New York, NY, April 23, 2026 — The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY today launched its first-ever Alumni Impact Report, offering a data-driven look at how its graduates are influencing the future of journalism at a moment when the field is being fundamentally redefined.
Drawing on data from the school’s 18 graduating classes, the report documents where Newmark J-School alumni have landed, what they are earning, and what kinds of journalism they are producing.
In local newsrooms, national outlets, and independent startups, Newmark graduates are doing essential work covering the institutions that shape daily life, launching new models for sustainable journalism, and reaching communities too often left out of traditional coverage. As the industry has transformed — from the rise of digital platforms to the emergence of generative AI — Newmark alumni have helped shape what journalism becomes next.
Key findings from the report include:
- Two-thirds of Newmark graduates are working in journalism, a striking indicator of both the school’s training and the persistence of its alumni in a volatile industry.
- Median estimated salary of $114,900, reflecting strong long-term career outcomes across roles, regions, and experience levels.
- One in three alumni in news media work at local outlets, reporting on city councils, schools, and neighborhoods — coverage that is essential to a functioning democracy but increasingly at risk.
The report also reflects a school in growth: Newmark J-School is expanding enrollment and recruitment while its graduates move into senior reporting, editorial leadership, and the emerging nonprofit local news sector.
“As we mark our 20th anniversary this September, this report reflects a clear trajectory for the field — one where our alumni are helping journalism become more accessible, more representative, and more accountable to the public,” said Dean Graciela Mochkofsky. “It’s a picture we are proud to see, and one that challenges us to keep building on this momentum.”
The analysis draws on labor market data provided by Lightcast, grounding the report’s findings in broader employment trends while highlighting the distinct impact of Newmark graduates.
The Alumni Impact Report marks a new chapter for the Newmark J-School, making visible the scope, reach, and urgency of its alumni’s work — and the critical role they play in shaping the information landscape.
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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. In 2024, the school launched a campaign to provide free tuition, in perpetuity, to all of its students. www.journalism.cuny.edu