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

March 17, 2020

Dealing with deserted downtowns now high on Baker menu 

Governor tells business breakfast things will ‘be different’ 

Markey endorses Arroyo in Suffolk DA contest

Boston city councilor has backing of both of state’s US senators 

Markey, Warren throw some political weight around

State’s US senators show unusual willingness to dive into contested primaries

A steep fall for Cannon-Grant

Activist who rocketed to prominence arrested on federal fraud charges

Tsarnaev again faces death penalty, but support for capital punishment dropping

In several states, Republicans are part of the shift in views

Think tank calls for state takeover of Boston schools

Pioneer Institute report calls receivership ‘best hope for recovery’

GOP gov hopeful Doughty taps former rep as unofficial running mate 

Wrentham businessman hopes Campanale pick will rev up campaign 

Pioneer Institute launching center to push issues in court

New nonprofit will pursue school choice cases, public records access, market regulations

Lynn’s new mayor, Jared Nicholson, vows to oversee ‘inclusive growth’

Former legal aid lawyer -- and college wrestler -- says development should benefit all 

New Bedford Light calls out silence on health care exec story

News site spotlights lack of transparency from health system, courts

SJC says Springfield mayor’s powers on policing have limits

Case will lead to five-member commission overseeing troubled department

Rollins reforms loom over Suffolk DA race

Ricardo Arroyo vows to stay on same track, while Kevin Hayden leans toward middle

What if Boston just scrapped its school committee altogether?

A provocative proposal floated as governance debate heats up

Galvin looks to grab the reformer label

With call to expand public records law, he claims to be change agent

South Coast charter school proposal withdrawn 

Application for school serving New Bedford and Fall River pulled in the face of strong opposition 

Charter school proposal roils South Coast

Plan for school serving New Bedford and Fall River with ‘early college’ focus draws praise – and pickets 

1-20-21

Healey’s delicate dance with labels

AG proclaims her progressive cred, but could benefit as moderate Dem

After rejection of ‘innovation’ plan, Charlestown High faces new reckoning

Struggling Boston school will be the focus of a district ‘intervention team’

Andrea Campbell announces run for attorney general

Former Boston city councilor joins growing Democratic field

Hayden eschews labels, vows to ‘do the right thing’ as DA

New Suffolk prosecutor hints at campaign launch, says justice and public safety can co-exist 

Michelle Wu’s vax dilemma

Mayor looks to be firm – without setting off war with unions 

Jan 20, 2022

In first campaign stop, Healey stays on script

AG sticks to broad themes, sidesteps questions on decision timeline

Healey launches run for governor

Two-term AG enters open race in strong position 

Sullivan frames secretary of state run as ‘unique moment for our democracy’

Boston NAACP president says she’d bring ‘fresh perspective' to post

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll joins surge of lieutenant governor hopefuls

Five Democrats now seeking a post with little official power 

Report slams sheriffs over campaign money from contractors, employees

Groups say a huge share of donations represent 'apparent conflict'

How Boston escaped the national spike in homicides

On-the-ground community programs, smart policing credited with bucking trend

Tompkins to face challenge from longtime sheriff’s department official

Sandy Zamor Calixte says the corrections agency needs new leadership

Trauma brought to life in powerful Globe essay

Gripping tale comes amid wave of exploration of our torturous past

March 9, 2020 MGH

CommonWealth’s most-read commentary pieces of 2021 covered the waterfront

Essays on topics from health care to history challenged our thinking on a range of issues 

opinion