John Stossel, American television reporter and commentator, best known for his role on the ABC newsmagazine 20/20.
Stossel graduated from Princeton University in 1969 with a B.A. in psychology. He soon began a career in television journalism, working initially as a researcher for KGW in Portland, Oregon, and then as a consumer reporter for WCBS in New York City. He worked as a consumer editor for ABC’s Good Morning America before becoming a correspondent for 20/20 in 1981. In time, Stossel’s role on the program expanded, and his occasional segment “Give Me a Break,” in which he skeptically examined topics ranging from education to government regulation, eventually became a regular feature of the show. In 1994 “Give Me a Break” was transformed into a series of one-hour prime-time specials that enjoyed consistently strong ratings. In 2003 ABC named Stossel a coanchor of 20/20.
In 2009 Stossel joined the Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network as a special series host, author of the blog John Stossel’s Take, and anchor of the weekly news program Stossel (2009–16), focusing on libertarian issues.
Stossel’s reporting garnered numerous awards, including Emmy Awards and a George Foster Peabody Award. In addition to his activities in broadcast journalism, he promoted Stossel in the Classroom, a video designed to help teachers develop their students’ critical thinking skills. Stossel also wrote Give Me a Break (2004), Myths, Lies, and Downright Stupidity (2006), and No, They Can’t: Why Government Fails—But Individuals Succeed (2012).