Ronan Farrow

Ronan Farrow
Born	Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow 19 12, 1987
Birthplace	New York City, New York, U.S.
Nationality	American
Occupation	Journalist, author, lawyer, former government advisor
Employer	The New Yorker
Known for	Investigative reporting on Harvey Weinstein sexual abuse allegations
Education	Bard College (B.A.), Yale Law School (J.D.)
Awards	Pulitzer Prize for Public Service (2018)

Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow (born December 19, 1987) is an American journalist, author, lawyer, and former government advisor whose investigative reporting on sexual abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein became one of the most consequential works of journalism in the early 21st century. Published in The New Yorker, his reporting helped catalyze the global #MeToo movement and earned the magazine the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, an honor shared with The New York Times for its parallel investigation. The son of actress Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen, Farrow demonstrated unusual academic precocity from a young age, entering Bard College at eleven and later earning a law degree from Yale Law School. Before turning to journalism, Farrow served as a spokesperson for UNICEF and worked as a diplomat and advisor in the United States Department of State, focusing on issues related to youth empowerment and humanitarian crises. His career has since expanded to include best-selling books and documentary filmmaking, and he continues to produce investigative work for The New Yorker and other outlets. As of 2025, Farrow is involved in documentary productions for HBO and has lent his name to a fellowship at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY, reflecting his continued influence in investigative journalism.

Early Life

Ronan Farrow was born Satchel Ronan O'Sullivan Farrow on December 19, 1987, in New York City, to actress and activist Mia Farrow and filmmaker Woody Allen. He grew up in a large family that included both biological and adopted siblings. Farrow was identified as academically gifted at an early age, a characteristic that would define much of his youth and early career trajectory.

Farrow's childhood was marked by one of the most publicized custody disputes in American entertainment history, following the acrimonious separation of his parents in 1992. The breakup involved allegations of sexual abuse made against Woody Allen regarding Farrow's adopted sister, Dylan Farrow, as well as the revelation of Allen's relationship with Mia Farrow's adopted daughter, Soon-Yi Previn, whom Allen later married. These events were extensively covered in the media and have continued to be a subject of public discussion for decades. The family dynamics surrounding the custody battle and its aftermath have been described as formative in shaping Farrow's worldview and later career focus on issues of power and accountability.

According to New York magazine, Farrow was recognized early on as an exceptionally bright child. He reportedly began college at the age of eleven when he enrolled at Bard College, making him one of the youngest students to attend the institution. This early entry into higher education attracted media attention and established his public image as a prodigy. A profile in Harper's Bazaar later named him among the "names to know," in part because of his early academic achievements and family background.

Education

Farrow enrolled at Bard College at the age of eleven, one of the youngest students in the college's history. He graduated from Bard College with a Bachelor of Arts degree, as confirmed by the college's own news communications identifying him as a member of the class of 2004.

Farrow subsequently attended Yale Law School, where he earned a Juris Doctor degree. His legal education provided a foundation for his later work in both government service and investigative journalism, particularly in understanding the legal frameworks surrounding issues of human rights, diplomacy, and accountability. Farrow was also selected as a Rhodes Scholar, which enabled him to study at the University of Oxford. His selection as a Rhodes Scholar further underscored his academic credentials and broadened his exposure to international affairs.

Career

Humanitarian Work and UNICEF

Before entering journalism, Farrow built a career in humanitarian advocacy and public service. He became involved with UNICEF at a young age, serving as a spokesperson for the organization. His work with UNICEF focused on issues affecting children and young people in crisis zones, including in Sudan, where he drew attention to the humanitarian situation in the Darfur region. UNICEF's media office highlighted his involvement in advocacy relating to HIV/AIDS and youth issues.

Farrow also became involved with the Genocide Intervention Network, an organization dedicated to empowering citizens to prevent and stop genocide. His advocacy work extended to collaboration with Refugees International, which honored both Ronan and his mother, Mia Farrow, for their humanitarian contributions at the organization's 29th anniversary dinner.

Government Service

Farrow's academic credentials and humanitarian experience led to a career in the United States Department of State. He served as a special adviser and was involved in diplomatic work focusing on youth engagement and empowerment in developing nations. The U.S. Embassy in Nepal noted his involvement in diplomatic activities in the country. The State Department's official blog featured his perspectives on empowering youth to be agents of change, reflecting the focus of his government work during this period.

During this period, a profile in the San Francisco Chronicle described Farrow as "making [his] mark as [a] diplomat at [a] young age," noting the unusual trajectory of someone so young serving in a significant advisory capacity within the federal government.

Transition to Journalism and MSNBC

In October 2013, MSNBC announced that Farrow would be joining the network as a host. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Farrow discussed his plans as a television host and his desire to bring a policy-oriented perspective to cable news. His program, Ronan Farrow Daily, premiered in early 2014. The show focused on public policy issues and current events. While the program attracted attention due to Farrow's public profile, it was eventually cancelled after approximately one year on the air.

Around the same time, it was reported that Farrow was writing a book about U.S. military aid and its implications for foreign policy, further demonstrating his continued engagement with issues at the intersection of government, diplomacy, and accountability.

Farrow also delivered commencement addresses during this period, including one at Dominican University of California, reflecting his growing public profile as a speaker and commentator.

Investigative Reporting for The New Yorker

Farrow's most consequential journalistic work came through his investigative reporting for The New Yorker. In October 2017, The New Yorker published his investigation into sexual abuse allegations against film producer Harvey Weinstein. The article detailed accounts from multiple women who alleged that Weinstein had engaged in sexual harassment, assault, and other abusive behavior over a period of decades. Farrow's reporting included audio recordings, detailed testimony from accusers, and accounts of the systems Weinstein allegedly used to silence his victims, including the use of nondisclosure agreements and private intelligence operatives.

