2020 Judges

Judges are a prestigious group of journalists and journalism educators.

Top Tier

Andy Abrahams

Andy Abrahams

US editorial operations manager
DailyMail.com
Dorian Benkoil

Dorian Benkoil

COO & editorial director; chief content officer
Teeming Media; Industry Index
Tracy Breton

Tracy Breton ’73

Journalist; visiting professor of English/Nonfiction Writing Program
Brown University
Merrill Brown

Merrill Brown

Founder & principal
MMB Media LLC
Margaret Carlson

Margaret Carlson ’85

Politics columnist
The Daily Beast
Joyce Corrigan

Joyce Corrigan

Contributing editor
Marie Claire
Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson

Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson

US business editor
Financial Times
Nikki Finke

Nikki Finke

Consultant; fellow
Penske Business Media LLC; Nieman Foundation for Journalism
Rochelle Ford

Rochelle Ford

Dean
School of Communications Elon University
Joel Kaplan

Joel Kaplan

Associate dean & professor
Newhouse School
Syracuse University
Howard Polskin

Howard Polskin ’73

President
Polskin Media
Mark Robichaux

Mark Robichaux

Editorial director
Broadcasting & Cable, Multichannel News & NextTV
J. Max Robins

J. Max Robins

Executive director
Center for Communication
Mary Romano

Mary Romano

Freelance writer & editor
David Rubin

David Rubin

Dean emeritus
Newhouse School
Syracuse University
Debra Adams Simmons

Debra Adams Simmons ’86

Executive editor, culture
National Geographic
William T. Slater

William T. Slater

Dean & professor emeritus, College of Communication
Texas Christian University
Brian Stelter

Brian Stelter

Senior media correspondent & host, "Reliable Sources"
CNN Worldwide
Robert Thompson

Robert Thompson

Professor & director of the Bleier Center for Television and Popular Culture
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

First Tier

Wasim Ahmad G’10

Assistant Teaching Professor of Journalism
Quinnipiac University

Emily M. Bernstein

Freelance television producer

Zandile Blay ’04

Founder
Blay Discipline + Method

Paul Brady G’05

Editorial strategist
SKIFT

Contessa Brewer ’96

Correspondent
CNBC

Hub Brown

Associate dean & associate professor
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

Nicci Brown G’98

Chief Communications Officer
University of Vermont

Caroline Cakebread ’17

Newsletter writer & junior analyst emarketer

Rachel Chang G’03

Freelance travel and entertainment editor/writer

Dante A. Ciampaglia G’07

Freelance editor & writer

Noelia de la Cruz ’11

Brand Communications Director, Podcast Producer
WarnerMedia

Nick DeSantis G’13

Editorial graphics producer
Forbes

Sarah DiGiulio ’10

Freelance writer & editor

Katherine Drouin-Keith ’93

Freelance writer & editor

Marquise Francis ’13

National Reporter/Producer
Yahoo News/Verizon Media

Cheryl Brody Franklin ’04

Director, Newhouse NYC
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

Pamela Giddon Freedman ’73

Retired
Giddon & Co. Public Relations

Jason Fry

Independent writer & editor

Aileen Gallagher ’99

Associate professor
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

Fiona Gibb

Originals creative producer
Netflix

Brad Gorham

Director, chair & associate professor
Newhouse School, Syracuse University

Eric Grode ’93

Assistant professor & director, Goldring Arts Journalism Program
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

Roy Gutterman ’93

Associate professor & director, Tully Center for Free Speech
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

Patrick Hosken G’15

Music editor
MTV News

Brianna Kirkham G’17

Digital content editor
The Herald-Times

Hilary Lane ’11

Reporter
CBS News

Raquel Laneri G’07

Features writer
The New York Post

Will Leitch

Contributing editor
New York magazine

Brett LoGiurato ’11

Senior Editor
Wharton School Press

Dara McBride ’13 G’17

Communications specialists
University of Delaware

Patty Orsini ’81

Content strategist & thought leadership; independent consultant

Jenn Pedde ’04

Global manager, alumni & community
Oliver Wyman

Cindy Perman ’94

Partnerships and syndication editor
CNBC.com

Les Rose

Professor of practice
Newhouse School, Syracuse University

Maria Russell G’72

Professor & director, executive education
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

Michael Scotto ’01

Reporter
NY1

Brian Sheehan

Professor
Newhouse School
Syracuse University

Robert Shields ’93

Associate managing editor
Newsday

Molly Simms

Senior editor
O, the Oprah Magazine

Molly Smith ’16

Corporate finance reporter/editor
Bloomberg News

Marcus Solis ’91

News reporter
WABC-TV

David Spiegel ’05

Editorial manager
CNBC

Roberta Spring ’75

Associate director
NBC News

Debbie Truong ’14

Education reporter
WAMU, D.C.'s NPR station

Denise Valenti ’94

Owner
Higher Messaging LLC

Lindsey Wilson G’08

Director of promoted content
CultureMap