John Donvan | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1955 (age 69–70) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | Columbia School of Journalism |
| Occupation(s) | Author, broadcaster, debate moderator |
| Years active | 1977–present |
| Spouse | Ranit Mishori |
| Children | 2 |
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 ofOpen to Debate, a debate series dedicated to raising the level of public discourse in America.
Donvan attendedRegis High School inNew York City.[1] He attendedDartmouth andColumbia School of Journalism.
Donvan is the host of Open to Debate (which began asIntelligence Squared US), and is a forum that gathers experts to debate propositions concerning serious topics of public interest inOxford Union-style debates which may be heard onNPR, 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 forABC News, including stints asMoscow andLondon correspondent[3] and becoming the network's chiefWhite House correspondent in January 1997[4] and a regular contributor toNightline in 1998.[5]
In 2016, Donvan and Caren Zucker, a journalist and television news producer, co-authoredIn a Different Key: The Story of Autism.[6] Issues discussed include theRefrigerator mother theory and the possibility of an autism epidemic.[7] One autistic individual covered isDonald Triplett, the first child diagnosed with autism.[8][9][10] Another person profiled is psychiatrist and autism pioneerLeo Kanner.[11] The book discusses the debate over theneurodiversity movement, especially with respect to low-functioning autistics.[7]
Donvan's broadcast work has won fourEmmy Awards, severalOverseas Press Club Awards, twoCine Golden Eagles, and has been honored by theNational 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 2017Pulitzer Prize for General Nonfiction forIn 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]
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| Preceded by | ABC News ChiefWhite House Correspondent 1996–1998 | Succeeded by |
