Columbia Journalism School has announced that Raney Aronson-Rath, editor-in-chief and executive producer of FRONTLINE, has been awarded the 2024 John Chancellor Excellence in Journalism Award. With a career that spans over 25 years in various journalistic roles, including reporter and producer, she has led the acclaimed PBS documentary series produced at GBH in Boston. Columbia Journalism School highlighted Aronson-Rath’s significant contributions to journalism, stating that her accomplishments have garnered the highest accolades in the industry. The award recognizes a journalist for cumulative professional achievements characterized by courage and integrity.
Responding to the award, Aronson-Rath expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am profoundly honored and humbled by this recognition and grateful to both Columbia Journalism School and the John Chancellor Award committee for acknowledging my journey as a journalist.” She extended her thanks to journalists and filmmakers who have supported her and recognized the hard work of her colleagues at FRONTLINE and GBH.
In her role, Aronson-Rath oversees investigative reporting and the editorial vision for FRONTLINE, producing over 20 in-depth documentaries annually that focus on critical national and global issues. Columbia Journalism School’s dean, Jelani Cobb, praised her behind-the-scenes work that has made FRONTLINE more relevant than ever.
Under Aronson-Rath’s leadership, FRONTLINE expanded into theatrical documentaries and initiated its first original podcast, The FRONTLINE Dispatch. She has emphasized transparency in journalism to combat misinformation and experimented with innovative storytelling methods including virtual reality and interactive documentaries.
Aronson-Rath has made FRONTLINE’s storytelling more accessible, allowing it to reach millions on platforms like YouTube. Her work has been highly regarded by peers, like ProPublica’s Steve Engelberg, who commended her dedication to thorough and accurate storytelling. Additionally, others in the industry, including Susan Goldberg of GBH and PBS’s Paula Kerger, praised her leadership and commitment to quality journalism.
Aronson-Rath has received multiple honors, including awards from New York Women in Film & Television and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting earlier this year.
The John Chancellor Award, named after the distinguished NBC News Anchor, comes with a $25,000 honorarium and will be presented during a ceremony at Columbia Journalism School on November 14, 2024.