John Stossel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Stossel
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Stossel in 2018
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John Frank Stossel
March 6, 1947 |
| Education | Princeton University (BA) |
| Occupation | Libertarian pundit, author, columnist, reporter, TV presenter |
| Years active | 1969–present |
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Notable credit(s)
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| Political party | Libertarian |
| Spouse(s) | Ellen Abrams |
| Children | 2 |
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John Frank Stossel (born March 6, 1947) is an American television host, author, and journalist. He is known for his work on ABC News, Fox Business Network, and Reason TV. Stossel often shares his views on libertarian ideas, which focus on individual freedom and free markets.
Stossel's reporting style mixes news and his own opinions. He often supports ideas about free markets and less government involvement. He started his career as a researcher and then became a consumer reporter. Later, he joined ABC News and became a well-known correspondent and co-anchor for the show 20/20. In 2009, Stossel moved to the Fox Business Network where he hosted his own weekly show called Stossel. He also started an online channel called StosselTV in 2019. Stossel has won many awards, including 19 Emmy Awards, for his work. He has also written three books.
Contents
Early Life and Education
John F. Stossel was born on March 6, 1947, in Chicago Heights, Illinois. His parents came from Germany before Hitler gained power. He grew up in Chicago and went to New Trier High School. Stossel has said he was not a very serious student in college. He attended Princeton University and later decided to start working instead of going straight to graduate school.
Career Journey
Starting in Journalism
Stossel began his career in television at KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon. He started as a helper in the newsroom and then became a researcher and writer. He later began reporting on air. Stossel had a stutter since he was a child, which made him work harder to improve his speaking.
He then moved to WCBS-TV in New York City. Stossel found that union rules sometimes made it hard for reporters to be creative. He also realized that important stories were often about slow changes, like the women's movement, rather than daily events. He worked to cover these deeper topics. Stossel has also helped the Stuttering Foundation of America.
Working at 20/20
In 1981, Stossel joined ABC News. He became a correspondent for 20/20 and a consumer reporter for Good Morning America. On 20/20, he had segments called "Give Me a Break." These segments looked closely at things like government rules and popular culture. He often questioned common beliefs.
During his time at 20/20, Stossel learned about libertarian ideas. He found that these ideas, which focus on individual freedom, appealed to him. He later became a co-anchor for 20/20 in 2003. He also wrote his first book, Give Me a Break, which shared his journey in journalism and how his views changed.
Moving to Fox News
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In 2009, Stossel left ABC News to join the Fox Business Network and Fox News Channel. He started hosting a weekly show called Stossel in December 2009. This show explored topics like individual freedom, free market capitalism, and smaller government. It covered subjects such as civil liberties and free trade.
The final episode of Stossel aired in December 2016. Stossel explained that he wanted to help new journalists who shared his views. He continued to appear on Fox programs and helped create content for Reason TV. He also writes a blog called "Stossel's Take."
Stossel TV Online
In 2019, John Stossel started Stossel TV. This is an online channel that shares weekly videos on social media platforms.
His Books and Educational Work
Stossel has written three books. His first book, Give Me a Break (2004), talks about his career and how his ideas about government changed. It explains his support for free markets and private businesses. This book was a New York Times bestseller.
His second book, Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity (2007), questions many common beliefs. His third book, No, They Can't: Why Government Fails – But Individuals Succeed (2012), argues that government plans often create new problems. It suggests that individuals and private businesses can solve problems more effectively.
Stossel also helped create educational materials for schools. In 1999, he launched "Stossel in the Classroom," which provides teaching tools. He also released "Teaching Tools for Economics" in 2006. Since 2011, Stossel has written a weekly newspaper column that appears in various online publications.
His Political Views
John Stossel is a libertarian. He often says he votes for the Libertarian Party. He believes strongly in both personal freedom and the free market. He uses his TV shows to share these ideas and to encourage people to trust free markets and economic competition. In 2008, he received an honorary degree from Francisco Marroquin University, a university known for its libertarian ideas.
Stossel believes that when people work for their own benefit, it encourages them to work harder and create new things. He argues that this helps everyone, including those who are less wealthy. He supports ideas like school choice to improve education.
He often criticizes government programs, saying they can be wasteful or not work well. He also discusses the legal system, suggesting that some lawsuits might be unnecessary. Stossel supports ideas like gun rights and lower, simpler taxes. He believes a country needs police and a strong national defense, as described in the U.S. Constitution.
Stossel has also moderated debates for Libertarian presidential candidates.
Personal Life
John Stossel lives in New York City with his wife, Ellen Abrams, and their two children, Lauren and Max. He has embraced his family's Ashkenazi Jewish heritage and raised his children in the Jewish faith. Stossel has described himself as an agnostic, meaning he is open to the idea of God but does not believe in one.
His brother, Thomas P. Stossel, was a professor at Harvard Medical School. In 2016, John Stossel announced that he had lung cancer, even though he had never smoked. The cancer was found early, and he had surgery to remove part of his lung.
See also
In Spanish: John Stossel para niños
- List of newspaper columnists
