Owen Jones (writer)
Encyclopedia
Owen Jones is a left-wing British
author and commentator.
and grew up in Stockport
.
He attended Oxford University where he studied History and completed a Masters Degree in US History. Before becoming an author, Jones worked as a Parliamentary Researcher.
Jones is openly gay and lives in London.
and the "chav
" stereotype. The book was widely reviewed and discussed in the British press,
as well as several International publications such as The Economist
and The New York Times
.
Chavs was long-listed for the Guardian First Book Award.
. His best known appearance was in August 2011 during which David Starkey
, another interviewee, made several comments on Black Culture which were challenged by both Jones and Dreda Say Mitchell
. Jones said afterwards that "David Starkey has had a career-ending moment, but in the current climate, his comments are very dangerous."
Jones has appeared on many UK radio stations including BBC Radio 2
, where he has been a regular guest arguing from a left-wing perspective.
He also regularly writes for The Guardian
, The Independent
, and The New Statesman
.
In September 2011, he was voted most influential left-wing thinker of the year by readers of Left Foot Forward
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
author and commentator.
Life
Jones was born in SheffieldSheffield
Sheffield is a city and metropolitan borough of South Yorkshire, England. Its name derives from the River Sheaf, which runs through the city. Historically a part of the West Riding of Yorkshire, and with some of its southern suburbs annexed from Derbyshire, the city has grown from its largely...
and grew up in Stockport
Stockport
Stockport is a town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies on elevated ground southeast of Manchester city centre, at the point where the rivers Goyt and Tame join and create the River Mersey. Stockport is the largest settlement in the metropolitan borough of the same name...
.
He attended Oxford University where he studied History and completed a Masters Degree in US History. Before becoming an author, Jones worked as a Parliamentary Researcher.
Jones is openly gay and lives in London.
Books
Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class, Jones first book, concerns the British Working classWorking class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
and the "chav
Chav
A chav is a term that is used in the United Kingdom to describe a stereotype of teenagers and young adults from an underclass background.-Etymology:...
" stereotype. The book was widely reviewed and discussed in the British press,
as well as several International publications such as The Economist
The Economist
The Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
and The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
.
Chavs was long-listed for the Guardian First Book Award.
Other media
He has participated in the BBC's NewsnightNewsnight
Newsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
. His best known appearance was in August 2011 during which David Starkey
David Starkey
David Starkey, CBE, FSA is a British constitutional historian, and a radio and television presenter.He was born the only child of Quaker parents, and attended Kendal Grammar School before entering Cambridge through a scholarship. There he specialised in Tudor history, writing a thesis on King...
, another interviewee, made several comments on Black Culture which were challenged by both Jones and Dreda Say Mitchell
Dreda Say Mitchell
Dreda Say Mitchell is a British crime novelist. She won the Crime Writers' Association's John Creasey Award for best first novel in 2004 with Running Hot....
. Jones said afterwards that "David Starkey has had a career-ending moment, but in the current climate, his comments are very dangerous."
Jones has appeared on many UK radio stations including BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2
BBC Radio 2 is one of the BBC's national radio stations and the most popular station in the United Kingdom. Much of its daytime playlist-based programming is best described as Adult Contemporary or AOR, although the station is also noted for its specialist broadcasting of other musical genres...
, where he has been a regular guest arguing from a left-wing perspective.
He also regularly writes for The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...
, and The New Statesman
The New Statesman
The New Statesman is an award-winning British sitcom of the late 1980s and early 1990s satirising the Conservative government of the time...
.
In September 2011, he was voted most influential left-wing thinker of the year by readers of Left Foot Forward
Left Foot Forward
Left Foot Forward is a left wing political blog in the UK established in 2009 which was created and orginally edited by Will Straw, the son of Alice Perkins and Jack Straw, until December 2010. Straw was succeeded by Shamik Das, the current editor....
.