Howard Kurtz Biography: Net Worth, Parents, Books, Age, Wife, Kids, Height, Twitter
Howard Alan Kurtz, known professionally as Howard Kurtz, is an American journalist, author, and television host whose career has spanned more than four decades.
He is best known for his long tenure as media reporter and columnist at The Washington Post, his fifteen-year run as host of CNN’s Reliable Sources, and his role as host of MediaBuzz on Fox News.
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A graduate of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, Kurtz has authored five books on the media and has received multiple awards, including the National Press Club Award for Media Criticism.
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| Wiki Facts & About Data | |
| Real Name: | Howard Alan Kurtz |
| Stage Name: | Howard Kurtz |
| Born: | 1 August 1953 (age 73 years old) |
| Place of Birth: | Brooklyn, New York, U.S. |
| Nationality: | American |
| Height: | 1.75 m |
| Parents: | Leonard Kurtz, Marcia Kurtz |
| Siblings: | Barbara Kurtz |
| Spouse: | Lauren Ashburn (m. 2020) |
| Relationship: | Married |
| Children: | Judy Kurtz, Bonnie Kurtz, Abby Kurtz |
| Occupation: | Journalist, author |
| Net Worth: | $2 million |
Early Life and Education
Howard Kurtz was born on 1 August 1953 in the Sheepshead Bay neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Of White American and Jewish heritage, he was raised in the Jewish faith as the son of Leonard Kurtz, a clothing executive, and Marcia Kurtz, a homemaker.
He grew up alongside his sister, Barbara Kurtz. Kurtz attended Sheepshead Bay High School, graduating in 1970, before enrolling at the University at Buffalo, where he worked on the student newspaper, The Spectrum, and became its editor during his senior year.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in psychology and English in 1974, then continued his studies at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism, where he completed a Master of Arts.
Career
Howard Kurtz began his professional journey in journalism after college, taking a reporting position at The Record in New Jersey. He soon moved to Washington, D.C., where he worked as a reporter for the syndicated columnist Jack Anderson.
His next role was at The Washington Star, a midday newspaper, where he gained further experience covering national affairs.
When the Star folded in 1981, Bob Woodward, then metro editor at The Washington Post, hired Kurtz, setting the stage for a nearly three-decade association with one of America’s most influential newspapers.
At The Washington Post, Kurtz held several key positions, including Justice Department and congressional reporter, New York bureau chief, and deputy national editor. In 1990, he became the paper’s media reporter, writing the weekly Media Notes column, which became one of the most widely read media columns in the country.
During this period, he also began his television career, joining CNN’s Reliable Sources as a panelist in 1992 and taking over as host in 1998.
He authored several books on the media, including Media Circus (1993), Hot Air (1996), and the New York Times bestseller Spin Cycle (1998). In 2010, he left The Washington Post after 29 years to become Washington bureau chief for Newsweek and The Daily Beast.
In 2013, Kurtz moved from CNN to Fox News, where he launched MediaBuzz, a Sunday morning media criticism program that he hosted for twelve years. The show became a fixture in cable news, known for its interviews with journalists and analysis of press coverage.
In September 2025, Fox News announced the program’s conclusion, with Kurtz transitioning to a contributor role, continuing his MediaBuzz podcast and offering political and media analysis for the network.
Throughout his career, Kurtz has been recognized for his sustained scrutiny of the news industry, his bestselling books, and his influence on media criticism as both a print columnist and a television anchor.
Social Media
- Instagram Handle: @howardkurtz
- Facebook Handle: @MediaBuzzFNC
- Twitter/X Handle: @HowardKurtz
Personal Life
Howard Kurtz has been married three times. His first marriage was to Mary Tallmer in 1979, with whom he has two children, Judy Kurtz and Bonnie Kurtz; the marriage ended in divorce.
In May 2003, he married media consultant Sheri Annis, and the couple had one child, Abby Kurtz, before divorcing in 2018. In 2020, Kurtz married journalist and media consultant Lauren Ashburn, to whom he remains married.
He is the father of three daughters and maintains a relatively private family life in Washington, D.C., where he has been based for much of his career.
Net Worth
Howard Kurtz has an estimated net worth of approximately $2 million, built through decades of work as a journalist, author, and television host. His primary income sources include salaries from The Washington Post, CNN, The Daily Beast, and Fox News, along with book advances and royalties from his five published works.
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