New York Financial Writers' Association NYFWA

02/22/2024

April 11, 2024 ​ –– Impact Award Ceremony/The Story Behind 2023's Winning Stories

Join members of the New York Financial Writers’ Association on April 11th to honor recipients of the 2023 Impact Award for Distinguished Financial Journalism, ProPublica reporters Justin Elliott, Josh Kaplan, Brett Murphy and Alex Mierjeski. The team of ProPublica journalists were chosen as winners of NYFWA's Impact Award – which celebrates a body of work that spurs change– for a series of articles investigating conflict of interest, failed oversight and ethical indiscretions at the nation’s highest court. The series is titled, “Friends of the Court: Scotus Justices’ Beneficial Relationships With Billionaire Donors.” https://www.propublica.org/series/supreme-court-scotus

The ProPublica investigation, which totals more than 20 stories thus far, has unveiled the intersection between financial power and judicial power in America at the highest levels. It shows how four billionaires and other ultrawealthy businessmen have bought exclusive access to the nation's most powerful court –the Supreme Court– by spending potentially millions of dollars on exotic vacations, private jet trips, real estate deals and other financial benefits primarily for Justice Clarence Thomas. Justice Samuel Alito also vacationed on a luxury Alaska salmon fishing trip as the guest of a billionaire whose company had frequent cases before the Supreme Court. Both justices failed to disclose these gifts. The billionaires include real estate tycoon Harlan Crow, hedge fund executive Paul Singer, entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga, and oil baron Tony Novelly.

The impact of public scrutiny stemming from the ProPublica series spurred the Supreme Court to announce in November its first code of ethics in its 234-year history and Justice Thomas to amend some of his disclosure forms. The series also sparked a Senate Finance Committee investigation into the tax filings of billionaire Crow, including whether he properly disclosed to the IRS some gifts to Justice Thomas. The Crow tax probe also has increased overall public scrutiny and calls for reform regarding how the ultrawealthy report taxes, including billionaires’ common practice of skirting tax laws by claiming business deductions on their pleasure yachts.

Following the award presentation, members of the winning team will take part in a panel discussing the story behind their series of articles –from how they reported and found their sources, to where they found key data and how they dealt with the billionaires and officials at the Supreme Court.

This event is open to NYFWA members in good standing. Guests are welcome to attend by paying the $15 NYFWA guest fee.

When: Thursday, April 11th, 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Where: Location provided at time of signup

RSVPs Mandatory to: [email protected]

Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas’ decadeslong friendship with real estate tycoon Harlan Crow and Samuel Alito’s luxury travel with billionaire Paul Singer have raised questions about influence and ethics at the nation's highest court.

02/22/2024

March 12, 2024 ​ –– Making Substack Work for You

Join the New York Financial Writers' Association for a discussion about the realities of making a living through Substack, the new medium that allows journalists to send subscription-based digital newsletters directly to their readers by email. Danielle DiMartino Booth, CEO & chief strategist for QI Research and the author of FED UP: An Insider’s Take on Why the Federal Reserve is Bad for America, will talk about why she chose to use Substack to distribute her company’s newsletters and how she has gone about building up a following. This will be a virtual discussion and will be facilitated by Peter Coy, an economic writer for the New York Times Opinion and NYFWA’s immediate past president.

QI Research, a research and analytics firm created in 2015, distributes global market data and commentary through two newsletters circulated via Substack –The Daily Feather and The Weekly Quill.

Prior to launching QI Research, DiMartino Booth spent nine years at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. She served as Advisor to President Richard W. Fisher throughout the financial crisis until his retirement in March 2015. Her work at the Fed focused on financial stability and the efficacy of unconventional monetary policy. She began her career in New York at Credit Suisse and Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette where she worked in the fixed-income, public equity, and private equity markets. She earned her BBA as a College of Business Scholar at the University of Texas at San Antonio and holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from the University of Texas at Austin and an MS in Journalism from Columbia University.

When: March 12, 7:30 p.m. (EST)

REGISTER HERE: https://us06web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZEvduysrT8sEtJZJ_GVAgQ4LzWTc8R7AaII

02/22/2024

NYFWA Names ProPublica Journalists Winners of 2023 Impact Award for Distinguished Financial Journalism; April 11 Event

The New York Financial Writers’ Association announced today that ProPublica reporters Justin Elliott, Josh Kaplan, Brett Murphy and Alex Mierjeski have been named winners of the 2023 Impact Award for Distinguished Financial Journalism. The award is for a series of articles investigating conflict of interest, failed oversight and ethical indiscretions at the nation’s highest court. The series is titled, “Friends of the Court: Scotus Justices’ Beneficial Relationships With Billionaire Donors.”

The ProPublica investigation, which totals more than 20 stories thus far, has unveiled the intersection between financial power and judicial power in America at the highest levels. It shows how four billionaires and other ultrawealthy businessmen have bought exclusive access to the nation's most powerful court –the Supreme Court– by spending potentially millions of dollars on exotic vacations, private jet trips, real estate deals and other financial benefits primarily for Justice Clarence Thomas. Justice Samuel Alito also vacationed on a luxury Alaska salmon fishing trip as the guest of a billionaire whose company had frequent cases before the Supreme Court. Both justices failed to disclose these gifts. The billionaires include real estate tycoon Harlan Crow, hedge fund executive Paul Singer, entrepreneur Wayne Huizenga, and oil baron Tony Novelly.

