About

I'm Claire Samstag, a journalist and communications professional based in New York with experience spanning government press operations, breaking news, and media relations.

I'm a May 2026 graduate of the S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University, where I studied Magazine and News Digital Journalism. Over the past few years, I've had the opportunity to work at the intersection of journalism and strategic communications — two fields that, at their core, are both about getting the right message to the right people.

At the NYC Mayor's Press Office, I managed high-volume media inquiries, drafted and distributed official press releases, and supported communications during some of the city's most visible public moments. At the City of Syracuse, I've continued that work — writing statements, triaging press inquiries, and supporting city-wide communications strategy.

On the journalism side, I spent a summer at the New York Post as a Sunday News intern, where I earned bylines in print and online covering crime, politics, and human interest stories. I also served as Assistant News Editor at The Daily Orange, where I edited on deadline and trained the next generation of campus journalists.

I'm drawn to work that requires both sharp writing and quick thinking — whether that's crafting a press release under pressure or chasing a story from the Police Shack at City Hall.