Jason Riley

Jason L. Riley is a conservative commentator, opinion journalist, and author. He serves on The Wall Street Journal editorial board and is a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute. Riley has appeared on Journal Editorial Report, Fox News programs, and C-SPAN, and provides commentary for Fox News, ABC, NBC, CNN, PBS, NPR, and other news outlets. He has written about his experience as a Black conservative in America, offering a perspective on debates surrounding race, economics, and public policy.

Riley began his journalism career at Buffalo News and USA Today before joining The Wall Street Journal as a copyreader on the national news desk in New York City. He was later named a senior editorial writer and then a member of the editorial board. At the Manhattan Institute, Riley focuses on urban policy issues. He writes opinion pieces on politics, economics, education, immigration, and race, and his column, "Upward Mobility," appears in The Wall Street Journal.

As an author, Riley addresses contentious issues in American public life. In "Let Them In: The Case for Open Borders," he advocates for a free market-oriented U.S. immigration system. "Please Stop Helping Us: How Liberals Make It Harder for Blacks to Succeed" examines the impact of social welfare policies on Black advancement. In "False Black Power?," Riley argues that economic success is a more effective strategy for Black empowerment than reliance on political leadership.

Riley has engaged extensively with the work of economist Thomas Sowell, publishing "Maverick: A Biography of Thomas Sowell" and narrating the documentary film "Thomas Sowell: Common Sense in a Senseless World." He also published "The Black Boom," analyzing Black economic progress prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In "The Affirmative Action Myth," Riley studies the history of racial preference policies.

Riley has received recognition for his contributions to public discourse, including the Bradley Prize. He lectures at universities and policy forums, drawing on his expertise in economics, race, and social policy to foster debate. Riley's career highlights the role of data-driven journalism in shaping national conversations on public policy, race, and economics.