John Donvan

Last updated
John Donvan
Born1955 (age 69–70)
NationalityAmerican
Alma mater Columbia School of Journalism
Occupation(s)Author, broadcaster, debate moderator
Years active1977–present
SpouseRanit Mishori
Children2

John Donvan (born 1955) is a journalist, broadcaster and debate moderator whose bestselling book, In a Different Key: The Story of Autism, was a Pulitzer Prize Finalist. He serves as host of Open to Debate, a debate series dedicated to raising the level of public discourse in America.

Contents

Early life

Donvan attended Regis High School in New York City. [1] He attended Dartmouth and Columbia School of Journalism.

Career

Donvan is the host of Open to Debate (which began as Intelligence Squared US), and is a forum that gathers experts to debate propositions concerning serious topics of public interest in Oxford Union-style debates which may be heard on NPR, and on Fora.TV.

Donvan is an avid storyteller, having premiered his first one-man show "Lose the Kid" in Washington, D.C. in September 2013, under the auspices of SpeakeasyDC. [2]

Earlier, he worked as a reporter for ABC News, including stints as Moscow and London correspondent [3] and becoming the network's chief White House correspondent in January 1997 [4] and a regular contributor to Nightline in 1998. [5]

In 2016, Donvan and Caren Zucker, a journalist and television news producer, co-authored In a Different Key: The Story of Autism. [6] Issues discussed include the Refrigerator mother theory and the possibility of an autism epidemic. [7] One autistic individual covered is Donald Triplett, the first child diagnosed with autism. [8] [9] [10] Another person profiled is psychiatrist and autism pioneer Leo Kanner. [11] The book discusses the debate over the neurodiversity movement, especially with respect to low-functioning autistics. [7]

Awards

Donvan's broadcast work has won four Emmy Awards, several Overseas Press Club Awards, two Cine Golden Eagles, and has been honored by the National Association of Black Journalists, the Committee of 100, and the Media Action Network for Asian-Americans. [5] [2] As a writer, he was a named finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction for In a Different Key: The Story of Autism, and also a finalist for the 2011 National Magazine Award for his profile of Donald Triplett. Both works were co-authored with Caren Zucker.[ citation needed ]

References

  1. ↑ Donvan, John (January 19, 2012). "Quizmaster Reflects On 50 Years Of 'It's Academic'". NPR. Retrieved August 5, 2012.
  2. 1 2 "Believers in intelligent discussion". Intelligence Squared US. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  3. ↑ Mifflin, Lawrie (December 17, 1995). "Television; Weighing the Future of the Network Anchor" . The New York Times . Section 2, p. 37. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  4. ↑ Mifflin, Lawrie (December 12, 1996). "Second Job For President's Departing Aide" . The New York Times . p. B20. Retrieved January 1, 2023.
  5. 1 2 "John Donvan". ABC News. 24 March 2010. Archived from the original on August 15, 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  6. ↑ Groopman, Jerome (January 26, 2016). "'In a Different Key: The Story of Autism,' by John Donvan and Caren Zucker". New York Times. Retrieved November 30, 2016.
  7. 1 2 Siegel, Robert. "'In A Different Key' Traces History And Politics Of Autism". NPR.org. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  8. ↑ Baron, Saskia (17 January 2016). "In a Different Key: The Story of Autism by John Donvan and Caren Zucker – review". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  9. ↑ Miller, Laura (21 January 2016). "The Vindicated Parents". Slate. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  10. ↑ "BOOK EXCERPT: 'In a Different Key' by John Donvan and Caren Zucker". ABC News. 20 January 2016. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
  11. ↑ Bauer, Ann (28 January 2016). "'In a Different Key': a cinematic, sweeping story of autism". The Washington Post. Retrieved 19 March 2017.
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