Michael Jonas

Executive Editor, CommonWealth

About Michael Jonas

Michael Jonas has worked in journalism in Massachusetts since the early 1980s. Before joining the CommonWealth staff in early 2001, he was a contributing writer for the magazine for two years. His cover story in CommonWealth's Fall 1999 issue on Boston youth outreach workers was selected for a PASS (Prevention for a Safer Society) Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.

Michael got his start in journalism at the Dorchester Community News, a community newspaper serving Boston's largest neighborhood, where he covered a range of urban issues. Since the late 1980s, he has been a regular contributor to the Boston Globe. For 15 years he wrote a weekly column on local politics for the Boston Sunday Globe's City Weekly section.

Michael has also worked in broadcast journalism. In 1989, he was a co-producer for "The AIDS Quarterly," a national PBS series produced by WGBH-TV in Boston, and in the early 1990s, he worked as a producer for "Our Times," a weekly magazine program on WHDH-TV (Ch. 7) in Boston.

Michael lives in Dorchester with his wife and their two daughters.

About Michael Jonas

Michael Jonas has worked in journalism in Massachusetts since the early 1980s. Before joining the CommonWealth staff in early 2001, he was a contributing writer for the magazine for two years. His cover story in CommonWealth's Fall 1999 issue on Boston youth outreach workers was selected for a PASS (Prevention for a Safer Society) Award from the National Council on Crime and Delinquency.

Michael got his start in journalism at the Dorchester Community News, a community newspaper serving Boston's largest neighborhood, where he covered a range of urban issues. Since the late 1980s, he has been a regular contributor to the Boston Globe. For 15 years he wrote a weekly column on local politics for the Boston Sunday Globe's City Weekly section.

Michael has also worked in broadcast journalism. In 1989, he was a co-producer for "The AIDS Quarterly," a national PBS series produced by WGBH-TV in Boston, and in the early 1990s, he worked as a producer for "Our Times," a weekly magazine program on WHDH-TV (Ch. 7) in Boston.

Michael lives in Dorchester with his wife and their two daughters.

Stories by Michael Jonas

Could Harvard affirmative action ruling threaten Boston exam school policies?

If court rejects considering race in admissions, challenging use of proxies for race could be next 

A race to keep up – or to the bottom? Lottery bets big on $50 scratch ticket, online games.

State is hooked on lottery funds that come disproportionately from lower-income residents

Debating state takeover of school districts

2010 reform law gave state new power over districts

Rollins wheeled and dealed with the Globe, Herald

Federal probes spotlight back-channel communications  

May 16, 2023

Black redistricting plaintiff doesn’t mind ruffling feathers 

Says challenging map backed by civil rights groups, progressives was ‘right thing to do’

New study calls WooSox stadium a bad deal for Worcester

City officials say new development is paying off loan

Senator to push voc school admission changes through budget amendment

Cronin calls current policies 'complete violation' federal civil rights standards

Has party imbalance broken democracy in Mass.?

Crowded Democratic primaries, meaningless general elections now the rule

Boston, housing, rent

Boston rent control plan on the ropes

Boston lawmakers signal skepticism 

With dueling reports, battle lines form over MCAS

Change or scrap the current system? 

Poll finds big safety concerns among Boston public school parents

Three-quarters support bringing police back into school buildings 

$10m donation to Holyoke Community College sets record, challenges norms

While elite schools rake in huge donations, giving to HCC means ‘more bang for your buck,’ say donors  

In Boston race for open state rep seat, a field of 1

Special election for Santiago seat now a cakewalk

Polls apart on teacher strike issue

2 surveys, 2 different conclusions on public attitudes

Mel King remembered as ‘humble and generous humanist’ for justice  

Civil rights icon honored in music-filled service

Greater Boston’s Black population becoming more diverse, dispersed

Recent growth has taken place outside the city

For Ed Flynn, awkward roles of race healer and redistricting foe 

South Boston city councilor is key player in heated debate 

Mel King: A singular Boston sensation

Activist, mayoral campaign barrier-breaker cut his own path

Mariano to DiZoglio: pound sand 

Speaker rips auditor’s effort to probe House workings 

Union urges teachers and students to ‘opt out’ of MCAS

Effort is part of push for overhaul of state accountability system

Jan. 2019

Arroyo wants to ban sale of ‘nips’ in Boston

City councilor calls small liquor bottles a public health hazard and litter blight

Will Healey go inside or outside for State Police and MBTA hires?

With troubled agencies, new blood is often the presumed best path 

Healey retaining Craven as education board chair 

Move signals broad alignment with current policies

Healey’s competitiveness mantra collides with T reality

Slow zone Red Line slog would cost me at least 1 extra week a year

Next to Alisha: preschool teacher Natisha French. March 7, 2023

Reading the tea leaves on new education secretary’s charter vote 

Tutwiler votes against new school, but says it’s no signal of broader position

Mass. looks to line up lucrative CHIPS shot 

Region makes play for federal grant aimed at jumpstarting US semiconductor sector

In end of era, Bay State Banner sold

Publisher Mel Miller decides, at 88, to pass the baton on Boston’s iconic Black-focused newspaper

Congressional support for teacher strikes at odds with state leadership 

Markey, Warren cheer walkouts, while Healey ‘not a fan’ 

Dalializ, a kindergartener at the Kelly School in Holyoke, asks a question to an Enchanted Circle teaching artist. school education holyoke, photo by sarah betancourt

Researcher warns of ‘fiscal cliff’ for US school districts

Federal pandemic relief funds will come to abrupt end in 2024  

Wu’s rent control plan takes hits from both sides 

Boston mayor tries to strike a balance on plan to rein in housing costs