Craiglist founder Craig Newmark donated $10 million to launch a tuition-free campaign at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at the City University of New York (CUNY) in 2024. Two years later, the initiative has reached a milestone: 70% of the incoming Class of 2027 will attend the journalism school tuition-free. The institution announced this during its 20th anniversary celebration in New York earlier this month.The school now works to provide full tuition support to every student, including those outside New York, as part of a campaign to make journalism education more accessible to aspiring reporters.
How Craig Newmark’s $10 million donation supports journalism students
The tuition-free campaign launched two and a half years ago with a $10 million gift from Craig Newmark, founder of Craigslist and the journalism school’s namesake. Since then, other donors have supported the initiative, helping the institution expand financial assistance for students.Dean Graciela Mochkofsky announced that every New York resident in the Class of 2027 is attending tuition-free. Overall, 70% of the incoming class is attending tuition-free, building on the school’s efforts to expand access to journalism education. The school’s next goal is to extend full tuition support to all students, regardless of where they live.
Why is CUNY’s journalism school offering free tuition
The campaign reflects the school’s founding mission: opening doors to aspiring journalists regardless of financial circumstances. It also aims to prepare graduates to serve their communities through reporting, public service and innovation.“Our alumni are known for their hustle…their rigor, their entrepreneurial grit,” said Dean Mochkofsky. “Their reporting has changed legislation and gotten innocents out of jail. They have produced powerful, award-winning pieces of journalism. They have founded newsrooms that are filling news deserts. Our alumni are a force for good.”The school marked its 20th anniversary with a gala attended by alumni, journalism leaders, faculty, supporters and other guests. The event also honoured NBCUniversal News Group Chairman Cesar Conde and New York Times President and CEO Meredith Kopit Levien, whose organisations are among the school’s leading employers of graduates.
How scholarships are helping journalism students
Newmark alumna Gibran Caroline Boyce said a full scholarship helped her pursue journalism. During her time at the school, she completed an internship at CNN and received support for reporting from Armenia and the US-Mexico border. After graduation, she secured a position at NBC News.“I am not unique. I am merely one of hundreds of Newmark students who can attest to the doors that open when given the necessary resources, training, and support to pursue this work,” Boyce said. CUNY Chancellor Matos Rodríguez also welcomed the tuition-free milestone and backed the school’s plans to expand the programme.“Our alumni are the clearest proof of what CUNY and Newmark make possible,” said CUNY’s Chancellor Matos Rodríguez. “They leave this school prepared to inform communities, hold power accountable, and strengthen our civic life.”He added, “I could not be prouder that every New York resident who comes here can now attend tuition-free, and I’m just as committed to the work ahead to ensure that every student who walks through Newmark’s doors, no matter where they call home, can do the same.”Proceeds from the anniversary gala will fund scholarships and student success initiatives, enabling the school to increase its efforts to make journalism education accessible to more aspiring reporters.