Robert Wright: A Career in Journalism, Academia, and Digital Media
Robert Wright has built a multifaceted career spanning high-profile journalism, university research, and the early adoption of internet-based media. His work frequently intersects the realms of science, philosophy, and spirituality, bridging the gap between academic inquiry and public discourse.
Key Facts
- Journalism: Held senior editorial roles at The Atlantic, The New Republic, and The Sciences.
- Academia: Taught at Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Union Theological Seminary.
- Digital Media: Co-founded Bloggingheads.tv and created MeaningofLife.tv.
- Specializations: Focuses on the evolution of religion, biological moral intuition, and modern psychology.
Professional Journalism Career
Wright's editorial experience is extensive, having served as a Senior Editor at The Sciences and The New Republic, as well as an editor at The Wilson Quarterly. During his tenure at The New Republic, he co-authored the "TRB" column. His writing has appeared in some of the most prestigious publications in the United States, including The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, and The New York Times Magazine.
His relationship with The New York Times included a period as a guest columnist in April 2007 and a role as a contributor to The Opinionator—a web-only opinion section—in 2010. Wright joined The Atlantic as a senior editor on January 1, 2012, though the magazine's author page listed him as a former senior editor by February 2015.
University Teaching and Research
Beyond the newsroom, Wright has contributed significantly to higher education. In the early 2000s, he taught at the University of Pennsylvania and Princeton University. His courses included an undergraduate class on "The Evolution of Religion" and a graduate seminar titled "Religion and Human Nature." While at Princeton, he served as a Laurence S. Rockefeller Visiting Fellow and collaborated with Peter Singer to co-teach a graduate seminar on the biological basis of moral intuition.
Wright has also embraced digital education and specialized fellowships. In 2014, he taught a six-week MOOC (Massive Open Online Course) via Coursera focused on "Buddhism and Modern Psychology." His academic trajectory continued into 2019, when he served as a Senior Fellow at the New America think tank and a Visiting Professor of Science and Religion at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
Pioneering Digital Media
Wright was an early adopter of internet video. In 2002, he launched MeaningofLife.tv, a site developed by Greg Dingle. Sponsored by Slate magazine and funded by the Templeton Foundation, the platform featured interviews with various thinkers regarding meditation, spirituality, philosophy, and science. Other hosts on the platform included Aryeh Cohen-Wade, Daniel Kaufman, Nikita Petrov, and John Horgan.
On November 1, 2005, Wright expanded his digital footprint by co-launching Bloggingheads.tv with blogger Mickey Kaus and Greg Dingle. This platform focused on "diavlogs"—a portmanteau of dialogue and vlog—which are current-events discussions conducted via webcam. These recordings were made available for online viewing or download in MP3, MP4, or WMV formats.
While Wright was a primary feature of the site, Bloggingheads.tv hosted a diverse array of intellectuals, including Glenn Loury, John McWhorter, Phoebe Maltz-Bovy, Matt Lewis, Bill Scher, Kat Rosenfield, and Aryeh Cohen-Wade.
Career Summary
| Sector | Key Institutions / Platforms | Notable Roles |
|---|---|---|
| Journalism | The Atlantic, The New Republic, The Sciences | Senior Editor |
| Academia | Princeton, UPenn, Union Theological Seminary | Visiting Professor / Fellow |
| Digital Media | Bloggingheads.tv, MeaningofLife.tv | Co-founder / Host |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a diavlog?
A diavlog is a dialogue-based vlog. In the context of Bloggingheads.tv, these were current-events discussions conducted via webcam and distributed as video or audio files.
Which universities has Robert Wright taught at?
Wright has taught at Princeton University, the University of Pennsylvania, and Union Theological Seminary.
What was the focus of Wright's Coursera course?
The six-week MOOC taught by Wright in 2014 focused on the intersection of Buddhism and Modern Psychology.
Who co-founded Bloggingheads.tv with Robert Wright?
Bloggingheads.tv was launched by Robert Wright, blogger Mickey Kaus, and Greg Dingle.
Which major magazines has Wright written for?
Wright has written for The New Yorker, The Atlantic Monthly, The New York Times Magazine, Time, and Slate.