TFAS announces recipients of 2024-25 Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship

The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) is pleased to announce the 2024-25 Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship recipients. The Fellows are Audrey Fahlberg of National Review, Carine Hajjar of The Boston Globe, Park MacDougald of Tablet Magazine, Emmet Penney of Compact Magazine, Rachel Roth Aldhizer, Hannah Rowan of Modern Age, and Nic Rowan of The Lamp Magazine.

These seven journalists will spend one year researching and providing in-depth reporting on their chosen topics surrounding the principles of a free society.

The Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship is named after the late Robert D. Novak, renowned columnist, CNN broadcaster and reporter for The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press. 

This year’s cohort of outstanding journalists will dive into serious reporting on today’s most pressing issues. Fellows will explore topics including the shifting dynamics within the GOP, the threat of Iranian proxies in the Middle East and the influence of left-wing activists on democracy.

“Through this fellowship, I hope to shed new light on the current movers and shakers and the next rising stars who are shaping an ever-changing GOP,” said Audrey Fahlberg. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to travel the country and tell stories I wouldn’t otherwise be able to tell.”

The Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship is named after the late Robert D. Novak, renowned columnist, CNN broadcaster and reporter for The Wall Street Journal and The Associated Press. Since its founding in 1994, the Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship has empowered more than 150 promising young journalists to partake in research and long-form content creation that would not have otherwise been possible for them. Novak Fellows have gone on to become leaders in journalism as Pulitzer Prize winners, leaders of national outlets and authors of bestselling books. Notable fellows include: senior political columnist at the Washington Examiner Tim Carney, Novak ’03, senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI) Matthew Continetti, Novak ’08, and Reason editor-in-chief Katherine Mangu-Ward, Novak ’05.

“The latest class of Robert Novak Journalism Fellows is set to investigate some of the most critical issues facing our nation,” said Ryan Wolfe, director of the Center for Excellence in Journalism at TFAS. “These fellows continue the legacy of exceptional journalists who have left a lasting mark on the media landscape. I’m excited to see the outstanding and courageous reporting this talented group will put forward.”

The 2024-25 Robert Novak Journalism Fellows will be formally announced during the 31th Annual TFAS Journalism Awards Dinner on Nov. 12, 2024, at the Metropolitan Club in New York City. During the dinner, TFAS will also honor prominent leaders in journalism: Wall Street Journal Columnist and former Time editor, Lance Morrow, with the 2024 Thomas L. Phillips Career Achievement Award and Lexington columnist at The Economist and former Editorial Page editor at The New York Times, James Bennet, with the 2024 Kenneth Y. Tomlinson Award for Courageous Journalism. Additionally, TFAS will present the 2024 Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism to Jillian Lederman and Luke Lyman.