Amy Dickinson

Amy Dickinson is an American journalist, author, and advice columnist known for writing the nationally syndicated "Ask Amy" column. A graduate of Georgetown University, Dickinson began her journalism career as a producer at NBC News before writing for TIME Magazine and contributing regularly to NPR's "All Things Considered." Her work has appeared in The Washington Post, Esquire, and O Magazine, establishing her as a versatile voice in American media.

Dickinson succeeded Ann Landers as the Chicago Tribune's advice columnist, selected after a competitive process involving multiple writers and focus groups. Over more than two decades, "Ask Amy" became one of the most widely read advice columns in the United States, syndicated to more than 150 newspapers and reaching an estimated 22 million readers daily. Dickinson is recognized for her honest, empathetic, and often humorous approach to advice journalism.

In addition to her print work, Dickinson has maintained a media presence across television and radio. She has appeared as a social commentator on ABC's "Good Morning America," NBC's "The Today Show," and contributed commentary to CBS's "Sunday Morning." Dickinson is a recurring panelist on NPR's "Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!," where her wit and storytelling ability are regularly featured.

Dickinson is the author of the memoirs "The Mighty Queens of Freeville: A Mother, a Daughter, and the Town That Raised Them" and "Strangers Tend to Tell Me Things: A Memoir of Love, Loss, and Coming Home." Both books explore her experiences as a single mother, her roots in small-town America, and her return to her hometown, themes that resonate with a broad audience.

After concluding her tenure with "Ask Amy," Dickinson opened a lending library in her hometown of Freeville, New York, and continues to write and engage with readers through her "Asking Amy" newsletter on Substack. Her career reflects the impact of honest storytelling and the ongoing need for thoughtful advice in media and journalism.