The Craig Newmark Center for Journalism Ethics and Security aims to lead the conversation on ethical reporting practices at a critical time for democracy
It also explores issues of cyber-security for news organizations, and shines a light on the physical safety of journalists in an increasingly dangerous environment. The Center, which began in 2022, is made possible by a $10 million endowment gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies.
Building on the School's tradition, the endowed Center will help strengthen the rigorous curriculum required for all Master of Science students. It will equip these emerging journalists with tools to address ethical and security dilemmas that are faced in modern newsrooms.
Key Research Topics
New resources will enable advanced instruction in digital and physical security, algorithmic bias, image manipulation and source protection in an era of high surveillance. Through convenings and published research, the Center will also educate working journalists in digitally safe practices, and help them to better navigate today’s media environment.
Newmark hopes his gifts help the Center to develop "the industry’s go-to resources for the challenges journalists face in a data-driven world.”
“With disinformation flowing through social platforms and the news, it’s critical to modernize journalism ethics so that the industry keeps pace with the ever-changing digital landscape."
Newmark Center Executive Director Margaret Sullivan
Margaret Sullivan, weekly columnist for the Guardian US, became the executive director for the Center on Jan. 1, 2024. She is returning to Columbia Journalism School, where she previously taught audience and engagement courses.
“We’re tremendously excited to welcome Margaret Sullivan back to Columbia in this new capacity as executive director of the Newmark Center,” said Jelani Cobb, dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism. “There’s no one better equipped to lead a center concerned with the thorny questions of ethics, security, journalism and democracy. We’re eager to start working with her.”
About Craig Newmark
Craig Alexander Newmark is an American internet entrepreneur and philanthropist best known as the founder of the classifieds website Craigslist. Prior to founding Craigslist in 1996, he worked as a computer programmer for IBM, Bank of America and Charles Schwab. Newmark served as chief executive officer of Craigslist from its founding until 2000. He founded in 2015 Craig Newmark Philanthropies, which acts as an umbrella for his other foundations, such as his private charitable foundation, to which he contributed $50 million in 2016 to support military families, voter registration efforts and women in technology.
Between 2016 and 2020, Newmark donated $170 million to support journalism, combating harassment of journalists, cybersecurity and election integrity, including $1 million each to ProPublica and the Poynter Institute in 2017. Newmark established a $20 million endowment at the CUNY Graduate School of Journalism, which was subsequently renamed the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism, and in 2024 added a $10 million gift with the aim of eventually making the school tuition-free for all of its students.