Owen Jones (writer)

Owen Jones (writer)

Owen Jones (born 8 August 1984) is a left-wing British author and commentator.

Contents

Life

Jones was born in Sheffield and grew up in Stockport.[1] He attended Oxford University where he studied History and completed a Masters Degree in US History.[2] Before becoming an author, Jones worked as a Parliamentary Researcher.[3]

Books

Chavs: The Demonization of the Working Class, Jones first book, concerns the British Working class and the "chav" stereotype. The book was widely reviewed and discussed in the British press,[4] [5] as well as several International publications such as The Economist[6] and The New York Times.[7]

Chavs was long-listed for the Guardian First Book Award.[8]

Other media

He has participated in the BBC's Newsnight. 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.[9] Jones said afterwards that "David Starkey has had a career-ending moment, but in the current climate, his comments are very dangerous."[10]

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.[1]

He also regularly writes for The Guardian, The Independent, and The New Statesman. [11] [12]

In September 2011, he was voted most influential left-wing thinker of the year by readers of Left Foot Forward. [13]

References

  1. ^ a b "Who the hell is Owen Jones?". 28 December 2010. http://owenjones.org/about. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  2. ^ "Owen Jones". David Higham Literary, Film and TV Agents. http://www.davidhigham.co.uk/clients/Owen-Jones.htm. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  3. ^ "Owen Jones - United Kingdom". Linkedin. http://uk.linkedin.com/pub/owen-jones/27/138/2b4. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  4. ^ Jon Cruddas (3 June 2011). "Book of the week: Chavs: the demonization of the working class by Owen Jones". The Independent. http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/books/reviews/book-of-the-week-chavs-the-demonization-of-the-working-class-by-owen-jones-2292230.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  5. ^ Daily Mail Reporter (6 June 2011). "The demonisation of the working class: How shows such as The Only Way is Essex have wiped out popular culture". Mail Online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1394469/The-Only-Way-Essex-demonisation-working-class.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  6. ^ "Giving the poor a good kicking". The Economist. 16 June 2011. http://www.economist.com/node/18833559. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  7. ^ Dwight Garner (12 July 2011). "Get Your Bling and Adidas Tracksuit, Wayne, a British Class War Is Raging". The New York Times. http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/13/books/chavs-the-demonization-of-the-working-class-review.html?_r=1. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  8. ^ Alison Flood (31 August 2011). "Guardian first book award longlist: fiction takes lead". http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2011/aug/31/guardian-first-book-award-longlist. Retrieved 13 November 2011. 
  9. ^ Dina Rickman (14 August 2011). "Controversy Mounts After David Starkey's 'Whites Have Become Black' Newsnight Appearance". Huffington Post. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2011/08/14/david-starkeys-controvers_n_926397.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  10. ^ Chris Hastings (14 August 2011). "'White chavs have become black': David Starkey TV outburst provokes race row as he claims Enoch Powell was right". Mail Online. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2025554/David-Starkey-says-Enoch-Powell-right-infamous-rivers-blood-speech.html. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  11. ^ "Owen Jones | guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. http://www.guardian.co.uk/profile/owen-jones. Retrieved 15 September 2011. 
  12. ^ "New Statesman - Owen Jones". New Statesman. http://www.newstatesman.com/writers/owen_jones. Retrieved 13 November 2011. 
  13. ^ Daniel Elton (29 September 2011). "LFF’s most influential left-wing thinker of the year 2010/11 is Owen Jones". http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/09/owen-jones-most-influential-left-wing-thinker-of-the-year-2010-11/. Retrieved 13 November 2011. 
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