John Leo
Encyclopedia
John Leo is a writer and a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. He edits Minding the Campus, the Institute's web site on America's universities, and is a contributing editor of City Journal. He is also a Visitor
of Ralston College
, a start-up liberal arts college
in Savannah
.
From 1988 to 2006 his weekly column for U.S. News & World Report
was syndicated to 140 newspapers by Universal Press Syndicate
. The column focused mainly on social and cultural issues, most commonly political correctness
, but also advertising, movies, language, the news media, education, pop psychology and the self-esteem movement. His 1995 column on Time-Warner, terming it America's "leading cultural polluter," sparked the campaign that led to Time-Warner's decision to sell off its 50 percent share in Interscope Records
, a heavy producer of gangsta rap.
in New York City
(1952) and the University of Toronto
(1957). He covered the criminal courts for the Bergen Record of Hackensack, New Jersey
, for three years before becoming editor in 1960 of the Catholic Messenger, the most liberal of the nation's Catholic newspapers, published by the diocese of Davenport, Iowa.
in New York, an independent liberal Catholic magazine. In his weekly column for the National Catholic Reporter
(1964–1967) he pushed hard for free speech and greater openness in the church. In this campaign he attracted many critics and was disinvited as a speaker several times and banned in the diocese of Allentown. When the Reverend Daniel Berrigan
, a flamboyant anti-Vietnam-war Jesuit, was exiled to Latin America and put under a vow of silence, Leo broke the story in his column and Berrigan was quickly brought back home.
The New York Times
hired Leo in 1967 as its first reporter to cover the intellectual world. After leaving the Times, he was named an assistant administrator in New York City's Environmental Protection Administration. He returned to journalism and inaugurated the Press Clips column in The Village Voice
and served as book editor of the sociological magazine, Society
.
From 1974 to 1987 he worked at Time
as writer of the behavior section, which covered psychology, psychiatry, feminism and intellectual trends. He also wrote essays and humor, including the Ralph-and-Wanda dialogues between a liberal feminist and her curmudgeonly husband.
Leo served on the board of advisers of the Columbia Journalism Review
for ten years and on the church-state committee of the American Civil Liberties Union
for two years. He has taught journalism at St. Ambrose University in Davenport
and non-fiction writing at Southampton College
on Long Island.
He thinks that researchers should not worry about the effects of their findings, saying, "You're just supposed to tell your peers what you found. I don't expect academics to fret about these matters," regarding a study showing that diversity decreases the social capital
of a community.
His book of humor, How the Russians Invented Baseball and Other Essays of Enlightenment, appeared in 1989. His other books are Two Steps Ahead of the Thought Police (1994) and Incorrect Thoughts (2001).
He has three daughters and lives in Manhattan
with his wife, Jacqueline Leo
.
Visitor
A Visitor, in United Kingdom law and history, is an overseer of an autonomous ecclesiastical or eleemosynary institution , who can intervene in the internal affairs of that institution...
of Ralston College
Ralston College
Ralston College is a liberal arts college in Savannah, Georgia, United States. It was founded on February 1, 2010 and as of December 2010 is not yet accepting applications for admission. The patrons of Ralston College are Harold Bloom, Hilary Putnam, and Salman Rushdie. The members of the Board...
, a start-up liberal arts college
Liberal arts college
A liberal arts college is one with a primary emphasis on undergraduate study in the liberal arts and sciences.Students in the liberal arts generally major in a particular discipline while receiving exposure to a wide range of academic subjects, including sciences as well as the traditional...
in Savannah
Savannah, Georgia
Savannah is the largest city and the county seat of Chatham County, in the U.S. state of Georgia. Established in 1733, the city of Savannah was the colonial capital of the Province of Georgia and later the first state capital of Georgia. Today Savannah is an industrial center and an important...
.
From 1988 to 2006 his weekly column for U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report
U.S. News & World Report is an American news magazine published from Washington, D.C. Along with Time and Newsweek it was for many years a leading news weekly, focusing more than its counterparts on political, economic, health and education stories...
was syndicated to 140 newspapers by Universal Press Syndicate
Universal Press Syndicate
Universal Press Syndicate, a subsidiary of Andrews McMeel Universal, is the world's largest independent press syndicate. It distributes lifestyle and opinion columns, comic strips and other content. Popular columns include Dear Abby, Ann Coulter, Roger Ebert and News of the Weird...
. The column focused mainly on social and cultural issues, most commonly political correctness
Political correctness
Political correctness is a term which denotes language, ideas, policies, and behavior seen as seeking to minimize social and institutional offense in occupational, gender, racial, cultural, sexual orientation, certain other religions, beliefs or ideologies, disability, and age-related contexts,...
