● My Story
Meet Luke
Growing up in the Northeast, Luke De Cresce developed an early fascination with politics and the news. Always keeping a close eye on current events, he was drawn to the people, policies, and stories shaping the world around him.
He was also tech-savvy from a young age, teaching himself how to navigate the family computer and explore YouTube when the platform was just getting started.
These early interests shaped his belief that journalism should go beyond the written word, using different forms of media to inform, engage, and connect with audiences.
● About
Education
Luke refined his journalistic balance and expertise throughout his Master’s in Journalism at New York University. He found stories both in his local community and in his own life. His opportunity to interview Andrew Yang and members of the Forward Party for The Click during the 2024 election cycle further fueled his passion for political reporting and gave him a firsthand look at the people and movements seeking to reshape American politics.
At NYU, he worked on pieces ranging from a written investigation of the ongoing gentrification of Washington, DC, to a reported video about the negatives of building a new football stadium at the former Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium site, to an essay about his late uncle’s life and identity that was ultimately published in LGBTQ Nation.
Prior to his Master’s, while studying at the University of Virginia, Luke earned degrees in Foreign Affairs and Middle Eastern Studies. His thesis analyzed the in-depth cultural significance and historical context of the ten-volume Seyâḥatnâme, the travelogue of a 17th century Ottoman courtesan who wrote about his experiences throughout the culturally and religiously diverse regions within the Ottoman sphere of influence. Luke has a deep affinity for history and geography.
● approaches and studies
Reporting Experience
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domestic political reporting
Luke’s work with Fair Observer reflects a lifelong interest in everything international, politics included. Luke’s obsessive knowledge of history, in combination with his credentials in international relations and his political reporting, has allowed him to include international politics in his reporting.
His interview with Dr. Mehdi Alavi on the domestic situation in Iran amidst the war with the United States is a key example of Luke’s ability to discuss global affairs from a place of understanding that is fair to all parties.
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foreign affairs reporting
In his work with Raw America, Luke has contributed to the publication’s mission of democratizing progressive reporting. His ability to concisely summarize political trends in a widely accessible format has aided Raw America in reaching millions of new followers.
When the publication was only a few months old, Luke played a critical role in building its social media presence from the ground up. Luke’s knowledgeable, honest, and relentless voice, combined with his willingness to jump right into the fray of Capitol Hill and Trump-era DC, helped define Raw America’s brand as a premier online progressive platform.
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scholarly research
Luke’s studies in global affairs have also informed his interest in religion, particularly new religious movements (NRMs).
In researching some DC archives, Luke uncovered the former DC location of a 90s-era NRM headquartered in Brooklyn. Using his archival research skills, Luke found out everything there was to know about the location and forwarded his findings to Professor Susan J. Palmer of Concordia University, who has produced highly reviewed academic work on the subject. Luke and Professor Palmer produced a scholarly paper that was published in the May 2026 issue of The International Journal for the Study of New Religions (IJSNR).
Luke has been an active musician since his teenage years. Most evenings and weekends since college and afterward, Luke could be found jamming, writing, or performing with other musicians, honing his creative abilities and getting in touch with the communities and discourse that surround the arts. This outlet would come to inform his keen eye for the arts and cultural critique, but it also gave him a real-time insight into how digital media can be used as an organizing platform.