Jane Velez-Mitchell

Jane Velez-Mitchell — Life, Career, and Impact

Jane Velez-Mitchell — American journalist, television personality, vegan and animal-rights advocate. Explore her biography, career, writings, activism, and lasting contributions to media and social justice.

Introduction

Jane Velez-Mitchell is a prominent American television and social media journalist, author, and activist. She is best known for her tenure on HLN (formerly CNN Headline News), her outspoken advocacy on addiction, vegan lifestyles, animal rights, and social justice, and as the founder of the UnchainedTV media network. Her career spans traditional journalism, broadcasting, documentary production, and digital activism.

Early Life and Background

Jane Velez-Mitchell was born on September 29, 1956, in New York City.

She grew up in Manhattan and was exposed early to the dynamics of identity, media, and activism.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Broadcast Journalism from New York University in 1977.

Professional Career

Early Journalism & Television Reporting

Jane Velez-Mitchell began her journalism trajectory with on-air roles in smaller markets, including Fort Myers, Florida, then Minneapolis, Philadelphia, and later New York City. WCBS-TV in New York early in her career, under her name “Jane Mitchell.”

Later, she relocated to Los Angeles, where for about a decade she anchored and reported at KCAL-TV and sometimes KCBS-TV, working alongside seasoned broadcasters such as Jerry Dunphy.

She also contributed to Celebrity Justice, a syndicated show produced by Telepictures that covered celebrity legal issues.

HLN / “Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell”

In 2008, Velez-Mitchell was given her own show on HLN (CNN’s sister network), replacing Glenn Beck in the 7 p.m. hour. The show first aired as Issues with Jane Velez-Mitchell. 2012, the title was shortened to simply Jane Velez-Mitchell.

Her program was a current affairs / commentary show that took strong stances on stories, often combining crime, social issues, celebrity controversies, justice causes, and advocacy segments.

Notably, in 2010, the show’s segment “Gay Teen Mutilated” was nominated for a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Journalism Segment. October 2014 as part of budget cuts under Turner’s “Turner 2020” plan.

Transition to Digital & Activist Media

After the cancellation of her HLN show, Velez-Mitchell pivoted to a more direct activist-journalism model. In November 2014, she founded JaneUnchained, a digital news network focused on veganism, animal rights, and social justice. UnchainedTV.

Under her leadership, UnchainedTV has produced original content across formats: vegan cooking shows, documentaries, reality-style series (e.g., Pig Little Lies), live coverage of trials involving animal activism, and more. New Day New Chef, co-executive produced by Velez-Mitchell, has won Taste Awards and streams on Amazon Prime and public television in the U.S. Countdown to Year Zero, focusing on animal agriculture’s impact on climate change, is another flagship production.

Velez-Mitchell’s approach emphasizes accessible storytelling, avoiding “finger-wagging” tones, and reaching audiences beyond echo chambers.

Writings & Books

Jane Velez-Mitchell is also a prolific author. Her major works include:

• Secrets Can Be Murder: What America’s Most Sensational Crimes Tell Us About Ourselves (2007).

• iWant: My Journey from Addiction and Overconsumption to a Simpler, Honest Life (2009), a memoir in which she discusses her personal struggles with addiction and life change.

• Addict Nation: An Intervention for America (2011), in which she analyzes patterns of addiction—both to substances and to societal habits (internet, fast food, consumerism).

• Exposed: The Secret Life of Jodi Arias (2013). This book examines the case of Jodi Arias and became a New York Times Bestseller, debuting at #5.

She has also produced and directed documentaries (e.g., Dancing Through Life, in which she examined her personal history, family, and identity) and used her journalistic and production skills to blend media and advocacy.

Activism, Values & Advocacy

A defining feature of Jane Velez-Mitchell’s career is her advocacy, particularly around:

• Animal rights & veganism: She is a committed vegan and uses her platform to highlight cruelty in factory farming, advocate for compassionate eating, and elevate voices in the animal rights movement.

• Addiction & recovery: Her personal journey with addiction and recovery has informed her writing and public speaking. She frames addiction not merely as disease but as a symptom of broader cultural issues.

• Social justice & voice for the marginalized: Her HLN show and later digital media emphasize giving a platform to underserved or silenced groups. Her motto included “standing up for the less fortunate and demanding justice for all.”

• Media innovation: She has been an early adopter of live social video, streaming, and digital activism, using lower-budget but agile media tools to bypass traditional gatekeepers.

She has also received numerous awards and honors:

• Los Angeles Emmy Award and a New York Emmy Award for reporting work.

• Genesis Awards (Humane Society of the U.S.) for her coverage of animal cruelty (through Celebrity Justice and Issues).

• The Gracie Allen Award (Foundation of American Women in Radio and Television) in 2001.

• Other honors from PETA, the Animal Legal Defense Fund, Mercy for Animals, and awards for her “War on Women” coverage (Ruby Award) among others.

Personality, Style & Public Image

Jane Velez-Mitchell is known for her direct, to-the-point style, combining investigative drive with emotional resonance. Her work often reflects a blend of journalist and advocate—she does not shy away from strong positions.

She brings vulnerability in her writing and public appearances, especially regarding addiction, identity, and transformation. In interviews, she often speaks about clarity, accountability, and aligning one’s actions with one’s values.

Her transition from mainstream cable into niche, mission-driven media suggests both pragmatism and conviction: recognizing that to be effective, she must control content, distribution, and narrative.

Famous Quotes & Reflections

While Jane Velez-Mitchell is less known for “one-liner” quotes and more for sustained commentary, here are a few reflective lines and concepts she’s shared:

“I’m 28 years sober … I realized I couldn’t lie to myself about my sexual orientation. And then I started realizing that my behavior wasn’t in alignment with my values.”
— On her journey through sobriety, acceptance, and values alignment

“We have to put ourselves in the shoes of people who don’t necessarily want to be lectured to … if we put out finger-wagging content, people might just stop watching.”
— On how UnchainedTV crafts messaging to reach broader audiences

“The missing ingredient was documentation. Nobody was documenting the protests, the vigils, the direct action for animals.”
— On her motivation to start JaneUnchained / UnchainedTV

These reflect her dual roles as journalist and activist, and her consciousness about audience engagement.

Lessons from Jane Velez-Mitchell’s Journey

1. Bridging journalism and activism can amplify impact
   Velez-Mitchell shows that a journalist can maintain credibility while advocating passionately, through transparency, consistency, and integrity.

2. Personal experience can fuel empathy in storytelling
   Her own struggles with addiction, identity, and transformation infuse her work with authenticity.

3. Media evolution is essential
   She recognized early that traditional cable shows may limit reach. Her pivot to streaming, live social video, and network ownership demonstrates adaptability.

4. Advocacy works through narratives, not just data
   Her strategy emphasizes stories—of individuals, animals, systems—to shift hearts and minds.

5. Values must align with practice
   Her editorial choices, content priorities, and stance—especially on veganism, animals, social justice—consistently match her public identity.

6. Resilience in the face of change
   Transitioning from mainstream television to independent media is risky, but Velez-Mitchell’s conviction and audience building show that niche can be powerful.

Conclusion

Jane Velez-Mitchell’s career is a compelling example of how journalism, personal values, and digital innovation can merge into a sustained mission. From broadcasting in local markets to national cable commentary, then to founding UnchainedTV, she has navigated shifts in media while holding fast to advocacy. Her work continues to inspire those interested in ethical journalism, animal rights, addiction recovery, and the power of media to change narratives.