, but also advertising, movies, language, the news media, education, pop psychology and the self-esteem movement. His 1995 column on Time-Warner, terming it America's "leading cultural polluter," sparked the campaign that led to Time-Warner's decision to sell off its 50 percent share in Interscope Records
Interscope Records
Interscope Records is an American record label owned by Universal Music Group that currently operates as one third of UMG's Interscope-Geffen-A&M label group.-History:...
, a heavy producer of gangsta rap.
Early life
Leo is a graduate of Regis High SchoolRegis High School (New York City)
Regis High School is a private Jesuit university-preparatory school for academically gifted Roman Catholic young men located on Manhattan's Upper East Side. Annual class enrollment is limited to approximately 135 male students from the New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut tri-state area...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
(1952) and the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
(1957). He covered the criminal courts for the Bergen Record of Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack, New Jersey
Hackensack is a city in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States and the county seat of Bergen County. Although informally called Hackensack, it was officially named New Barbadoes Township until 1921. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 43,010....
, for three years before becoming editor in 1960 of the Catholic Messenger, the most liberal of the nation's Catholic newspapers, published by the diocese of Davenport, Iowa.
Career
In 1963, he became an associate editor of CommonwealCommonweal
Commonweal is a American journal of opinion edited and managed by lay Catholics. It is headquartered in The Interchurch Center in New York City.-History:...
in New York, an independent liberal Catholic magazine. In his weekly column for the National Catholic Reporter
National Catholic Reporter
The National Catholic Reporter is the second largest Catholic newspaper in the United States; its circulation reaches ninety-seven countries on six continents. Based in midtown Kansas City, Missouri, NCR was founded by Robert Hoyt in 1964 as an independent newspaper focusing on the Catholic Church...
(1964–1967) he pushed hard for free speech and greater openness in the church. In this campaign he attracted many critics and was disinvited as a speaker several times and banned in the diocese of Allentown. When the Reverend Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan
Daniel Berrigan, SJ is an American Catholic priest, peace activist, and poet. Daniel and his brother Philip were for a time on the FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives list for their involvement in antiwar protests during the Vietnam war....
, a flamboyant anti-Vietnam-war Jesuit, was exiled to Latin America and put under a vow of silence, Leo broke the story in his column and Berrigan was quickly brought back home.
The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
hired Leo in 1967 as its first reporter to cover the intellectual world. After leaving the Times, he was named an assistant administrator in New York City's Environmental Protection Administration. He returned to journalism and inaugurated the Press Clips column in The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
and served as book editor of the sociological magazine, Society
Society (journal)
Society is a scientific journal that publishes discussions and research findings in the social sciences and public policy.It was founded as Transaction: Social Science and Modern SOCIETY by Irving Louis Horowitz in 1962. It was published by Transaction Publisher for decades before being purchased...
.
From 1974 to 1987 he worked at Time
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
as writer of the behavior section, which covered psychology, psychiatry, feminism and intellectual trends. He also wrote essays and humor, including the Ralph-and-Wanda dialogues between a liberal feminist and her curmudgeonly husband.
Leo served on the board of advisers of the Columbia Journalism Review
Columbia Journalism Review
The Columbia Journalism Review is an American magazine for professional journalists published bimonthly by the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism since 1961....
for ten years and on the church-state committee of the American Civil Liberties Union
American Civil Liberties Union
The American Civil Liberties Union is a U.S. non-profit organization whose stated mission is "to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties guaranteed to every person in this country by the Constitution and laws of the United States." It works through litigation, legislation, and...
for two years. He has taught journalism at St. Ambrose University in Davenport
Davenport
-Places:In Australia*Electoral district of Davenport, in South AustraliaIn Canada*Davenport, Toronto, a neighbourhood and former village in Toronto*Davenport , a federal electoral district*Davenport...
and non-fiction writing at Southampton College
Southampton College
Stony Brook Southampton is a campus location of the State University of New York at Stony Brook, located in Southampton, New York between the Shinnecock Indian Reservation and Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on the eastern end of Long Island. The campus features an innovative curriculum devoted to...
on Long Island.
He thinks that researchers should not worry about the effects of their findings, saying, "You're just supposed to tell your peers what you found. I don't expect academics to fret about these matters," regarding a study showing that diversity decreases the social capital
Social capital
Social capital is a sociological concept, which refers to connections within and between social networks. The concept of social capital highlights the value of social relations and the role of cooperation and confidence to get collective or economic results. The term social capital is frequently...
of a community.
His book of humor, How the Russians Invented Baseball and Other Essays of Enlightenment, appeared in 1989. His other books are Two Steps Ahead of the Thought Police (1994) and Incorrect Thoughts (2001).
He has three daughters and lives in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
with his wife, Jacqueline Leo
Jacqueline Leo
-Career:Jacqueline Leo is Director of Digital Operations at the Peterson Digital Group and Editor in Chief of The Fiscal Times, a news website launched in February 2010. She is also Senior Advisor for Business Development at iAmplify.com , a Web-based content source and syndication network. Ms...
.