In 2017, at age 29, journalist Ronan Farrow published reporting in *The New Yorker* that would fundamentally alter the landscape of Hollywood accountability. His investigation into Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual assault and harassment didn't just expose a powerful figure—it catalyzed a global reckoning with workplace sexual abuse.

Farrow's reporting was built on meticulous journalistic work. He conducted more than 140 interviews, compiling the first on-the-record accounts from women alleging assault and rape by Weinstein. What emerged was a portrait not only of predatory behavior spanning decades, but of an elaborate infrastructure designed to conceal it.

Central to Farrow's findings was Weinstein's deployment of what the reporting described as a "sprawling system of spies"—lawyers, private investigators, and operatives tasked with silencing accusers. The investigation revealed Weinstein's methods with precision: legal threats, intimidation campaigns, and financial settlements designed to keep victims quiet. Among documented cases, Weinstein had reached at least eight settlements with women, typically ranging from $80,000 to $150,000, though at least one settlement—with Fox News' Gina Wiehl—reached $32 million.

The significance of Farrow's work lay partly in what had come before. Attempts to expose Weinstein had failed for years. *The New Yorker* editor David Remnick had known of accusations against Weinstein as far back as approximately 2002—some 15 years before Farrow's reporting—but accusers had been unwilling to go public at that time. Farrow's breakthrough was persuading women to attach their names and faces to their allegations, transforming whispered rumors into documented testimony.

Following the initial 2017 exposé, Farrow published additional reporting that revealed Weinstein's concerted efforts to suppress negative stories before they could reach print—a detail that underscored the calculated nature of his alleged misconduct.

The impact was immediate and far-reaching. Farrow's investigation "hastened Weinstein's downfall," according to contemporary accounts, and contributed to the explosive growth of the #MeToo movement, which saw survivors across industries coming forward with their own accounts of sexual harassment and assault.

In 2018, Farrow's work received the Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, one of journalism's highest honors. He shared this award with *The New York Times* journalists Jodi Kantor and Megan Twohey, who had conducted parallel investigations into Weinstein and broader patterns of sexual misconduct in the entertainment industry. The Pulitzer Prize committee commended the collective effort as "explosive, impactful journalism that exposed powerful and wealthy sexual predators."

For Farrow, the recognition validated years of investigative work and underscored a critical journalistic principle: that even the most protected figures in powerful industries can be held accountable when journalists commit themselves to rigorous reporting, document verification, and the protection of sources willing to speak truth.

The Weinstein investigation became the defining moment in Farrow's career and a touchstone for modern investigative journalism. It demonstrated that systemic abuse thrives in silence, and that dedicated reporting—combined with the courage of accusers willing to break that silence—remains one of democracy's most powerful tools.

**Sources:** - https://law.yale.edu/yls-today/news/ronan-farrow-09-receives-pulitzer-prize - https://wallacehouse.umich.edu/library/ronan-farrows-investigation-of-harvey-weinstein/ - https://www.pulitzer.org/winners/new-york-times-reporting-led-jodi-kantor-and-megan-twohey-and-new-yorker-reporting-ronan