Quick Facts
Biography
Cathy Areu is an American author, journalist, political pundit, and frequent news analyst who has appeared on HLN's Showbiz Tonight, HLN's Prime News, CNN's Campbell Brown, CNN's AC360, Fox News O'Reilly Factor, MSNBC's The Daily Rundown, and RussiaToday's CrossTalk. She has been a contributing editor for the Washington Post Magazine since 2000 and is the founding publisher of Catalina magazine.
Early life and education
Areu was born in Summit, New Jersey, to Cuban immigrants. She was raised in Miami, Florida.
She received her B.A. in English literature from Florida State University, where she was a staff writer for Florida Flambeau. Before graduating, Areu also published a piece on women's rights for a sociology/anthropology journal.
Areu earned a Master of Science degree in English Education from Nova Southeastern University, Broward County, Florida, while working as an adult education and Spanish teacher for Dekalb County Schools. Upon graduation, Areu taught high school English, ESL, and journalism for Palm Beach County schools, while covering local news for the Chicago Tribune's Sun-Sentinel newspaper.
In 1998, Areu moved to The Netherlands and taught "Writing for Publication" for the University of Utrecht.
Career
From 2001 to 2012, Areu was a contributing editor for The Washington Post Magazine, profiling the most famous and influential political figures in U.S. politics, for the column "First Person Singular." Her interview subjects have included First Lady Laura Bush, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senator Al Franken, Al Sharpton, Alberto Gonzales, and former Secretary of State James Baker.
She contributed to Latina Style in 2001; she also contributed to People magazine and USA Weekend.
In 2001 she founded Catalina, a multi-platform media company aimed at Hispanic women. It covers a variety of subjects including culture, politics, and entertainment. Catalina is available online as well as in print form. Folio magazine named Catalina a "Lead Launch" in the magazine's first year. Catalina cover models have included Daisy Fuentes, Natalie Morales, Mario Lopez, Ricardo Antonio Chavira, and Maria Conchita Alonso.
In May 2006, Areu published via Barricade Books a book titled Latino Wisdom: Celebrity Stories of Hope, Inspiration, and Success to Recharge Your Mind, Body, and Soul—a collection of stories about America's best-known Hispanic figures.
Media appearances
Areu has often appeared on Fox News's Tucker Carlson Tonight (in a recurring 2018 segment as the "Liberal Sherpa"), The O'Reilly Factor, and The Sean Hannity Show; Prime News and Showbiz Tonight on HLN; AC360 (Anderson Cooper) and Campbell Brown on CNN; and MSNBC's The Daily Rundown.
Fox News lawsuit
In July 2020, Areu and former Fox Business associate producer Jennifer Eckhart sued Fox News and some of its prominent contributors. The suit states that Areu was sexually harassed by men at Fox News, including primetime hosts Sean Hannity and Tucker Carlson, and journalist Howard Kurtz. Soon after the suit was filed, however, significant holes in Areu's claims were made public.
Personal life
Areu has two daughters.
In March 2020, Areu contracted COVID-19. She didn't experience any of the top symptoms most commonly described. "I was mild to moderate. They consider it that because I didn't need a respirator. But, I pretty much got 13 symptoms," she explained from Florida appeared on "Fox & Friends First." Shortly after she recovered, her two young daughters were infected.
Books
Latino Wisdom: Celebrity Stories of Hope, Inspiration, and Success to Recharge Your Mind, Body, and Soul - Barricade Books (2006) ISBN 1-569-80309-9.