Leonard Novy is a political journalist and adviser. His work focuses intensively on political communication and the transformation of democracy and the public sphere in the digital age. Following his studies and doctorate in international politics at the University of Cambridge, as well as research fellowships at Harvard University, among others, he held various positions in think tanks and journalism. Until 2025, alongside his advisory work, he directed the Cologne Institute for Media and Communication Policy (IfM). He is the author of numerous publications and lectures at institutions including the Hertie School and the FJUM in Vienna. Internationally, he is committed to the promotion of democracy and media freedom – for instance as a member of the Strategic Advisory Council of the European Forum Alpbach, as a jury member of the Vienna Media Initiative, as a Senior Advisor at NewsGuard, and within the framework of capacity-building projects in Eastern Europe. He lives in Berlin and Pressbaum near Vienna. Leonard Novy is a Policy Fellow at Das Progressive Zentrum.

Leonard supports the Dialogue series on inheritance tax reform in the pro bono communication strategy.