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John Hockenberry

ジョン・ホッケンベリー

John Hockenberry

Profile

Gender
Male
Born
1956-06-04 （Dayton, Ohio, United States）
Nationality
United States
Languages
English
Residence History
Dayton, Ohio → Vestal, New York → East Grand Rapids, Michigan → Eugene, Oregon → Washington, D.C. → New York City

Career

Occupations
radio and television journalist, author
Active Years
1980-2025
Affiliations
MIT Media Lab (Distinguished Fellow), White House Fellows Committee
Memberships
White House Fellows Committee, MIT Media Lab (Fellow)

Education

University of Chicago
Mathematics
Period: 1974–1976
Country: United States
Studied mathematics; transferred after spinal cord injury
University of Oregon
Music (harpsichord, piano)
Period: 1980–不明
Country: United States
Studied harpsichord and piano

Awards

National Book Critics Circle Award
Work: Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence
Organization: National Book Critics Circle
Result: ファイナリスト
Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame
2005
Organization: Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame
Result: 殿堂入り（創設招待）

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence

1995 memoir / non-fiction

A memoir recounting the author's experiences reporting from war zones and living with a disability, exploring independence and journalism.

disability and independencewar reportingidentity
Adaptations
  • [theatre (one-man show)] Spoke Man (stage adaptation) (1996)

A River Out of Eden

2002 novel

A novel exploring solitude, environment, and interpersonal relationships.

lonelinessnature and humanity

Climate of Doubt (Frontline episode)

2012 documentary (television)

A Frontline documentary examining climate change denial, its funding, and influence; Hockenberry was involved in production/narration.

climate changemedia and science

Bibliography

  • Moving Violations: War Zones, Wheelchairs, and Declarations of Independence (1995)
  • A River Out of Eden (2002)
  • Frontline: Climate of Doubt (2012)

Adaptations

  • Spoke Man (one-man stage show by Hockenberry, 1996)
  • Documentary narration/appearances (e.g., Nova and other health/science programs)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
memoiristic and personal narrationreporting-oriented, detailed field descriptionissue-driven essays and analysis
Recurring Motifs
disability and independencewar and its aftermathmedia ethics and responsibility

Health

  • spinal cord injury (paraplegia)
    1976–present
    Sustained a spinal cord injury at age 19 resulting in paralysis from mid-chest down; lives in a wheelchair and the injury has shaped his perspective and work.

Legacy

A prominent figure in both journalism and the disability rights movement, recognized for war reporting and media criticism; his reputation has also been marred by sexual harassment allegations since 2017.

Academic Societies

  • Spinal Cord Injury Hall of Fame (associated)

In Popular Culture

  • Featured or discussed in documentaries related to disability controversies, such as the discussion around 'Million Dollar Bigot'.

Quotes

  • "personal and public shame"
    Source: Harper's (essay "Exile", October 2018) (2018)

Trivia

  • Has five children, including two sets of twins.
  • Was paralyzed in a car crash at age 19.
  • Long career at NPR, MSNBC and Dateline NBC; founding host of The Takeaway (2008–2017).
  • His memoir 'Moving Violations' was a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award.