-at-howdycon-2019-in-los-angeles/ |website=The Underground Bunker |access-date=13 September 2019}}</ref> | |||
== Works == | |||
* {{cite book |title=The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper |first=Tony |last=Ortega |year=2015 |publisher=Silvertail Books |isbn=9781511639378}} | |||
* {{cite book |title=Battlefield Scientology : Exposing L. Ron Hubbard's Dangerous "Religion" |first1=Tony |last1=Ortega |first2=Paulette |last2=Cooper |author2-link=Paulette Cooper |year=2018 |publisher=] |isbn=9781727131567}} | |||
==See also== | ==See also== | ||
{{Portal|Biography|Journalism |
{{Portal|Biography|Journalism}} | ||
⚫ | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | |||
* ] | * ] | ||
* ] | * ] | ||
Line 66: | Line 84: | ||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
* |
* website | ||
* |
* | ||
* | * (2006–2012) | ||
{{authority control}} | {{authority control}} | ||
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ortega, Tony}} | {{DEFAULTSORT:Ortega, Tony}} | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
⚫ | ] | ||
⚫ | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | |||
] | ] | ||
⚫ | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
] | ] | ||
⚫ | ] | ||
⚫ | ] |
Latest revision as of 20:41, 11 December 2024
American author and journalist monitoring Scientology This article is about the American journalist. For the American musician, see Tony Ortega (musician). For other uses, see Anthony Ortega (disambiguation).
Tony Ortega | |
---|---|
Born | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Education | California State University, Fullerton (BA, MA) |
Occupation(s) | Journalist, author, and editor |
Known for | Coverage of Scientology |
Notable work | The Unbreakable Miss Lovely |
Website | tonyortega |
Problems playing this file? See media help.
Anthony "Tony" Ortega is an American journalist and editor who is best known for his coverage of the Church of Scientology and his blog The Underground Bunker. He was executive editor of Raw Story from 2013 until 2015. Previously, he had been a journalist at the New Times LA, the editor-in-chief of the Broward-Palm Beach New Times from 2005 to 2007, and the editor-in-chief of The Village Voice from 2007 to 2012. In 2015, he was executive editor of the YouTube channel TheLipTV. He is author of the non-fiction book The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper, about journalist Paulette Cooper and the Church of Scientology's attempts to silence her after her own book was published.
Background and education
Tony Ortega was raised in Anaheim, California. He received the John Jay Scholarship to attend Columbia University, where he completed three semesters before continuing his studies at California State University, Fullerton, where he obtained his B.A. and M.A. in English. Ortega pursued more graduate work at UC Santa Cruz prior to landing his first journalism job as a freelancer at the Phoenix New Times in 1995. In 1996, Ortega reported on alleged corruption in the office of Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio, writing a series of stories concerning "misuse of state funds, poor morale inside the department, the high cost of the sheriff's posses and evidence of abuse of jail inmates," for which he was nominated for the Arizona Press Club's Virg Hill Award in 1997.
As a graduate student at the University of California, Ortega researched the California Agricultural Strike 1933 under the tutelage of Louis Owens. He later wrote an article about his research in the Village Voice. In her review of Ortega's article, Carolyn Kellogg wrote, "When Ortega gets his grandfather and great half-uncle to tell him stories of the strike, it's exactly the first-person narrative he'd been hoping for. But I found, reading the stories in his article, that they were simply personal anecdotes—interesting anecdotes, sure, but simple anecdotes. The men camped under eucalyptus trees. They played clarinet and violin for the strikers."
Tony's father, also named Tony Ortega (1938-2019), was a musician, guitarist, and songwriter, starting in the late 1950s and throughout his life. He also had a career in the steel industry, joining at the entry level and rising through the ranks to become a general manager.
