A free society depends on courageous journalists who are willing to report with reason, objectivity and fairness to bring balance to a biased media landscape.
The Fund for American Studies (TFAS) combats media bias by developing young leaders with exceptional journalism training. Through the Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship, the Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism and other world-class fellowships and training programs, the TFAS Center for Excellence in Journalism cultivates the careers of young journalists, including Pulitzer Prize-winning reporters, editors of national magazines, mainstream news commentators and best-selling authors.
TFAS-trained journalists continue to put their experience to work every day. Four recent TFAS Robert Novak Journalism Fellows have grown into national voices, reporting on the issues shaping their generation for some of the country’s most influential publications. These young journalists’ stories show what’s possible when talented writers have the training and support to pursue the truth.
From Combating Campus Censorship to Free Expression in New York City
Emma Camp, Novak ’25, grew up in Birmingham, Alabama, before attending the University of Virginia, where she encountered a campus culture of “strict ideological conformity.” In 2022, she wrote about it in a New York Times op-ed, “I Came to College Eager to Debate. I Found Self-Censorship Instead.”
The essay sparked a nationwide debate. Camp went on to cover civil liberties and education at Reason, and in 2024, the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) named her one of its “25 Faces of Free Speech.”
Camp received the TFAS Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship for 2025-26, which supported her upcoming book, “No Hard Feelings,” an exploration of why so many in her generation are lonely and afraid of rejection.
“Having that fellowship pay for taking significant time off work to devote to writing my book was so liberating,” Camp said. “I would not have been able to do that if I did not have the Novak Fellowship.”
In January, Camp joined The Wall Street Journal as a writer and editor for its Free Expression newsletter. Her short videos making the case for free markets have reached millions of viewers and earned her a spotlight in Business Insider.
Listen to Camp discuss her Novak Fellowship, free-market economics and her upcoming release with Anne Bradley, TFAS vice president of academic affairs, on the Liberty + Leadership Podcast.
A Powerful Voice for Her Generation
Caroline Downey, Novak ’25, grew up in Jupiter, Florida, before earning degrees in economics and political science at Boston College, where she spent five years as editor-in-chief of The Conservateur.
After graduating, she joined National Review as an education reporter and sharpened her thinking and writing through competitive fellowships, including a 2022 Publius Fellowship at the Claremont Institute and a 2024 Logos Fellowship at the Manhattan Institute.
Downey received the TFAS Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship for 2025-26 for her project “A Cold War Between the Sexes: Explaining the Gen Z Partisan Gap.” Over the course of a year, she examined why young men and young women are moving in opposite political directions.
Her work continues to draw recognition. Today, Downey is a columnist and video personality at National Review, a senior fellow at the Independent Women’s Forum and a regular guest on Fox News and CNN. This year, she was named a 2026-27 Steamboat Institute Fellow, honoring her as an emerging journalist and thought leader.
Two-Time TFAS Alumna Brings Balance to Mainstream Media
Carine Hajjar, Rago ’22, Novak ’24, grew up in Milton, Massachusetts, before attending Harvard College. There, she served on the editorial board of The Harvard Crimson and wrote a column about life as a conservative student. After graduating in 2021, she interned in the editorial section of National Review, covering foreign policy and national security.
Hajjar received the TFAS Joseph Rago Memorial Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism in 2022 and spent nine months at The Wall Street Journal’s opinion section, where she reported on the Nevada midterms, immigration in New York and the New Hampshire presidential primary.
She went on to join The Boston Globe’s editorial board, where she lent a conservative voice to the publication. She later received the TFAS Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship for 2024-25. Her Novak project, “Iran and its Proxies: A Return to an Unstable Middle East,” explored Lebanon’s political landscape.
Today, Hajjar is an opinion writer and member of the editorial board at The Washington Post, where she writes about U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East. She also hosts the Post’s podcast, “Make It Make Sense,” unpacking the political landscape and ongoing policy issues with experts. She is a regular guest on major news outlets, often representing conservative principles in debates on CNN and speaking about U.S. policy on Fox News.
The Reporter Watching America’s Campuses
Maya Sulkin, Novak ’25, grew up in Seattle, Washington, before attending Columbia University, where she cold-emailed Bari Weiss from her dorm room. That email landed her a 2021 internship at Weiss’s new outlet, which later became The Free Press. Sulkin grew with the digital news outlet, serving as the company’s chief of staff before moving into reporting full time.
Sulkin received the TFAS Robert Novak Journalism Fellowship for 2025-26 for her project “Campus Breakdown: The Ideological Hijacking of American Universities,” which examines the ideological capture of college campuses and what draws young people to radical movements.
Upon accepting her fellowship at the 32nd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner, Sulkin spoke about journalism’s power to build a better-informed public.
“My goal really is to do what any good journalist ought to, which is to hold a mirror up to the world and show people what it actually is,” Sulkin said. “I want to give people the tools to make informed choices about where to live, where to send their kids to school, what ideas and movements deserve their attention amidst their busy lives. I’m grateful to The Fund for American Studies and to the Novak Fellowship for giving me the opportunity to sharpen my understanding of one of the most important stories in American life.”
Today, Sulkin is a reporter and host at The Free Press, covering politics, education, technology and Gen Z. Her recent reporting includes stories on antisemitism at Ivy League universities.
Strengthening the TFAS Talent Pipeline
TFAS Novak Fellows spend a year reporting in depth on the questions and topics that matter most, from the politics of Gen Z to the future of the Middle East. The fellowship gives them the time, resources and freedom to dig deep into their subjects.
Roger Ream, TFAS president, emphasized that commitment and dedication are what set Novak Fellows apart.
“What stands out about the Novak Fellows is their ability to follow a story wherever it leads,” Ream said. “Whether the topic is foreign policy, national politics or regional conflicts, they do the work, they get the facts and they bring clarity to issues that are often misrepresented. That kind of reporting takes discipline and integrity, and TFAS is proud to support it.”
Camp, Downey, Hajjar and Sulkin are just four of the many accomplished journalists in the TFAS talent pipeline. Their stories show what happens when young journalists have the opportunity and support to flourish. For nearly six decades, the generosity of TFAS supporters has created those opportunities and shaped the next generation of courageous journalists who report on and analyze the news across the country.
Meet inspiring young journalists like these at the 33rd Annual TFAS Journalism Forum + Awards Dinner on Tuesday, Nov. 10. Your support enables us to continue developing the next generation of excellence in journalism while honoring today’s leaders who are paving the way.