Margaret Carlson

Columnist, Time Magazine
February 25, 2003 - 11:00am

About Margaret Carlson

Margaret Carlson was named a columnist for TIME magazine in February 1994. Her column, Public Eye, makes Carlson the first woman columnist in the magazine’s 78-year history.

Prior to coming to TIME, Carlson served as the magazine’s deputy Washington bureau chief, after serving as a White House correspondent. In addition to her duties at the magazine, she serves as a panelist on CNN’s political programs “Inside Politics” and “The Capital Gang.”

In addition to covering Campaign 2000, during which she spent time with both Al Gore and George W. Bush, Carlson has covered the last four presidential elections. In her column, she has regularly commented on cultural and political issues, including President Bill Clinton’s impeachment trial, the campaign finance scandals, the state of feminism, and education issues.

Carlson joined TIME in January 1988 from the New Republic, where she was managing editor. Her journalism career has included stints as Washington bureau chief for Esquire magazine, editor of Washington Weekly, and editor of the Legal Times of Washington.

Carlson earned a law degree from George Washington University Law School in Washington, D.C. She completed her undergraduate work at Penn State University, where she majored in English.

She has one daughter and lives in Washington, D.C.