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

Nangle arrest casts shadow on casino buy-in

Rep’s indictment puts gambling downsides on display

Feb 14, 2020

One year in, Rollins takes stock

Suffolk DA says she’s doing exactly what she said she would

New Tufts center to offer independent analysis of legislation, ballot questions

Evaluations aimed at informing the lawmaking process and voter choices 

Scrambling expectations in NH

Muddled message from fractured primary vote

Voc-tech schools facing scrutiny over admissions policies

Mayors call for lottery system to replace selective screening

Organization slams Boston use of its test for exam school admission

Firm says ‘misapplication’ of exam may be hurting black and Latino students

Globe punts on NH endorsement

Editorial calls for end to Iowa, NH voting first

An accident waiting to happen

T moves fast on repairs it says were slated for this weekend

school education holyoke

Is Massachusetts failing its brightest kids? 

Report finds advanced low-income, black, and Latino students may pay steepest price 

Rollins shows her mettle

DA stares down judge -- and wins again

Deportation battle exposes fuzzy border line

Iranian student’s case becomes flashpoint over immigration policy

Kid-free Boston

Exodus of families from city continues unabated

Will voters judge Walsh on schools?

Mayoral races rarely turn on education

Haverhill may scrap all at-large city council

Mayor to propose mix of district and citywide seats in bid to promote broader representation

Walsh and the new ‘be bold’ imperative 

Mayor looks to lead with restless council on his heels

Walsh calls for big boost in school spending

Commits $100 million in anticipation of new state aid

Mass. teacher diversity falling short

Disparities start early in the pipeline, says new report

Is the value of two-parent households overrated?

Harvard researcher hits a culture-war nerve

Casinos continue sluggish performance

Plainridge Park records worst full month since opening

Can Hampshire College be saved?

New president Ed Wingenbach is convinced it can be

Riding high on 1-vote win for City Council

Julia Mejia calls her election a victory for ‘regular folks’

Joe “One-Term” Biden for president?

It’s the question hanging over the former VP’s run

Atrius Health reaching back to its managed roots

Provider group bullish on “value-based” care models

Resistance to housing a never-ending saga

State keeps spinning its wheels as problem grows

SJC faces tricky constitutional challenge in indigent defense case

High court must reckon with clash of fundamental principles

Nov 26, 2019

With education bill-signing, cheers and challenges 

State now must maintain funding and ensure it’s well spent 

recorded Nov. 21, 2019

Is Walsh preparing to go ‘bold’ on transportation?

Mayor cites LA’s $120 billion commitment as a model

Employer policies add to roadway gridlock

Little movement by political leaders to change car culture

Sept 19, 2019

Agreement reached on ed funding bill 

Legislation directs $1.5b in new aid, restores state oversight from original proposal

A Patrick run lands locally with a thud

Little hometown love for possible presidential run