Career
Ortega spent nearly seventeen years working for various alternative weekly newspapers in the Voice Media Group (VMG). He has worked at the Phoenix New Times, the New Times LA and The Pitch. His earliest positions ranged from staff writer to assistant editor and managing editor. In 2001, Ortega spent time with and profiled detective and conspiracy theorist William Dear for the New Times LA newspaper after Dear spent several years constructing a case around Jason Simpson (son of O.J Simpson) in the O. J. Simpson murder case. Ortega was highly critical of his methods, in particular spending two weeks impersonating a doctor in an attempt to access Jason Simpson's medical records.
He became the editor-in-chief at the Broward-Palm Beach New Times in 2005 and then at The Village Voice in 2007. He was executive editor at online news website Raw Story from 2013 to 2015.
Coverage of Scientology
Tony Ortega has been covering Scientology for over 20 years and, according to the Phoenix New Times, "has become one of the foremost reporters on the Scientology beat".
Ortega first reported on Scientology in 1995 while working at the Phoenix New Times. after he came across a Letter to the editor from Rick Alan Ross who complained that a story published in The Arizona Republic about Ross's loss of a lawsuit against him left out the fact that the plaintiff was actually hired by the Church of Scientology to sue Ross, which also caused harm to his Cult Awareness Network. Ortega continued covering the subject of Scientology throughout his career under various media outlets in the Voice Media Group. In September 2012, Ortega publicly announced his resignation from The Village Voice in a post to the Voice's "Runnin' Scared" blog.
The executive editor of the Voice told the Media Decoder blog of The New York Times that Ortega "...did a great job for us and managed a difficult transition in a miserable economy... During that time he became the single most informed reporter on Scientology. No one is better positioned to write the book on that organization."
Ortega was featured in Alex Gibney's documentary Going Clear, discussing how Scientology smeared critics. On the way to the Sundance Film Festival both Ortega and another film participant, ex-Scientologist Marc Headley, were surveilled and photographed at Salt Lake City airport by presumed members of the Church of Scientology, with the New York Times noting "The documentary showed ex-Scientologists being harassed and surveilled, a tactic that according to the film, is part of the doctrine of the church: its founder, L. Ron Hubbard, said that all of the church's attackers were criminals whose own misdeeds should be exposed".
In 2015, Ortega was informed by the United States Attorney that his emails had been hacked by New York private investigator Eric Saldarriaga in the previous year. Saldarriaga had received payment by clients whose names remain private and used an illegal overseas hacking group to break into several private accounts including Ortega's and ex-Scientologist and former church spokesperson Mike Rinder. Both Ortega and Rinder filed victim impact statements and requested the client's name(s) be made public. Goldstein in the New York Times reported "The client is said to be someone who has done investigations on behalf of the Church of Scientology, said people briefed on the case but not authorized to speak publicly." Fifty (50) victims of hacking were identified and Saldarriaga was given a 3-month prison sentence in June 2015. Saldarriaga claimed he feared retaliation from naming clients while cooperating with the FBI and was never required to name the client publicly in court.
In September 2018, Ortega started publishing short video clips of issues in Scientology that had been previously covered by his website. In the first video he linked Doug Dohring, the founder and CEO of Age of Learning, Inc. (also known as ABCmouse) with large donations to the Church of Scientology.
The Underground Bunker
After leaving the Voice in September 2012, Ortega began writing a freelance blog entitled The Underground Bunker that is focused mainly on Scientology. His website has been described as "the most popular blog on Scientology", "devastating" to the organisation and "influential". It concentrates on monitoring activity within Scientology and is updated daily.
The Unbreakable Miss Lovely
In May 2015, Ortega released a book about Scientology critic Paulette Cooper and her conflict with the organization, entitled The Unbreakable Miss Lovely, which was published by Silvertail Books, an imprint of London-based literary agent and independent publisher Humfrey Hunter. The book focuses on the journalist Paulette Cooper, codenamed "Miss Lovely" by the church, who became one of the first journalists to investigate the practices of harassment and intimidation of anyone who spoke publicly against the organization with her own published book, The Scandal of Scientology. Ortega's research into Cooper's story uncovered many previously unpublished operations by the church against Cooper, and included testimony from FBI Special Agent Christine Hansen. In an official response to the book from the church a spokesperson declined to revisit the subject and referred to Ortega as "a parasite". The book was well received by critics of Scientology and has been described as among the best of the genre as well as shocking. Although Cooper reached a financial settlement with the church in 1985, Ortega was accompanied by Cooper on the subsequent international book tour.
