Columbia Journalism School Boosts Documentary Training with New Editor-at-Large and Scholarships
CJS names Raney Aronson-Rath Editor-at-Large, receives $125,000 grant to support documentarians of tomorrow.
Columbia Journalism School is proud to announce that Raney Aronson-Rath, ‘95 M.S., award-winning executive producer of FRONTLINE (PBS), will join the School’s M.S. Documentary Specialization as the first Editor-at-Large, effective immediately.
"I'm so pleased to join Columbia Journalism School as an Editor-at-Large,” said Aronson-Rath. “The J-School is a launching pad for some of our nation's most brilliant, preeminent journalists, and I look forward to working with and advising the documentary students as they begin their careers.”
To further strengthen the program, the M.S. Documentary Specialization received a grant of $125,000 from the Joan Ganz Cooney & Holly Peterson Fund to support scholarships for five students. This funding will help cover key expenses, enabling these promising filmmakers to focus on their craft and contribute to the next generation of powerful storytelling.
“Documentary film changes the way people see the world. With these scholarships, we’re opening more doors for students with powerful stories to tell,” said Jelani Cobb, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism. “And in welcoming Raney back to Pulitzer Hall, we’re giving them a mentor who can shape those stories into lasting impact.”
This investment reflects an ongoing commitment to making Columbia Journalism School more accessible — and to deepening support with mentorship, industry insight and key lessons from a distinguished career journalist.
“Raney is a star who brings an international sensibility and innovative spirit to in-depth visual and audio storytelling,” said June Cross, Fred W. Friendly Professor of Media and Society and Founding Director of the M.S. Documentary Specialization. “I’m overjoyed to have her participation in the Documentary Specialization now, when our work is so vital.”
For over a century, Columbia Journalism School has worked to prepare students for a media landscape where visual storytelling plays an increasingly critical role. Leaders like Aronson-Rath offer students rare, hands-on insight from the frontlines of investigative filmmaking.
“Raney is a singular talent and leader,” said Robe Imbriano, Ira A. Lipman Associate Professor of Journalism, Director of the Ira A. Lipman Center for Journalism and Civil and Human Rights, and Director of the Documentary Specialization. “She’s also a magnificent teacher. Her commitment to this program is wonderful for both our students and the field.”
About the M.S. Documentary Specialization
The Documentary Specialization at Columbia Journalism School is a selective Master of Science program focused on producing short documentary films. Combining rigorous reporting training with practical skills in shooting, editing, and documentary production, students develop and complete their Master’s Project over three semesters, culminating in films showcased at CJS’s annual DocFest.
About Raney Aronson-Rath
Aronson-Rath is a 1995 graduate of Columbia Journalism School and an award-winning filmmaker and journalist, recognized for her visionary leadership of FRONTLINE since 2015. Under her stewardship, FRONTLINE has produced more than 20 in-depth documentaries annually on critical global issues and garnered numerous prestigious honors, including the 2024 John Chancellor Award for Excellence in Journalism, multiple Academy Award nominations and a 2024 Academy Award win for the documentary 20 Days in Mariupol. Aronson-Rath’s work has expanded FRONTLINE’s impact across multiple platforms and strengthened its commitment to investigative reporting.