The impact of public scrutiny stemming from the ProPublica series spurred the Supreme Court to announce in November its first code of ethics in its 234-year history and Justice Thomas to amend some of his disclosure forms. The series also sparked a Senate Finance Committee investigation into the tax filings of billionaire Crow, including whether he properly disclosed to the IRS some gifts to Justice Thomas. The Crow tax probe also has increased overall public scrutiny and calls for reform regarding how the ultrawealthy report taxes, including billionaires’ common practice of skirting tax laws by claiming business deductions on their pleasure yachts.

Award Presentation

The award will be presented to ProPublica on April 11. Following the award presentation, members of the winning team will take part in a panel discussing the story behind their series of articles –from how they reported and found their sources, to where they found key data and how they dealt with the billionaires and officials at the Supreme Court.

NYFWA’s Impact Award for Distinguished Financial Journalism Award honors a distinguished story or body of work by reporters whose work spurred change, irrespective of when the story or stories were published. The award honors stories that have a demonstrable impact on the world, whether by spurring investigations, changing laws or holding the powerful to account.

06/07/2023

Learn The Art of the Scoop from CNBC reporter and co-anchor David Faber.

In New York Financial Writers'​ Association's latest webinar, Faber discusses topics including how financial journalism has changed, how he consistently breaks leading financial news stories and how he has become a journalistic master at both breaking news and executing broad, insightful TV documentaries during his more than 25 years at the network with veteran financial journalist and NYFWA board member Greg Miles.

https://lnkd.in/ejhqDdZU

CNBC reporter and co-anchor David Faber discusses topics including how financial journalism has changed, how he consistently breaks leading financial news st...

06/07/2023

If you missed the in-person fun of this year's Financial Follies, you can still check out the videos from this year's show.

https://lnkd.in/eDXxJWyF

If you weren't able to take part in the in-person fun of the 80th Financial Follies, check out this year's videos.

01/19/2023

Are you envious of other reporters' Twitter personas? Do you want to get better at building a personal brand, but don't know how? Check out New York Financial Writers'​ Association's latest webinar: "Personal Branding for Journalists -The What, Why & How"

Journalists Joe Weisenthal (), a Bloomberg News editor and co-host of the Odd Lots podcast, Robertson (), who covers media for The New York Times, and Drew Armstrong (), executive director of health and business news site Endpoints News, discuss personal branding for journalists –from what you should and shouldn't do, to changing social media use policies within the industry and whether or not journalists even need a brand of their own.

https://lnkd.in/eihCykgd

High-profile journalists Joe Weisenthal (), a Bloomberg News editor and co-host of the Odd Lots podcast, Katie Robertson (), who ...

10/04/2022

Do you know a journalist whose articles/articles have had a meaningful impact? New York Financial Writers'​ Association is seeking submissions for the 2022 Impact Award for Distinguished Financial Journalism.

The award is an effort to honor a distinguished story or body of work by reporters whose work spurred impact during the previous calendar year, irrespective of when the story or stories were published. It is recognition for financial reporting that cast an early spotlight on important issues and spur impact.

If you know of a story, or series of stories, that you believe fits the criteria for this award –stories that have had a demonstrable impact on the world, whether by spurring investigations, changing laws or holding the powerful to account, please nominate those pieces and their writer/writers for this year’s award. Self-nominations are fine as well.

Nominations must be received by October 31, 2021 (Halloween -we’ve made this easy to remember) and can be submitted through the following link:

The New York Financial Writers’ Association created the Impact Award to honor a distinguished story or body of work by reporters whose work spurred change, irrespective of when the story or stories were published. The idea behind the honor is to elevate stories that have a demonstrable impact on t...

05/25/2022

What is your view of the Federal Reserve?

Christopher Leonard and Peter Conti-Brown argue opposing points of view regarding the Fed and its role in the widening of America's wealth gap and the country's susceptibility to asset bubbles in New York Financial Writers'​ Association's latest webinar: Competing Views on the Fed. The discussion is facilitated by John Biers

05/21/2022

Thank you to everyone who supported the 79th Financial Follies and helped make the evening a success!

11/29/2021

The IN-PERSON Financial Follies are coming back -and we know you will be too!

Mark your calendars for May 20, 2022!

Tickets can be purchased here: https://www.nyfwa.org/follies

https://youtu.be/f2g5swVQguE

05/13/2021

NYC is coming back, and so are the in-person Financial Follies!

Mark your calendar for Friday, Nov. 12th at 6:30 p.m. for great food, plenty of wine, hilarious homemade videos and the renewal of in-person friendships.

Tables/tickets can be purchased here: https://lnkd.in/e2ybdr4 or by emailing [email protected]

All money raised by the Follies supports the NYFWA’s scholarship fund to help the next generation of aspiring financial journalists. The NYFWA is a 501(c)3 organization and purchases are tax deductible. More info. about this year’s event can be found here, along with the digital versions of Follies gone by and photos from the events: https://lnkd.in/eETdbXa

Bet you never realized how much you would miss the Follies!

02/12/2021

Why did the SEC target one specific cryptocurrency by labeling it a security, when others haven’t been classified the same way? Join the New York Financial Writers'​ Association to find out why on February 23 @ 7 p.m.

“The Ripple Effect: How and Why the SEC Targeted One Specific Cryptocurrency” will feature panelists Nikhilesh De of CoinDesk and Hall of Davis Polk & Wardwell in a conversation moderated by by William Freedman

Other topics that will be touched on include:
• Why were regulators focused on XRP instead of bigger fish such as Bitcoin or Ethereum?
• Are cryptocurrencies actually securities, currencies or an entirely new asset class?
• Is SEC Chair-designee Greg Gensler, who is known to be more crypto-friendly, likely to drop the suit?

RSVPs Mandatory to: [email protected]

*Zoom Link & meeting password provided at time of RSVP