Sheera Frenkel

Sheera Frenkel is a cybersecurity journalist and author who serves as a technology reporter for The New York Times. She has built her career covering cybersecurity, disinformation, and digital warfare, with extensive experience reporting from the Middle East. In 2021, Frenkel co-authored the New York Times bestseller "An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination" with Cecilia Kang, which exposed internal issues at Facebook/Meta and received significant critical attention. Her investigative work has focused heavily on technology companies' handling of misinformation and content moderation. Prior to joining The New York Times, Frenkel was the cybersecurity correspondent for BuzzFeed News and worked as a Middle East correspondent for various outlets including NPR, The Times of London, and McClatchy Newspapers. Her reporting from the region covered conflicts in Iraq, Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. She has received several journalism awards, including the 2019 Mirror Award for her reporting on Russian disinformation operations and the Society of Professional Journalists' Sigma Delta Chi Award. Frenkel's work continues to examine the intersection of technology, security, and social impact in the digital age.

Readers praise Frenkel's investigative depth in "An Ugly Truth," noting her detailed documentation of Facebook's internal decisions and corporate culture. Many reviews highlight the book's clear explanation of complex tech issues for general audiences. Positive reviews point to: - Well-researched revelations about Facebook's operations - Clear writing style that makes technical concepts accessible - Thorough sourcing and documentation Common criticisms include: - Some readers found the narrative structure jumps around too much - A few reviewers wanted more solutions proposed - Some felt the book repeated known information about Facebook Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 4.0/5 (5,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.3/5 (1,200+ ratings) One reader on Goodreads noted: "The reporting is excellent but the writing can feel disjointed." An Amazon reviewer wrote: "Essential reading for understanding how Facebook really operates, backed by solid journalism."

An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination (2021) Co-authored with Cecilia Kang, this investigative work examines Facebook's internal operations, corporate culture, and policy decisions from 2016-2021, based on interviews with employees and access to internal documents.

The Right Questions for Board Members: How to Ask Them and What to Listen For (2013) A technical guide focused on corporate governance that outlines specific questions board members should ask to fulfill their oversight responsibilities effectively.

Kara Swisher covers tech industry power dynamics and Silicon Valley culture through investigative reporting and interviews. She shares Frenkel's focus on exposing problems within major tech companies and their leadership.

Kurt Eichenwald writes deep-dive investigations into corporate scandals and institutional failures. His work parallels Frenkel's approach of combining extensive research with narrative storytelling.

Catherine Belton examines power structures and investigates how influential figures and organizations shape global events. Her research methods and focus on uncovering hidden connections mirror Frenkel's investigative style.

David Kirkpatrick provides detailed analysis of social media companies and their impact on society. He shares Frenkel's interest in examining Facebook's growth and influence on global affairs.

Julia Angwin investigates technology's impact on privacy and democracy through data-driven reporting. Her work focuses on holding tech companies accountable, similar to Frenkel's coverage of social media platforms.