Press

The Guardian talks to John about his involvement in the Inside literary prize, the first major US book award to be judged exclusively by incarcerated people.

The New York Times highlights the impact of the upstart online news site New York Focus and its reporting focus on state politics and policy, specifically mentioning an interview with John J. Lennon and the immediate reversal in corrections policy following its publication.

John J. Lennon discusses New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's directive blocking the publication of creative work by incarcerated journalists and artists with New York Focus.

John J. Lennon's review of "Peddling Darkness" and his letter exchange with true crime author Sarah Weinman is mentioned in The Guardian opinion piece "True crime can be an unedifying business, so why am I drawn to writing about it?"

John J. Lennon joins three other guests on The Colin McEnroe Show podcast to challenge the myth of prison reform and misperceptions about incarceration that are often depicted in popular culture.

The advantage of the prison journalist is the ability to access the pure story without first coming to know the character through his worst deed.

John J. Lennon has a conversation about prison journalism with Patricio Robayo for his show “The Local Edition.” Listen to the episode on WJFF Radio.

John J. Lennon talks to Jonathan Bastian, host of KCRW’s ‘Life Examined’ podcast, about how writing in prison is the most important thing he’s done, and how it presents new challenges. Read the story and listen to the podcast on KCRW.

John J. Lennon has a conversation with Dave Ross about getting COVID at Sing Sing and the measures taken — both successful and unsuccessful — to control the outbreak.

John J. Lennon talks to Brooke Gladstone of WNYC Studio’s ‘On the Media’ about life in prison during a global pandemic and how the lack of access to information about vaccine news and health policies could be a matter of life and death. Read the full story at WNYC Studios.

John J. Lennon joins Prison Journalism Project co-founder Shaheen Pasha and others in a discussion with CBS SF Bay Area on the transformational nature of prison educational programs that have been shuttered during the pandemic.

John J. Lennon spoke with Noel King on NPR’s Morning Edition about his article in New York Magazine which covered the impact of COVID-19 on Sing Sing.

John was recently interviewed for Adam Corolla’s podcast The Adam Corolla Show. They discuss COVID in prison, how John got started, and Adam’s thoughts on crime and punishment.

John J. Lennon was interviewed by friend and long time colleague Pete Davis for the Current Affairs podcast. They discuss his career as a journalist, how he got started, and what it’s like to be a journalist while currently incarcerated.

In an interview with WNYC host Gwynne Hogan, John J. Lennon describes the fear among his fellow prisoner as COVID-19 spreads across Sing Sing.

In an interview with Noel King for NPR’s Morning Edition, John J. Lennon said it’s only a matter of time before the inmates at Sing Sing contract the virus.

John J. Lennon appeared on Warren Olney’s podcast “To the Point” to discuss his article in Sports Illustrated about the gambling scene behind bars, as well as John’s writing career.

Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post recently published a video focusing on American jailhouse journalists. John J. Lennon was featured alongside other journalists, such as Troy Williams and Kerry Meyers.

John J. Lennon is profiled in “Confessions of a murderer: Drugs, death and redemption in notorious New York prison,” published in Australian news outlet News.com.au.

John J. Lennon and Marshall Project co-founder Bill Keller were interviewed by Dave Ross about their piece, “A Turbulent Mind,” for The Ross Files. Read “A Turbulent Mind” in New York Magazine and at The Marshall Project.

MetroFocus interviews Marshall Project Editor-in-Chief Bill Keller and John J. Lennon (by phon) regarding their work co-authoring the New York Magazine piece, “A Turbulent Mind.” Read “A Turbulent Mind” in New York Magazine and at The Marshall Project.

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.

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

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…

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.

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.

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.

WNYC recently featured a story inspired by John's Marshall Project and VICE piece on cameras at Attica: How Thousands of Security Cameras Forced Change at New York's Notorious Attica State Prison.

In an article for Literary Hub, Daniel Gross profiles John J. Lennon — his early life, the crime that landed him in prison, and how he became a prolific journalist behind bars.

John has been featured in the latest episode of the podcast Reveal “Does the Time Fit the Crime?” in a segment on using Swintec typewriters to write in prison.

John is featured in Daniel Gross' New Yorker piece on the Swintec typewriter, "A Prisoner’s Only Writing Machine."