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

Arts programming in Boston schools linked to attendance, engagement gains 

Study finding follows decade-long effort to boost arts in district

Ed Glaeser considers the post-pandemic challenges facing cities

Harvard economist says urban centers will remain vital -- but face new threats 

Holmes says residents surrounding Franklin Park deserve respect — and quiet

Mattapan state rep says constituents fed up with noisy assaults on quality of life

Are liberals ‘addicted’ to the pandemic?

Atlantic writer takes a jab at Boston-area policies

Email aimed at easing Campbell out of Boston mayor’s race 

Her campaign calls effort promoting her for potential DA opening 'insulting'

In Galvin-DiMasi showdown, who’s the good guy?

Old friends now clash over lobbying law

Danielle Allen: a scholar of democracy with an urge to help fix it 

Harvard professor has long worked to bridge the world of ideas and practice 

Cracks in the thin blue line

From Chauvin conviction to Boston police, signs of change

Roxbury Prep gives up on Belgrade Ave. site

Charter school will look for another location for high school

Internal affairs file shows former police commissioner Evans was informed of Rose findings

Boston officer returned to duty despite investigators sustaining complaint of sexual assault on minor 

Defund the police, or defang the gangs? 

Reform calls clash with reality of urban gun violence 

State proposes sweeping change to vocational school admissions

New regulations aim to eliminate demographic disparities 

Janey says internal records on officer to be released 

Acting mayor responds to calls for transparency in case of alleged child sexual assaults 

City councilors call on Janey to release records on former police officer 

Acting mayor in hot seat as officials urge transparency in case of alleged child sexual assaults 

Janey expects report on Boston police commissioner Dennis White this month

Acting mayor sounds conflicted on issues the case raises 

Boston exam schools face court test

Race is again at the center of federal lawsuit over admissions 

4-5-21

Janey will seek full term as Boston mayor

There had been little doubt she would run, but Roxbury pol makes it official

Rachael Rollins on vindication of her decline-to-prosecute policy 

Suffolk DA says she’s committed to following the data 

March 24, 2021

Janey already scoring from her potent perch

Acting mayor position gives her unrivaled power and visibility 

Chang-Diaz considering a run for governor

Progressive Boston lawmaker points to urgent needs of ‘working people’

Study finds not prosecuting misdemeanors reduces defendants’ subsequent arrests

Results support Suffolk DA Rollins’s move to dismiss lower-level offenses

Duxbury Dragons and death camps

Anti-Semitic signals routine part of game plan 

Is Trump’s exit bad for Baker?

GOP gov’s Teflon coating starts to fade 

For Janey, opportunity knocks

Boston’s acting mayor occupies an enviable political perch  

Advocates, mayors renew push for voc-tech admission changes

Coalition says selective entry standards are locking out students who would benefit most

Pandemic shutdown has opened up civic participation

Boston councilors want to make online engagement permanent

Chelsea’s yearlong battle with COVID 

Two leaders of state’s hardest hit community take stock of the pandemic's toll and lessons

Bob Cousy scores vaccine — with possible assist from Fauci 

Former Celtics great plays it coy over who helped  

Dorchester Youth Collaborative shutdown a tough blow

After 40 years, haven for young people closes its doors 

Bernie backing means little in middle-of-the-road Winthrop 

One-time Trump voter Jeff Turco wins Democratic rep primary