The Unbreakable Miss Lovely ... is a comprehensive account of Paulette Cooper's story. By tracking down sources no previous investigator had interviewed, digging into neglected documents, and with some help from individuals who have left Scientology as well as from his subject, Ortega has written the definitive account of the lengths to which Scientology went in its ultimately failed attempts to destroy Paulette Cooper.
— Jim Lippard
Battlefield Scientology
In 2018, Tony Ortega and Paulette Cooper co-authored the book Battlefield Scientology : Exposing L. Ron Hubbard's Dangerous "Religion".
The Cult Awareness Podcast
Ortega is the co-host, along with James Underdown and Jerry Minor, of The Cult Awareness Podcast that discusses Scientology, Jehovah's Witnesses, and other subjects.
Works
- Ortega, Tony (2015). The Unbreakable Miss Lovely: How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper. Silvertail Books. ISBN 9781511639378.
- Ortega, Tony; Cooper, Paulette (2018). Battlefield Scientology : Exposing L. Ron Hubbard's Dangerous "Religion". CreateSpace. ISBN 9781727131567.
See also
References
- ^ Ortega, Tony (August 3, 2011). "Tony Ortega, editor of The Village Voice and Scientology enthusiast". The Church of Lazlo (Interview). Interviewed by Lazlo. Kansas City: 96.5theBUZZ. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Weiner, Allison Hope (host) (January 10, 2013). "Truth Beyond Scientology Hysteria with Tony Ortega". Media Mayhem. Season 2013. Episode 73. TheLip.tv. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
- ^ Cooper, Roxanne (October 31, 2013). "Village Voice editor Tony Ortega to helm editorial at Raw Story". Raw Story. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- Gettys, Travis (September 16, 2016). "WATCH: California candidate stunned when he's outed as Scientology spy at City Council meeting". Raw Story. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ Dessem, Matthew (March 31, 2016). "New TV Show Will Argue That O.J. Is Innocent". The Slate. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- ^ Isenberg, Robert (September 11, 2015). "Tony Ortega to Discuss Scientology and the Changing Face of Media at ASU in Downtown Phoenix". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved April 11, 2016.
- ^ Neal Ungerleider (July 18, 2001). "So What Do You Do, Tony Ortega". Interviews. Mediabistro. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- Dylan (March 5, 2007). "Confirmed: Tony Ortega New Editor Of Voice; Half-Mexican Kid From LA No Longer Has Mohawk". FishbowlNY. Newspapers. Mediabistro. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- ^ Keach Hagey (March 5, 2007). "Tony Ortega Named Village Voice Editor". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- "2012 Vision & Visionaries: Cal State Fullerton Honors Eight Distinguished Alumni". CSUF News. Cal State Fullerton. April 24, 2012. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- "On the Virg". April 3, 1997. Retrieved December 26, 2013.
- Carolyn Kellogg (August 19, 2008). "John Steinbeck's migrant workers". Los Angeles Times. Jacket Copy. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
- Tony Ortega (August 12, 2008). "Louis Owens and John Steinbeck's Ghosts". The Village Voice. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- Tony Ortega. "Tony Ortega: Musician, songwriter, and steel executive, 1938-2019". The Underground Bunker. Tony Ortega. Retrieved July 7, 2019.
- Staff (May 20, 2004). "Press Club: Winners Circle". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
- Jerome du Bois (August 9, 2003). "Local Visual Arts Coverage". The Tears of Things. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- Voice of Tony Ortega. June 22, 2019.
- Ortega, Tony. "Hush, Hush, Sweet Charlatans". Phoenix New Times. Retrieved January 13, 2022.
