Meet The Press
This is the team behind the issues released on 10/08 and 10/22
RentWire is a pop-up newsletter dedicated to all things rent in New York City. We cover commercial and residential real estate trends, as well as any story where rent resides! This includes the intersection of transportation and rent, climate change and rent, and even theater and rent. RentWire is created and operated by students at the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.
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Jenae Barnes
Jenae (she/her) has a B.A. in global affairs from George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia. She is originally from Wasington, D.C., and has previously covered race, political and environmental issues as a freelance reporter. Her bylines have appeared in ABC News, Blavity News, Earth Journalism Network and Medium.
Mariana Castro
Mariana Castro (she/her) is a multimedia journalist originally from São Paulo, Brazil, interested in pursuing a career in investigative journalism, with a focus on immigration and environmental issues. She has worked at VOA's Polygraph.info, Vox, Vice, Jigsaw Productions and Newsweek. She received her Bachelor’s from New York University in 2018, with a double major in journalism and political science, and a minor in peace and conflict studies.
Marlene Cruz
Marlene (she/her) received a BFA in film/ television from Tisch School of the Arts as well as a minor in environmental science from New York University. She is a filmmaker and journalist with experience working in the entertainment industry, with environmental issues, and nonprofits.
Eleonora Francica
Eleonora Francica is a journalist originally from Rome, Italy. She is passionate about human rights and social issues. She graduated with a degree in international affairs with a specialization in philosophy at John Cabot, the American University of Rome. Eleonora has worked as an intern for the International Press Corps of the U.N., writing for “La Voce di New York.” Her goal is to start a foreign correspondent career in the future. She enjoys exploring new places, and she is also very interested in philosophy and ancient Greek theater.
John Gallen
John Gallen is a documentary filmmaker and producer. He has a B.A. in government from Georgetown University and a Master of Fine Arts in Documentary Film from Wake Forest University. He has worked on documentary series for TIME Studios and National Geographic and his independent films have screened at numerous festivals including the Brooklyn Film Festival and Hollyshorts Film Festival.
Shannon Rose Geary
Shannon Geary (she/her) is a queer journalist interested in pursuing a career in investigative science journalism. She graduated from Tufts University in 2019 with a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry. Prior to joining Columbia, she worked as a contact tracer, teaching assistant, and barista in Cambridge, Massachusetts. She is passionate about covering healthcare inequity and environmental issues. When she’s not out reporting, she enjoys painting and reading comic books.
Susanna Granieri
Susanna Granieri (she/her) graduated from SUNY New Paltz with a dual-degree in digital media production and journalism. She was the managing editor of the SUNY New Paltz Oracle, a freelancer for the Southern Ulster Times, and an assistant editor for the Legislative Gazette, a political newspaper based in Albany. Most recently, Granieri worked as a reporter for Being Patient, an online publication focusing on Alzheimer’s, dementia and brain health.
Michael Hoffman
Michael Hoffman (he/him) has a B.A. in communications from Tulane University. He served as an EMT for four years in Westchester County, NY and worked as a logger for the Tokyo Olympics this past summer. Michael hopes to eventually become an on camera reporter and is excited to write more about the intersection of rent and restaurants for Rent Wire.
Richa Karmarkar
Richa Karmarkar (she/her) is a dual-degree student at Columbia in pursuit of an M.S. in Journalism and an M.A. in religion. She is from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where she earned B.A. degrees in history and religion in addition to journalism. Last year, Richa won the national SPJ Mark of Excellence award for her feature on a Milwaukee church. Aside from reporting on NYC religious institutions for RentWire, Richa enjoys classic rock, soft pretzels, & psychological thrillers.
Mariana Labbate
Mariana Labbate (she/her) is a journalist pursuing a career in producing and editing for print. Originally from São Paulo, Brazil, she graduated from the University of Missouri and has worked on the editing teams for publications like The New York Times and The Arizona Republic. When she’s not in the newsroom, you can find Mariana exploring the city and all its culture.
Willa Rowe
Willa Rowe (she/her) is a queer journalist based in Brooklyn who is passionate about arts and culture. She graduated with honors from Hunter College double majoring in creative writing and classical studies and was a part of the Thomas Hunter Honors Program. You can probably find her at a local teashop, or at home petting her two cats.
Eliot Schiaparelli
Eliot Schiaparelli (she/her) is an audio journalist who has produced work in the past for NPR affiliate WFUV, BronxNet and Norwood News among others. She has a B.A. in journalism and American studies from Fordham University where she focused on Bronx-based non-profits and issues. She won a Gracie Award for her multimedia series about changemakers in the Bronx as well as awards from the Public Media Journalists Association and the New York State Broadcasters Association. She's looking forward to covering the intersection of transit and rent for RentWire.
Isabella Stoller
Isabella Stoller (she/her) has a B.A. in photography, journalism, and criminology from New York University. She is originally from Los Angeles, California, and has previously written stories about music, travel, and human rights issues. When not covering commercial real estate for RentWire, she enjoys exploring the city and going to every concert she can find.
Xinyi (Wendy) Wang
Originally from Suzhou, China, Wendy is a bilingual journalist interested in covering social justice and fashion. She graduated from University of Southern California with a bachelor’s degree in communication. She is an avid foodie and coffeeholic, who loves exploring different restaurants on weekends.