Press Releases

08/19/2010

Kennedy named AP's theater and pop culture writer

NEW YORK (AP) -- Mark Kennedy, who previously worked for The Associated Press for 13 years, is rejoining the news agency as its theater and pop culture writer.

The announcement was made Thursday by Entertainment Editor Alicia Quarles.

Mark Kennedy

Throughout his years at the AP, Kennedy was a regular contributor to the entertainment desk. He wrote compelling, revealing features on high-profile artists and forward-thinking articles on theater, music, film, books and more.

Kennedy, 40, also was an editor on the AP's national and supervisory desks, helping cover such major events as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina. He reported from Kabul in 2003 and helped anchor coverage from Los Angeles in the aftermath of Michael Jackson's death.

Since March 2010, Kennedy has been an editor at AOL News in New York.

AP’s previous theater writer, Michael Kuchwara, died in May after a brief illness. He covered theater for 25 of the 40 years he reported for AP.

“While we are still mourning the loss of our beloved Michael, we remain dedicated to honoring his memory and to thoroughly covering the beat Mike so loved,” said Quarles. “Mark will help to build on that legacy while making his own mark in the theater world.”

In addition to writing theater features and reviews, Kennedy will contribute to other aspects of entertainment including music, film and industry trends.

Kennedy has a master's degree from Harvard University and received his bachelor's from Brown University.