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Press

John in WCNY interview

John J. Lennon and Bill Keller are interviewed by “The Capitol Pressroom” on WCNY in conjunction with their co-authored New York Magazine piece, “A Turbulent Mind.” Read “A Turbulent Mind” in New York Magazine and at The Marshall Project.

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Writing

A Turbulent Mind

In a piece written with The Marshall Project co-founder Bill Keller for New York Magazine, John describes how Andrew Goldstein’s crime set in motion a dramatic shift in how we care for the violent mentally ill. Including for himself — when he’s released this month.

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Press

Columbia Journalism Review Profiles John

The Columbia Journalism Review chronicles John’s life journey in “The Freelance Writer of Sing Sing.”

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Press

John featured on Nieman Reports about journalism courses in prison

Penn State University journalism professor Shaheen Pasha features John J. Lennon in her essay in Nieman Reports, making the case that more journalism courses should be taught in prison. EXCERPT John J. Lennon, also known as Inmate # 04A0823, sits on his bed, typing on a clear Swintec typewriter set on his lap. There is…

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Writing

Letter from Sing Sing: Writing from Inside

In an essay for NiemanStoryboard, John J. Lennon — a convicted murderer — shares what he learned about writing, and what writing taught him about himself and about the power of true stories.

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Writing

In Lieu of Executions, Graduations

In an article for The Chronicle of Higher Education, John profiles three fellow prisoners at Sing Sing who chose to educate themselves — and pay it forward as a sort of healing.

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Press

John on KCRW with Warren Olney: “Imprisoning Our Mentally Ill”

John J. Lennon talks to Warren Olney about how mental illness — disorders such as depression and schizophrenia — has effectively been criminalized in the United States. Yet incarceration makes mental illness much worse, rather than better; imprisoning sick people costs more taxpayer money than humane, more effective solutions.

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Press

The Atlantic highlights John’s reporting

David A. Graham of The Atlantic reflects back on the time he worked with John J. Lennon to publish his first piece for the publication, as well as John’s recent feature article on mental illness in prisons.

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Press

John Talks to CBS’ Dave Ross About Esquire Piece

CBS’ Dave Ross interviews John J. Lennon about his piece published in Esquire “This Place Is Crazy,” about prisoners who are diagnosed with mental illness.

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Writing

‘This Place is Crazy’

Our mental-health-care system is broken. Ten of every eleven psychiatric patients housed by the government are incarcerated. Here’s what this crisis looks like from the inside — a series of lost lives and a few rare victories — as reported by John J. Lennon for Esquire.