The New York Times launched Run for Reporting on August 13, 2026, a fundraiser supporting journalism scholarships at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. The Times is raising money for the school’s free tuition campaign, which aims to ensure a career in journalism remains accessible to all students regardless of background or income.
The fundraiser leverages the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon, taking place November 1, 2026. The Times created a Strava Run Club allowing supporters to run in support of either CUNY or another journalism nonprofit of their choice, with donations going directly to the free tuition campaign.
The Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism has been working toward full tuition-free status. In January 2024, Craig Newmark Philanthropies donated $10 million to the school, enabling it to cover full tuition for 50 percent of its class starting in August 2025, according to reporting from the time. By August 2025, the school reported that more than 60 percent of its Class of 2026 was attending tuition-free, with over $2.3 million awarded in scholarships.
The Times’s partnership with the CUNY free tuition campaign reflects broader industry focus on supporting journalism education. The school’s goal of becoming entirely tuition-free by 2026 addresses a long-standing challenge in journalism training: the high cost of graduate programs can limit entry into the profession to students with financial means. By removing tuition barriers, the campaign aims to diversify the journalism workforce and bring more varied perspectives into newsrooms.
The Times remains committed to supporting journalism education beyond this fundraiser. The organization has long invested in journalism training through its School of The New York Times, which offers scholarships to participants, and through its various fellowship and educational initiatives. The Run for Reporting effort extends that commitment by mobilizing its audience to support the next generation of journalists entering the profession.
Sources
- The New York Times Company Press Room — announcement of Run for Reporting fundraiser on August 13, 2026, supporting CUNY’s free tuition campaign and Strava Run Club details
- Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY — confirmation of free tuition campaign goal and August 2025 scholarship achievement data
- Axios — reporting on the January 2024 $10 million gift from Craig Newmark Philanthropies enabling tuition-free status for 50 percent of students
- Nieman Lab — coverage of CUNY’s campaign to provide tuition-free education by 2027
