Alumni 

Since the CN was founded in 1979, a number of its alumni have become successful journalists. They have worked for The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, USA Today, and more. 

Prominent CN Alumni

Jonathan Karl (Vassar), national security correspondent for ABC News (former CN fellow at the New Republic) 

Naomi Schafer Riley (Harvard), deputy taste editor at the Wall Street Journal (former CN fellow at the Wall Street Journal) 

John Miller (Michigan), national political reporter for National Review (former CN fellow at the New Republic) 

Ross Douthat (Harvard), columnist, The New York Times and author of Grand New Party 

Stephen F. Hayes (Depauw), senior writer, the Weekly Standard 

Tony Mecia (Duke), Charlotte Observer 
 
Michael George (Northwestern), founder of Northwestern Review, current CEO of QVC
 
Aaron Barnhart (Northwestern), author of "Start the Presses", Television-media critic at Kansas City Star

Fareed Zakaria (Yale), CNN and Newsweek 

Dinesh D’Souza (Dartmouth), author and public speaker 

Rich Lowry (Virginia), editor, National Review 

Matthew Continetti (Columbia), associate editor, Weekly Standard (former CN fellow at the same) 

Laura Vanderkam (Princeton), contributor, USA Today 

Joe Rago (Cornell), editorial writer, Wall Street Journal 

J.P. Freire (Cornell), managing editor, The American Spectator (former CN fellow at the same) 

John Podhoretz (Chicago), editorial director, Commentary 

Duncan Currie (Harvard), managing editor, The American (former CN fellow at the Weekly Standard) 

Brian Carney (Yale), editorial board member, Wall Street Journal  

Debra McCown (UNC-Chapel Hill), reporter, Bristol (Tenn.) Herald-Courier (former CN fellow at USA Today) 

Katherine Mangu-Ward (Yale), associate editor, Reason (former CN fellow at the Weekly Standard) 
 
John M. O'Hara (Kenyon), author of "A New American Tea Party" and vice president of external relations at the Illinois Policy Institute.

Sonny Bunch (Virginia), reporter, Washington Times (former CN fellow, Roll Call) 

Tod Lindberg (Chicago), editor, Policy Review 

James Panero (Dartmouth), editor, New Criterion 

Mark Hemingway (Oregon), reporter, Washington Examiner

Whitney Blake (Virginia), reporter, Washington Examiner 

Register as a CN Alumnus/Alumna 


The CN is working to reconnect with all of its alumni. If you ever worked for a CN member paper or received a CN internship or fellowship, please e-mail the CN at  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Any of the following information would be greatly appreciated:
  • The university or college you attended
  • The name of the student publication
  • Your current job or location
  • Your name and address
Registered alumni will receive invitations to select CN events, including the annual Alumni & Friends Reception in Washington and other events around the country.