John Stossel was named co-anchor of "20/20" in May of 2003. He joined the highly acclaimed newsmagazine in 1981 and began doing one-hour specials in 1994. Stossel's specials tackle issues that face Americans today. They consistently rate among the top news programs and have earned him uncommon praise. Five of these specials have been adapted into Teaching Kits by In the Classroom Media in cooperation with ABC for use by high school teachers to help educate students about economic freedom.

Stossel's first special was Are we Scaring Ourselves to Death? which examined exaggerated fears, followed by the Blame Game which looked at America's tendency to blame their misfortunes on others. Stossel traveled the world to compare American life with life elsewhere and ask: Is America Number 1? His special, You Can't Say That, was a look at the battle between free speech and censorship. The Mystery of Happiness took a look at the science of happiness, and Freeloaders focused on how getting something for nothing appeals to all of us even the wealthy.

Stossel has received 19 Emmy Awards. He has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. He has also won the George Polk Award for Outstanding Local Reporting and the George Foster Peabody Award.