Sarah Baxter, director of the Marie Colvin Center for International Reporting, has been recognized in her native United Kingdom as a contender for a national journalism award. She is among six nominees shortlisted for a Media Freedom Award in the Commentator of the Year – Popular category, thanks to her weekly column on American politics published in the London Standard.
In light of this year's highly competitive presidential election, Baxter's column has gained significant attention. The Standard noted that she "has become a must-read in the run-up to the U.S. election and her knowledge, clarity and freshness of writing have won her a transatlantic audience."
Laura Lindenfeld, dean of the School of Communication and Journalism and executive director of the Alan Alda Center for Communicating Science, praised Baxter's storytelling skills: “Sarah’s extraordinary ability to get and tell vitally important stories is matched only by her deep compassion and empathy for those whose stories she tells." Lindenfeld also highlighted Baxter's talent in sharing diverse perspectives accurately, which serves as an inspiration to both students and readers.
Since 2022, Baxter has served as director of the Colvin Center and visiting professor at Stony Brook University. The center is dedicated to training international journalists while honoring Marie Colvin, an international war correspondent who died in Syria in 2012.
Baxter boasts over two decades covering American politics, including events such as the September 11 attacks, multiple presidential elections, Emmett Till’s murder anniversary, and more recent campaigns. Her work extends beyond American borders; from Canada’s residential schools issue to Greece’s Parthenon Marbles controversy—a story that earned her recognition from Greece with a Gold Cross Order of Beneficence.
The Media Freedom Awards are organized by the Society of Editors to honor “excellence in public interest and campaigning journalism across the breadth of the UK news media industry.” The awards aim to uphold press freedom while recognizing individuals who advocate for democracy and free speech.