Award-winning news correspondent John Stossel was named co-anchor of ABC News’ “20/20” in May 2003.  He joined the highly-acclaimed newsmagazine in 1981, and began doing one-hour primetime specials in 1994.

 

In addition to longer in-depth reports for “20/20” on subjects ranging from government waste to parenting, Stossel often does shorter pieces debunking myths, like “record high” gas prices, the evils of “sweatshops” and price “gouging”.  His “Give Me a Break” commentaries take a skeptical look at a wide array of issues, from pop culture controversies to censorship and government regulations.

 

He has written two best-sellers:  Give Me a Break and Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity:  Why Everything You Know Is Wrong.

 

Stossel’s TV specials consistently rate among the top news programs and have earned him uncommon praise:  “The most consistently thought-provoking TV reporter of our time” said The Dallas Morning News, while The Orlando Sentinel said he “has the gift for entertaining while saying something profound”.

 

Stossel’s first special, “Are We Scaring Ourselves to Death?” examined exaggerated fears of things like chemicals and crime.  “The Blame Game” looked at Americans’ growing tendency to blame their misfortunes on others.  “Freeloaders” focused on how getting “something for nothing” appeals to all of us, including rich people who use the power of government to help themselves.  “Greed” challenged conventional wisdom on how Americans view business, while “Sex, Drugs and Consenting Adults” questioned why Americans are jailed for voluntarily participating in so-called consensual crimes.  His most recent special, “Stupid in America”, suggested that the government’s monopoly on education cheats kids.

 

Stossel has received 19 Emmy Awards.  He has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club.  Among his other awards are the George Polk Award for Outstanding Local Reporting and the George Foster Peabody Award.

 

Stossel is a 1969 graduate of Princeton University, with a B.A. in psychology.