The publication of Farrow's article, alongside parallel reporting by Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey at The New York Times, is credited with precipitating the downfall of Weinstein and igniting the global #MeToo movement, which encouraged survivors of sexual abuse and harassment to share their experiences publicly. The movement led to a broad reckoning across multiple industries, including entertainment, media, politics, and business.

For this reporting, The New Yorker was awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, sharing the award with The New York Times. The Pulitzer Board cited the reporting for "explosive, impactful journalism that exposed powerful and wealthy sexual predators" and the culture that protected them.

Farrow continued to produce investigative work for The New Yorker in the years following the Weinstein story. His reporting has addressed a range of subjects involving allegations of abuse, corruption, and institutional failures. In an interview with Esquire, Farrow reflected on his career trajectory and the principles guiding his work.

As of 2025, Farrow remained a contributing writer to The New Yorker, and Bard College identified him as such in communications about his media appearances.

Books

Farrow is the author of War on Peace: The End of Diplomacy and the Decline of American Influence (2018), which examined the diminishment of the U.S. State Department and the increasing militarization of American foreign policy. The book drew on his own experiences within the State Department as well as extensive reporting and interviews with diplomats and military officials. It was a New York Times bestseller.

His second book, Catch and Kill: Lies, Spies, and a Conspiracy to Protect Predators (2019), provided a detailed account of his investigation into Harvey Weinstein, including the obstacles he encountered during the reporting process. The book described alleged efforts by Weinstein and his associates to suppress the story, including the use of private intelligence firms. Catch and Kill was also adapted into a podcast and received significant media attention.

Documentary Filmmaking

In October 2025, it was announced that HBO Documentary Films, World of Wonder, and Ronan Production Group were in production on a new documentary directed and produced by Farrow. The documentary tracks the criminal case of Sean Williams in Johnson City, Tennessee, a story that Farrow had previously reported on for The New Yorker. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the documentary focuses on Williams, described as a serial predator, and is already in production as of late 2025. Local media in Johnson City also covered the announcement.

Continued Public Commentary

Farrow has continued to comment on matters of public interest beyond his formal investigative work. In June 2025, Bard College noted that Farrow was interviewed by MSNBC about the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and its access to Social Security data, a topic related to government transparency and data privacy. In February 2026, Newsweek reported that Farrow raised concerns about the arrest procedure used by the Trump administration to obtain a warrant for former CNN anchor Don Lemon, describing the process as "unusual."

Personal Life

Ronan Farrow is the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, though the nature of his relationship with Allen has been a subject of extensive public discussion. Following the separation of his parents, Farrow was raised by his mother. He has been publicly supportive of his sister Dylan Farrow's allegations of sexual abuse against Allen, claims Allen has denied. Farrow's estrangement from Allen has been widely documented in media reports.

Farrow is in a relationship with former podcast host and producer Jon Lovett, co-founder of Crooked Media and former speechwriter for President Barack Obama. The couple became engaged in 2019.

Farrow has spoken publicly about issues of transparency, accountability, and press freedom, themes that connect his personal history with his professional work. He has been open about the ways in which his family background informed his interest in examining power dynamics and institutional cover-ups.

Recognition

Farrow's reporting on Harvey Weinstein earned The New Yorker the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, one of the most prestigious awards in American journalism. The prize was shared with The New York Times for its complementary investigation.

Early in his television career, Farrow received the Walter Cronkite Award, though the timing of the award — reportedly after only three days on air at MSNBC — drew commentary. National Review noted this unusual circumstance.

In October 2025, the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY announced the creation of the Ronan Farrow Investigative Fellowship, which offers a graduate of the program the opportunity to work directly with Farrow on investigative projects. The fellowship reflects the institutional recognition of his contributions to investigative journalism and his role as a mentor to emerging journalists.

Farrow's selection as a Rhodes Scholar in the class of 2012 also constituted a significant academic honor, placing him among a cohort of scholars recognized for academic achievement, leadership, and commitment to public service.

Legacy

Ronan Farrow's investigative reporting on Harvey Weinstein is considered a defining moment in the history of the #MeToo movement. The publication of his New Yorker article in October 2017, in conjunction with the reporting of The New York Times, led directly to criminal investigations, the prosecution and conviction of Weinstein, and a broader societal conversation about sexual abuse, power, and accountability in workplaces across industries. The reporting demonstrated the capacity of investigative journalism to hold powerful individuals accountable and contributed to institutional reforms in the entertainment industry and beyond.

Farrow's career trajectory — from child prodigy and humanitarian advocate to government advisor and investigative journalist — has attracted both admiration and scrutiny. His supporters point to the tangible impact of his reporting, including criminal convictions and policy changes. His work also prompted discussion about the role of journalism in an era of concentrated media power and the challenges faced by reporters investigating influential figures.

The establishment of the Ronan Farrow Investigative Fellowship at CUNY's Newmark Graduate School of Journalism signals an effort to perpetuate the model of investigative journalism that Farrow represents, providing resources and mentorship to the next generation of reporters. His ongoing documentary work for HBO, including the production tracking the Sean Williams criminal case in Tennessee, suggests a continued expansion of his investigative methods into new media formats.

Farrow's books, War on Peace and Catch and Kill, have contributed to public understanding of the intersection of diplomacy, intelligence, and media power, and have been cited in academic and policy discussions. His career, spanning diplomacy, law, advocacy, and journalism, represents an unusually diverse set of contributions to public discourse in the United States.