Media
Selected Print Articles and Interviews
Here’s the real tragedy in college admissions (Q&A)
Zachary Wolf, CNN, April 9, 2022
Zachary Wolf, CNN, April 9, 2022
READ MORE >The harsh truth about black enrollment at America’s elite colleges
Howard Gold, Marketwatch, June 25, 2020
Howard Gold, Marketwatch, June 25, 2020
READ MORE >‘Do everything’: Journalist Paul Tough on how colleges can get more low-income students to graduate — and why many still do not
Interview with Patrick Wall, Chalkbeat, December 16, 2019
Interview with Patrick Wall, Chalkbeat, December 16, 2019
READ MORE >The College Trap
Jonathan Silin, East Hampton Star, December 4, 2019
Jonathan Silin, East Hampton Star, December 4, 2019
READ MORE >The myth of meritocracy
Review by Deborah D. Rogers and Howard P. Segal, Times Higher Education (London), November 14, 2019 [Article behind paywall; see PDF.]
Review by Deborah D. Rogers and Howard P. Segal, Times Higher Education (London), November 14, 2019 [Article behind paywall; see PDF.]
READ MORE >As Inequities in Higher Ed Grow, So Does the Need To Address Them
By Rebecca T. Miller, School Library Journal, October 23, 2019
By Rebecca T. Miller, School Library Journal, October 23, 2019
READ MORE >74 Interview: Class, Race & The Pursuit of College. Veteran Journalist Paul Tough Addresses Higher Ed Admissions, Mobility Myths and What His Critics at the College Board Get Wrong
Interview with Greg Toppo, The 74, October 16, 2019
Interview with Greg Toppo, The 74, October 16, 2019
READ MORE >More Articles »
Selected Radio/Podcast Interviews
Have We Been Thinking About ADHD All Wrong? (Paul Tough)
Paul Tough joins Milano Buckley, co-host of the Bare Naked Moms podcast, to discuss his New York Times Magazine story on ADHD. January 21, 2026.
Paul Tough joins Milano Buckley, co-host of the Bare Naked Moms podcast, to discuss his New York Times Magazine story on ADHD. January 21, 2026.
LISTEN >Have We Been Thinking About A.D.H.D. All Wrong?
Paul Tough joins host Rachel Abrams to discuss his recent New York Times Magazine article about ADHD. “The Daily” podcast, June 17, 2025.
Paul Tough joins host Rachel Abrams to discuss his recent New York Times Magazine article about ADHD. “The Daily” podcast, June 17, 2025.
LISTEN >The surprising new science of A.D.H.D.
Paul Tough joins host Krys Boyd to talk about ADHD. “Think,” KERA, Dallas, May 14, 2025.
Paul Tough joins host Krys Boyd to talk about ADHD. “Think,” KERA, Dallas, May 14, 2025.
LISTEN >What Americans Get Wrong About ADHD
Paul Tough joins host Derek Thompson to discuss his recent New York Times Magazine article on ADHD. “Plain English with Derek Thompson,” April 25, 2025
Paul Tough joins host Derek Thompson to discuss his recent New York Times Magazine article on ADHD. “Plain English with Derek Thompson,” April 25, 2025
LISTEN >Millions of American kids have an ADHD diagnosis. Are they being treated effectively?
Paul Tough joins Dave Davies to discuss his recent New York Times Magazine article about ADHD. “Fresh Air,” NPR, April 24, 2025.
Paul Tough joins Dave Davies to discuss his recent New York Times Magazine article about ADHD. “Fresh Air,” NPR, April 24, 2025.
LISTEN >Ontario Universities Call for More Funding
Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article and the relevance of its findings to colleges and universities in Canada. The Current with Matt Galloway, CBC Radio, November 23, 2023. [Interview starts at 13:00.] [Another link here.]
Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article and the relevance of its findings to colleges and universities in Canada. The Current with Matt Galloway, CBC Radio, November […]
LISTEN >The Kids Don’t Want to Go to College Anymore, and Why Would They?
Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article with Gideon Lichfield on Wired Magazine’s “Have a Nice Future” podcast. September 20, 2023. [Another link is here.]
Paul Tough discusses his recent New York Times Magazine article with Gideon Lichfield on Wired Magazine’s “Have a Nice Future” podcast. September 20, 2023. [Another link is here.]
LISTEN >More Radio/Podcast Interviews »
Selected Video Clips
Why Are Americans Losing Faith in the Value of College?
Paul Tough discusses his recent article in the New York Times Magazine with Hari Sreenivasan. Amanpour and Company, PBS, September 12, 2023
Watch the Video >
Paul Tough in dialogue with Lewis H. Lapham
Paul Tough in conversation with Lewis H. Lapham, founder and editor of Lapham’s Quarterly. March 2, 2023. More information here.
Watch the Video >
A Conversation with Paul Tough
Paul Tough discusses how college helps — and hinders — social mobility. With Fr. Steve Katsouros, Come to Believe Network virtual retreat, November 8, 2022
Watch the Video >
Rising Inequalities: A Conversation on College Access, Diversity, and Social Mobility in the U.S.
The 2020-21 Wesson Lecture in Problems of Democracy, a dialogue with Anthony Abraham Jack and Jennifer Morton. Hosted by the McCoy Family Center for Ethics in Society at Stanford University, […]
Watch the Video >
How the pandemic could cause significant “learning loss” for students
Interview with Jeffrey Brown, PBS Newshour, November 2, 2020.
Watch the Video >
Aspen Institute Dialogue: The Inequality Machine
Paul Tough discusses his book “The Inequality Machine” with Dr. Ruth Simmons, president of Prairie View A&M University. October 2020.
Watch the Video >
Is college education as valuable as it once was to students?
Interview with Kristen Sze and Reggie Aqui, “Midday Live,” KGO San Francisco, October 2, 2019
Watch the Video >
After Words with Paul Tough
Interview by Sara Goldrick-Rab, “After Words” on PBS, September 23, 2019
Watch the Video >
Author Paul Tough on ‘How College Makes or Breaks Us’
Interview on “Chicago Tonight,” WTTW TV, September 16, 2019
Watch the Video >More videos »
