In mid-April, New York Magazine partnered with Columbia Daily Spectator, the student newspaper at Columbia University, to cover the pro-Palestinian student protests that had engulfed the campus. Instead of sending its own staff writers to report on the story, New York Magazine’s features editor, Nick Summers, reached out to Isabella Ramirez, the editor-in-chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator, to collaborate on a special report for the magazine’s May issue. The final product, a special report on the campus unrest, includes an oral history of the encampments, portraits of demonstrators from both sides, and a poll of the campus community. The entire package was produced by the student journalists at The Spectator, with guidance from Summers and other industry veterans.
The partnership between New York Magazine and The Spectator allowed the student journalists to gain valuable experience working with seasoned professionals and learning from their expertise. Jody Quon, the magazine’s photo director, shared how industry veterans visited the campus to offer advice and tips to the students, enhancing their journalistic skills and knowledge. However, the student journalists faced challenges collecting reporting for the issue, as the protests coincided with finals and academic deadlines, and many demonstrators were skeptical of the news media’s portrayal of their views.
The student journalists at The Spectator had a unique advantage over national and international news organizations covering the protests, as they had built trust within the campus community over time. Students were more likely to speak to their fellow classmates, who had been covering the protests since October and had established relationships with organizers. The journalists at The Spectator felt a strong sense of duty to provide constant updates on the polarizing situation, working tirelessly to deliver news alerts and updates on the protests. A shift system was established to ensure coverage was available 24/7.
The partnership with New York Magazine allowed The Spectator’s journalists to produce a comprehensive long-form report that added context to the historical record of the protests. Ramirez described the opportunity to explore a long-form medium as a valuable experience for the student journalists, creating a lasting impact on the community and serving as a historical record of the events. The collaboration exemplified the power of student journalism and the importance of building trust within the campus community to report on sensitive and complex issues. By working together, both media outlets successfully covered the protests at Columbia University in a comprehensive and insightful manner.
