The Bliss Group Attends Gala Celebrating Financial Journalism: The 2024 81st NYFWA Financial Follies

Founded in 1938, the New York Financial Writers’ Association (NYFWA) is the nation’s oldest organization dedicated to financial and business journalism. This year’s Follies lit up a rainy Thursday night just a week before Thanksgiving, hosted at the Edison Ballroom on West 46th Street, steps away from the vibrant heart of Manhattan’s Times Square. The drizzle outside didn’t dampen the energy of the evening—in fact, the attendees arrived dressed to impress in sharp suits, tuxedos, beautiful evening gowns, and shimmering sequins. It was truly a night to remember!

Bill Smith, Marisha Chinsky, Gerald Porter Jr, and I had the honor of representing The Bliss Group at the black-tie fundraising dinner alongside journalists from top tier media outlets including Bloomberg, CNN, CNBC, The New York Times, MarketWatch, The Wall Street Journal and many others. The event provided a fantastic opportunity to network and strengthen relationships, reinforcing our commitment to supporting and celebrating business and financial journalism.

The evening also celebrated the NYFWA scholarship recipients, honored the esteemed Myron Kandel, and featured lively entertainment, including recorded performances and a creative song parody to Teddy Swims “Lose Control”.

Winners of the 2024 NYFWA Scholarships announced during the dinner were:

• • Segun Olakoyenikan, NYU, winner of the George Auerbach Scholarship
  • Samantha Kroontje, NYU, winner of the Irene Weissman Scholarship
  • Veronica Irwin, NYU, winner of the Claudia Deutsch Scholarship

This year, the NYFWA honored Myron Kandel, founding financial editor of CNN and a pioneer in financial journalism. He was recognized as one of the ten most influential business journalists of the 20th century, Kandel received the inaugural “Citation of Appreciation for Distinguished Service to the NYFWA” for his six decades of dedication to journalism integrity and the association’s mission.

The evening also featured the announcement of major awards, including the Elliott V. Bell Award and the Impact Award for Distinguished Financial Journalism. Congratulations to this year’s recipients!

The Bliss Group is proud to support the journalism community and champion reporters in the business and financial industries, alongside the NYFWA mission. We’re already excited for next year’s Financial Follies!

By Kelli Carter