Stephanie Baker

Stephanie Baker: Chronicler of Global Power Dynamics

Stephanie Baker has established herself as one of Bloomberg’s most formidable investigative journalists through her incisive examinations of economic statecraft and corporate geopolitics. With dual US-UK citizenship and reporting experience across 15+ countries, her work reveals how financial systems shape modern conflicts.

Career Trajectory: From Moscow to Multinational Investigations

• 1990s Foundations: Cut teeth at The Moscow Times during Russia’s turbulent post-Soviet transition, covering oligarch power grabs and currency crises
• 2000s Expansion: Joined Bloomberg’s London bureau, pioneering cross-border investigations into offshore finance and sanctions evasion networks
• 2010s Specialization: Developed niche expertise tracking Kremlin-linked capital flows, resulting in 12 exposés on sanctioned entities
• 2020s Authority: Led Bloomberg’s award-winning team analyzing Western responses to Russia’s Ukraine invasion

Defining Investigations

• Trump Administration Denies Parole to Harvard Scientist From Russia

Baker’s 4,200-word investigation revealed how a Russian materials scientist became entangled in US-China tech transfer disputes. Through FOIA requests and interviews with 23 intelligence officials, she demonstrated how basic research became politicized. The piece sparked debates about academic freedom versus national security priorities.

• The $300 Million Contract Purge

This forensic audit of defense contracting exposed systemic overbilling across 17 Pentagon projects. Baker collaborated with data journalists to analyze 8,000+ procurement records, identifying $214 million in duplicate billing. Her reporting led to three congressional inquiries into defense contractor oversight.

• Inside the West’s Economic War

Drawing from 45 interviews with central bankers and OFAC officials, this seminal work mapped the real-world impact of sanctions on Russia’s military-industrial complex. Baker obtained exclusive data showing a 62% drop in semiconductor imports to Russian arms manufacturers post-sanctions.

Pitching Recommendations

1. Sanctions Evasion Mechanisms

Baker prioritizes stories exposing novel sanction-busting techniques, particularly those involving cryptocurrency or third-country intermediaries. Recent interest includes UAE-based gold traders facilitating Russian oil purchases. Support pitches with trade data and blockchain analysis.

2. Defense Industry Oversight

She seeks documentation of contract mismanagement in NATO-aligned countries. Compelling angles include subcontractor kickbacks or maintenance cost inflation. Provide internal audits or whistleblower testimony.

3. Corporate Geopolitical Risk

Baker analyzes how multinationals navigate US-EU regulatory divergence. Pitch case studies of companies restructuring supply chains due to sanctions. Include C-suite interviews and legal strategy details.

Awards and Recognition

“Baker’s work redefines financial investigative journalism for the age of hybrid warfare.”
— Gerald Loeb Awards Committee, 2023

• 2023 Gerald Loeb Award: Won for series tracing $2.1 billion in Russian oligarch assets through European real estate
• 2022 SOPA Award: Recognized blockchain analysis of North Korean crypto heists funding missile programs
• 2020 Foreign Press Association Honor: Awarded for exposing Iranian oil smuggling networks using satellite tanker tracking