New York, NY, February 24, 2026 — The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is excited to announce that Class of 2021 alumna Mary Steffenhagen has been selected as the next Ronan Farrow Fellow.
The Ronan Farrow Investigative Research Fellowship, now in its second cycle, offers a graduate from the Newmark J-School the opportunity to build their research skills and work directly with Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter Ronan Farrow.
Farrow’s work, including as an investigative reporter for NBC News, an author, a documentary producer and now a contributing writer to The New Yorker, has catalyzed personnel changes in the public and private sectors, reforms in law and policy, and criminal prosecutions. His stories helped to expose the first sexual-assault allegations against the movie producer Harvey Weinstein; CBS executives, including Leslie Moonves; and then New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman. Farrow’s reporting about Donald Trump’s alliance with the National Enquirer figured prominently in the first criminal indictment of a U.S. President. His work has won the Pulitzer Prize in Public Service, the National Magazine Award, and the George Polk Award, among other honors.
“I’ve been inspired for a long time by Ronan Farrow’s investigative journalism and how it exposes the webs of influence and power that oppress so many people,” said Mary Steffenhagen. “I’m excited to be contributing to this worthy effort while learning from Ronan’s example.”
Mary Steffenhagen earned her Master’s in Journalism in 2021 with a concentration in investigative and audio journalism. While at the Newmark J-School, her capstone investigative series “When Home is School” was published by Chalkbeat and its accompanying audio documentary was a finalist for the Deadline Award from the Society of Professional Journalists in Radio or Audio Investigative Reporting in 2023.
“Mary brings rigor, creativity, and moral clarity to investigative reporting. Her work reflects a deep commitment to accountability and to telling stories that matter to the public, especially those too often overlooked,” said Dean Graciela Mochkofsky. “This fellowship is not only a recognition of her talent, but an investment in the kind of fearless, public-service reporting our democracy depends on. We are proud to see her continue this journey in collaboration with one of the most consequential investigative reporters of our time.”
Since graduating, Mary Steffenhagen has worked as a reporter, audio producer, and fact-checker. She produced the limited series podcast The Devil You Know for the CBC and the daily radio show The Takeaway for WNYC. Her reporting has been published by outlets including Teen Vogue, City Limits, and WBAI. She has previously worked with NewsGuard, Salon, and Coda Media, as well as the podcast Ghost Church. Her work has been recognized by the Sidney Hillman Foundation with the Hillman Award and the Newswomen’s Club of New York with the Front Page Award. In 2022, she traveled to Berlin as a Fulbright scholar in the Berlin Capital Program for early-career journalists.
The fellowship was made possible with support from Craig Newmark Philanthropies.
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About the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY is a public graduate journalism school that prepares students from diverse economic, racial, and cultural backgrounds to produce high-quality journalism. The school offers 16-month master’s degree programs: M.A. in Journalism, M.A. in Engagement Journalism, and M.A. in Journalism – Bilingual Program (English/Spanish). The school’s J+ division offers a suite of executive training programs that train seasoned journalists to reimagine news business models, build news products, and step into leadership roles with an entrepreneurial mindset. In 2024, the school launched a campaign to provide free tuition, in perpetuity, to all of its students.
About Craig Newmark Philanthropies
Craig Newmark is a Web pioneer best known for creating craigslist, which he stepped away from running day-to-day two decades ago. Craig’s full-time philanthropic work focuses on supporting organizations protecting America’s security and democracy. He has given more than $500 million in support of veterans and military families, nonpartisan journalism, cyber security education programs, hunger relief, and pigeon rescue. Craig was influenced by his Sunday School teachers who escaped the Holocaust, set his moral compass, and taught him to treat people like you want to be treated – and how to know when enough is enough. He’s not as funny as he thinks he is.