Jon Entine

Jon Entine is an American science journalist, author, and commentator who specializes in genetics, biotechnology, and science policy. He founded and serves as executive director of the Genetic Literacy Project, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping the public, media, and policymakers understand the science and societal implications of advancements in human and agricultural biotechnology.

Entine's career spans journalism, television production, and authorship, with numerous awards including two News & Documentary Emmy Awards for his work as a producer. His interest in genetics stemmed from a family history of breast and ovarian cancer, inspiring books that explore genetic topics such as race, identity, and the politics of genetic engineering. Among his publications are three focused on genetics and two addressing agricultural and chemical issues, including examinations of ethical and policy dimensions in these fields.

Through the Genetic Literacy Project, Entine advocates for evidence-based discourse on genetic technologies, often critiquing coverage in media and promoting literacy in biotech innovations like gene editing and GMOs. His work has appeared in major outlets and think tanks, positioning him as a voice in debates over science communication and regulatory approaches to emerging technologies.

Entine began his journalism career in 1974 as a television news producer and writer, initially working for ABC News in roles such as assignment editor and producer for programs including 20/20 from 1974 to 1983, and again from 1991 to 1993 as producer for Primetime Live . He later contributed to NBC News, serving as a longtime producer for Tom Brokaw and producing documentaries that earned him multiple awards, including Emmys.

Over two decades in network television news, spanning from 1974 to the mid-1990s, Entine honed investigative reporting skills through production of news specials and segments for ABC and NBC, focusing on high-profile stories that built his expertise in broadcast journalism. This period laid the groundwork for his shift to print journalism, where he began exploring business ethics and corporate accountability topics.

Entine has contributed to science journalism by critiquing what he describes as alarmist media coverage of environmental issues, including persistent reporting on declining bee populations despite evidence of recovery. He served as a source for journalist John Stossel in segments highlighting how media narratives exaggerated colony collapse disorder around 2006–2007 as a "bee-pocalypse," when U.S. managed bee colonies temporarily dropped but subsequently rebounded to record highs, exceeding 2.7 million by 2023.

In his reporting, Entine has challenged mainstream narratives on pesticides, arguing that restrictions on neonicotinoids based on bee decline claims overlook broader data showing stable or improving pollinator health amid agricultural pesticide use. For instance, he examined colony collapse disorder, attributing mass bee deaths more to factors like varroa mites and poor beekeeping practices than to neonics, and critiqued media amplification of environmental group claims without contextual recovery trends.

Entine has also addressed biodiversity concerns, disputing "insect apocalypse" stories that predict widespread declines driven by pesticides, instead pointing to inconsistent global data and methodological flaws in alarmist studies while noting overall insect abundance in many ecosystems remains robust. His analyses extend to genetic technologies, where he has highlighted media tendencies to prioritize ideological critiques over empirical evidence in coverage of GMOs and crop biotechnology.

Jon Entine founded the Genetic Literacy Project (GLP) in 2012 as a nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing science literacy in genetics and biotechnology.