Marshall Allen, a formidable health journalist who inspired many students at the Newmark J-School for a decade, died on Sunday, May 19, 2024. He was 52.
Allen, a Pulitzer Prize finalist, joined the Newmark J-School in 2012. Alumni and former colleagues took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to mourn Allen, who had a profound influence not only at the J-School where he helped shape investigative health classes, but also on countless colleagues across the industry and members of the public.
His investigative non-fiction book, Never Pay the First Bill, changed the lives of individuals preyed on by the U.S. healthcare system when it was published in 2021. Allen shed light on price gouging, fraud, insurance denial claims and more.
One of Allen’s seminal pieces, a year-long examination of the health insurance brokerage industry that was published in ProPublica, led directly to policy change. Findings from his investigation proved pivotal in the enactment of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021, a landmark piece of legislation for employee healthcare in COVID-stricken America.
Throughout his career, Allen won numerous awards for his journalism. A series of stories he reported on for the Las Vegas Sun won the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting and was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize in 2011. At ProPublica, where he served as an investigative reporter for 10 years, he was one of the first in the organization to volunteer to cover the COVID-19 crisis. He was a member of the team that was a finalist for the Pulitzer in Public Service in 2021.
“He was a natural and generous teacher and gave so much to our students,” said Emily Laber-Warren, director of Newmark J-School’s Health and Science program and longtime colleague. “One of the things about Marshall was his certainty and clarity of purpose. He could pose the hard questions with ease. If it was the right thing to do, he didn’t stress over it, which was tied to his faith. But also …. his sense of humor. He seemed persistently delighted.”
Allen’s legacy as a fearless reporter will live on in those students he taught and mentored at the Newmark J-School. They will continue to follow his lead in advocating for communities fighting against systemic injustice.
In celebration and remembrance of Allen’s life, here are a few tributes from former students on his influence in their lives and careers:
“Marshall was an intrepid investigative journalist and passionate instructor who created a space where students can realize their highest potential. He was the perfect blend of intellectual rigor, humor and joy. His impact lives on in our respective works. My condolences and love to his family, friends, colleagues during this difficult time.” — Netsanet Negussie, Class of 2019.
“I’m devastated to hear that Marshall Allen, my health reporting capstone adviser and professor at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, not to mention prolific author and hard-hitting reporter, passed away suddenly. Marshall was the best adviser a journalism school student could have asked for and more. He went above and beyond — in health care reporting, teaching, mentorship and more. Marshall, you are already sorely missed.” — Erin Brodwin, Class of 2013
“Marshall Allen was my investigative health journalism professor and capstone mentor. Taking his class was one of the best experiences of my life and career. From our first day working together on my capstone as well as in class, he made it abundantly clear about the person he was and strived to be: an intelligent, assertive, and passionate person who cared deeply about justice and accountability in the health care system. His class felt like we were in a real newsroom, working together on a single story and tackling it from all fronts. He inspired us all to dive deep into our story via “shoeleather reporting:” ask the right questions and test our own personal limits on reporting. For example: he prompted two of us to approach a physician at Harlem Hospital that we were investigating. He also taught us about the value of “playing the long game” — taking the necessary amount of time to report on a story, talk to endless sources, and analyzing public data to make a story “bullet proof,” as he said. I will forever be grateful for his guidance on my capstone/investigation into the Essure permanent birth control. He proved to us through his bravery that we, too, were brave enough to tackle the hard but necessary stories. To me, Marshall Allen is the definition of a true journalist. The world needs more Marshall Allens, and his legacy will live on in the stories he published, the students he taught, and the journalists, patients and clinicians he undoubtedly impacted. Sending my condolences to Marshall’s wife, children, family, friends and former/current coworkers.” — Mia Garchitorena-Scancarelli, Class of 2015
”Marshall was my professor and capstone adviser. He connected me with my first agent and was a critical part of my first book deal. But I thought of those things only after a day of tears and reflection on how he had so much grace — simply effortless grace. How truth and integrity were everything to him. And how sly and generous his humor was, and how that generosity lept and bounded across all the ways he dealt with his fellow human beings. When I needed to believe in my own gut, my journalistic spidey senses, I turned to him for validation. Now I have to find that validation within myself and within all that Marshall has left his students and his colleagues. Because his flame will burn for generations to come as we follow him in comforting the afflicted — and afflicting the comfortable who treat them with contempt.” — Lori Freshwater, Class of 2017
“I had Marshall Allen for my investigative health reporting class. He was — by far — one of the best professors I had at J-School. He was kind, supportive, and knew his craft well. I’m sad to hear that he will no longer be able to pass down his wisdom to future investigative journalists. He was truly one of the best in his field. They say those who can’t — teach and those who can — do…but Marshall excelled at both. My thoughts and prayers are with his family during this difficult time.” — Ashley Lewis, Class of 2015
“Marshall’s investigative health reporting class was a crucible. Nervous, tentative journalism students went in. Unflappable, number-crunching, pavement-pounding reporters came out. In between, Marshall had us marching into nursing homes, rifling through inspection reports and cold-calling bad doctors — always with his full support and with his trademark blend of journalistic rigor, wry humor and deep kindness. He went the extra mile for his students, long after they graduated. He helped me pitch my capstone; he helped me land my first journalism job. And I know it wasn’t just me. So, so much impactful journalism can be traced back to his instruction and mentorship — not to mention his own groundbreaking investigations and his tireless patient advocacy work. We’re all worse off without him, and better off for having known him at all.” — Jaclyn Jeffrey-Wilensky, Class of 2018
“I took one class with Marshall at CUNY, like many health and science reporters that have passed through the program. And yes, he was a great teacher: In that brief period of time, I learned valuable lessons about reporting and using data that have stuck with me since. But even stronger is the impression that remains of how and why we do what we do as journalists. Marshall always wanted us as students to talk to the people who were being treated at and cared for (and sometimes, to the point, not cared for) in the hospitals and nursing homes he had us report on. Because it was people who were being hurt by health care systems that prioritized profit over human health, and when our reporting has an impact, it can make a difference in the lives of those people—and that’s what really matters. I remember the care he took to make sure that what was being reported was true and took into account especially the voices of those who were less able to advocate for themselves. And I know from talking to other reporters in the years since that so many of those who were taught by Marshall or who worked with him were continually inspired by his dedication. In the years since grad school, I’ve continued to read and be inspired by his work. Marshall was a force for truth and good in this world, and will be missed.” — Kevin Loria, Class of 2012