- Remini, Leah; Rinder, Mike (February 23, 2021). "Episode 29: Journalist Tony Ortega - Scientology: Fair Game". iHeartRadio. Archived from the original on February 23, 2021. Retrieved May 15, 2021.
- Tony Ortega (September 14, 2012). "Scientology Watchers: A Message from Tony Ortega". The Village Voice. Runnin' Scared News Blog. New York. Retrieved August 20, 2013.
- David Sessions (July 6, 2012). "The Web's Best Scientology Longreads". The Daily Beast. Longreads (weekly). Retrieved August 22, 2013.
- ^ Joe Pompeo (August 9, 2013). "Catching up with former Village Voice editor Tony Ortega". Capital New York. Archived from the original on July 7, 2015. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
- Carr/Sisario, David/Ben (September 14, 2012). "Village Voice Is Losing Its Editor in Chief and Music Editor". New York Times. Retrieved December 21, 2013.
- Prendergast, Alan (July 17, 2015). "Tonight: Tony Ortega's Book Explores Scientology's War On Its Critics". Westword.
- Buckley, Cara (January 26, 2015). "Sundance 2015: Scientology Documentary Draws Crush of Festgoers". New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- Goldstein, Matthew (July 8, 2015). "Hired Hacker Who Named Clients Now Fears Retaliation". New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- Goldstein, Matthew (June 27, 2015). "Investigator Gets 3 Months in Prison in Hacking Case". New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- Goldstein, Matthew (June 25, 2015). "Prison Term Sought for Private Eye Who Hacked Email". New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2017.
- Ortega, Tony (September 18, 2018). "The Underground Bunker". tonyortega.org. Retrieved January 16, 2019.
- ^ Lippard, Jim (August 12, 2015). "Scientology's Worst Abuses Against a Journalist Revealed". Skeptic magazine. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- Sweeney, John (April 28, 2015). "Going Clear: the film Scientologists don't want you to see". The Guardian. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- Alexander, Harriet (November 1, 2016). "Is Scientology the reason why Mariah Carey and Australian billionaire James Packer broke up?". The Telegraph. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- Christopher Zara (September 14, 2012). "Village Voice Editor Tony Ortega Is Leaving To Write A Scientology Book". International Business Times. Retrieved July 5, 2013.
- Joshua Farrington (January 16, 2015). "Scientology account to Silvertail". thebookseller.com. Retrieved May 20, 2015.
- "How the Church of Scientology tried to destroy Paulette Cooper". Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- ^ Nestel, M.L. (May 11, 2015). "Scientology's First 'Victim'". The Daily Beast. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- Cannane, Steve (July 17, 2015). "How the Church of Scientology tried to bring down journalist Paulette Cooper, aka Miss Lovely". ABC News Australia. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- Centre for Inquiry Toronto. "Tony Ortega & Paulette Cooper: The Unbreakable Miss Lovely". Center for Inquiry Canada. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
- Blum, Steven (January 30, 2019). "Is Scientology Losing Its Celebrity Cachet?". Los Angeles.
- Battlefield Scientology : Exposing L. Ron Hubbard's Dangerous "Religion" by Tony Ortega and Paulette Cooper ISBN 1727131568, 9781727131567
- Ortega, Tony. "Introducing The Cult Awreness Podcast". The Underground Bunker. Retrieved September 13, 2019.
External links
- The Underground Bunker website
- Tony Ortega's Substack
- Tony Ortega: Village Voice Runnin' Scared blog posts by year (2006–2012)
- Living people
- 20th-century American journalists
- 20th-century American non-fiction writers
- 21st-century American journalists
- 21st-century American non-fiction writers
- American bloggers
- American investigative journalists
- American male bloggers
- American male journalists
- American male non-fiction writers
- American newspaper editors
- American people of Mexican descent
- American religion and spirituality podcasters
- California State University, Fullerton alumni
- Critics of Scientology
- The Village Voice people
- Writers from Los Angeles