Jonathan Kay
Encyclopedia
Jonathan Hillel Kay is Comment Pages Editor for the Toronto-based Canadian daily newspaper National Post
, a columnist for the Post op-ed page, a blogger for the Post web site, a book author and editor, and a public speaker. He is also a regular contributor to Commentary Magazine and the New York Post
. His freelance articles have been published in a variety of US publications including Newsweek, The New Yorker, Salon.com, The New Republic, Harper's Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, The Weekly Standard, The Literary Review of Canada, The National Interest and The New York Times.
. His mother is the socially conservative newspaper columnist Barbara Kay
. He attended Selwyn House School
and Marianopolis College before obtaining a BSc and a MSc in metallurgical engineering from McGill University
and a law degree from Yale Law School
. He is a member of the New York bar. After practicing as a tax lawyer in New York City, Kay moved to Toronto, where, in 1998, he became a founding member of the National Post editorial board. Kay describes himself as an avid tennis enthusiast, and sometimes has incorporated his passion for the sport into his journalism.
Apart from his editorial work, Kay has also written two non-fiction books. In 2007, Kay co-authored The Volunteer, a biography of Mossad
secret agent Michael Ross. In May, 2011, HarperCollins published Kay's second book, Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground
(ISBN 978-0-06-200481-9). The book reflects Kay's interest in the psychology of conspiracy theorists, a subject he often has explored in his National Post columns.
columnist Terence Corcoran
, a noted climate-change skeptic, argued that Kay's support of the anthropogenic climate change theory was based on unproven environmentalist dogmas.
Kay's writing is generally dismissive of the claims made by the 9/11 Truth Movement
, and they have responded with criticism of him. He has been accused of attacking academic freedom because, in his writing, he criticizes the public funding of academic research that is based on 9/11 skepticism.
Among the Truthers generally received positive reviews in major media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal
and The Economist.
.
National Post
The National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
, a columnist for the Post op-ed page, a blogger for the Post web site, a book author and editor, and a public speaker. He is also a regular contributor to Commentary Magazine and the New York Post
New York Post
The New York Post is the 13th-oldest newspaper published in the United States and is generally acknowledged as the oldest to have been published continuously as a daily, although – as is the case with most other papers – its publication has been periodically interrupted by labor actions...
. His freelance articles have been published in a variety of US publications including Newsweek, The New Yorker, Salon.com, The New Republic, Harper's Magazine, the Los Angeles Times, The Weekly Standard, The Literary Review of Canada, The National Interest and The New York Times.
Early life and career
Jonathan Kay was born and raised in MontrealMontreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
. His mother is the socially conservative newspaper columnist Barbara Kay
Barbara Kay
Barbara Kay is a columnist with the National Post.Kay is a graduate of the University of Toronto where she earned an undergraduate degree in English literature...
. He attended Selwyn House School
Selwyn House School
Selwyn House School is a private independent boys' school located in Westmount, Quebec. Boys can attend from Kindergarten through to Grade 11. The school was founded in 1908 by Englishman Captain Algernon Lucas...
and Marianopolis College before obtaining a BSc and a MSc in metallurgical engineering from McGill University
McGill University
Mohammed Fathy is a public research university located in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. The university bears the name of James McGill, a prominent Montreal merchant from Glasgow, Scotland, whose bequest formed the beginning of the university...
and a law degree from Yale Law School
Yale Law School
Yale Law School, or YLS, is the law school of Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut, United States. Established in 1824, it offers the J.D., LL.M., J.S.D. and M.S.L. degrees in law. It also hosts visiting scholars, visiting researchers and a number of legal research centers...
. He is a member of the New York bar. After practicing as a tax lawyer in New York City, Kay moved to Toronto, where, in 1998, he became a founding member of the National Post editorial board. Kay describes himself as an avid tennis enthusiast, and sometimes has incorporated his passion for the sport into his journalism.
Apart from his editorial work, Kay has also written two non-fiction books. In 2007, Kay co-authored The Volunteer, a biography of Mossad
Mossad
The Mossad , short for HaMossad leModi'in uleTafkidim Meyuchadim , is the national intelligence agency of Israel....
secret agent Michael Ross. In May, 2011, HarperCollins published Kay's second book, Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground
Among the Truthers
Among the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground is a 2011 book by Canadian journalist Jonathan Kay that examines the popularity of conspiracy theories in the United States. The book examines the history and psychology of conspiracy theories, particularly focusing on...
(ISBN 978-0-06-200481-9). The book reflects Kay's interest in the psychology of conspiracy theorists, a subject he often has explored in his National Post columns.
Reactions to Kay's writings
Kay often endorses views regarded as conservative, particularly on the subjects of Israel, political correctness and policy toward North American Aboriginals. However, he also has dissented from conservatives on a variety of issues. In recent years, for example, he has written articles raising awareness about income inequality, and questioning the conduct of the Iraq War. In 2010, Kay argued that conservatives are wrong to continue challenging the majority scientific view on global warming. In response, Financial PostFinancial Post
The Financial Post was an English Canadian business newspaper, which published from 1907 to 1998. In 1998, the publication was folded into the new National Post, although the name Financial Post has been retained as the banner for that paper's business section and also lives on in the Post’s...
columnist Terence Corcoran
Terence Corcoran
Terence "Terry" Dollard Corcoran is editor and columnist for the Financial Post section of the Toronto-based National Post.-Biography and works:...
, a noted climate-change skeptic, argued that Kay's support of the anthropogenic climate change theory was based on unproven environmentalist dogmas.
Kay's writing is generally dismissive of the claims made by the 9/11 Truth Movement
9/11 Truth Movement
9/11 Truth movement is a collective name for loosely affiliated organizations and individuals who question the accepted account of the September 11, 2001, attacks....
, and they have responded with criticism of him. He has been accused of attacking academic freedom because, in his writing, he criticizes the public funding of academic research that is based on 9/11 skepticism.
Among the Truthers generally received positive reviews in major media outlets, such as The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal
The Wall Street Journal is an American English-language international daily newspaper. It is published in New York City by Dow Jones & Company, a division of News Corporation, along with the Asian and European editions of the Journal....
and The Economist.
Published books
- The Volunteer: A Canadian's Secret Life in the Mossad, by Michael Ross and Jonathan Kay, Skyhorse Publishing (2007), ISBN 978-161608251
- Among the TruthersAmong the TruthersAmong the Truthers: A Journey Through America's Growing Conspiracist Underground is a 2011 book by Canadian journalist Jonathan Kay that examines the popularity of conspiracy theories in the United States. The book examines the history and psychology of conspiracy theories, particularly focusing on...
, by Jonathan Kay, HarperCollins Publishers Ltd (May 10 2011), ISBN 978-1554686308
Awards and recognition
In 2002, he was awarded Canada's National Newspaper Award for Critical Writing. In 2004, he was awarded a National Newspaper Award for Editorial Writing. He is currently a visiting fellow at the Foundation for Defense of DemocraciesFoundation for Defense of Democracies
The Foundation for Defense of Democracies describes itself as a non-profit, non-partisan policy institute "working to defend free nations against their enemies". It was founded shortly after the September 11, 2001, attacks to address what it regards as the "threat facing America, Israel and the...
.
External links
- Jonathan Kay's page at the National Post.
- Website for the book Among the Truthers.