His first television show has only been on the air for three days, but Ronan Farrow is already winning awards for his journalistic work. Reach the World, a global education group, will honor the 26-year-old Farrow with its annual Cronkite Award for Excellence in Exploration and Journalism.
Prior to the debut of his show, Ronan Farrow Daily, on Monday, Farrow worked as an adviser to the State Department and with UNICEF, among other humanitarian efforts; he’s contributed to various publications, including the Wall Street Journal, Foreign Policy, and The Atlantic.
This year marks the third year of award: In 2012, television travel host Richard Wiese received the award; in 2013, it went to travel writer and actor Andrew McCarthy.
Reporters attending the event have told not to ask Farrow any personal questions, including about controversy surrounding his family. Farrow, the son of Mia Farrow and Woody Allen, has weighed in on recent media frenzies, suggesting his father could “possibly” be Frank Sinatra and lending support to his sister’s accusations that Allen sexually abused her at a young age.
“The theme of the evening is global education and service,” the tip sheet reads, according to the Post. “All press are required to stay strictly on message. Any press who ask guests or Mr. Farrow about off-message topics will be immediately escorted out of the event.”
UPDATE: Reach the World released a statement clarifying that the organization, not Farrow, requested that reporters not inquire about the anchor’s personal life. Additionally, Farrow tweeted about the situation during the day on Wednesday, even hinting that he did not think he necessarily deserved the award named after the prestigious broadcaster
https://twitter.com/RonanFarrow/statuses/438768979981914112
https://twitter.com/RonanFarrow/statuses/438808314311634944
https://twitter.com/RonanFarrow/statuses/438808647964319745