New York magazine collaborated with the Columbia Daily Spectator, the student newspaper at Columbia University, to produce a special report on the pro-Palestinian student protests on campus. The collaboration allowed the student journalists at the Spectator to work alongside seasoned industry professionals and gain valuable insights and experience. The final product included an oral history of the protests, portraits of demonstrators from both sides, and a campus-wide poll. The student journalists, under the guidance of New York magazine editors, delivered a depth of reporting that exceeded expectations.
Gathering reporting for the issue presented challenges for the student journalists, as the protests coincided with finals and end-of-semester deadlines. Many student demonstrators were hesitant to speak with the media, leading to trust issues with national news organizations. The Spectator’s intimate knowledge of the campus community allowed them to build trust with protesting students and provide a more accurate representation of the events. The student journalists saw their role as a duty to keep the campus informed and spent weeks pouring their efforts into the coverage, even implementing a shift system to provide 24/7 updates.
The partnership between The Spectator and New York magazine allowed the student journalists to explore a long-form medium and add context to the historical record of the protests. While The Spectator focused on breaking news alerts, the collaboration provided an opportunity to delve deeper into the events and create a comprehensive report that would have a lasting impact on the community. The ability to produce in-depth coverage of the protests was seen as a significant achievement that would be remembered by both the student journalists and the community at large.
The student journalists at The Spectator were able to learn from industry veterans through their collaboration with New York magazine. The experience of working alongside top editors and photographers allowed the students to gain valuable insights and tips that will benefit them in their future careers. The willingness of industry professionals to share their expertise and mentor the next generation of journalists was a heartwarming aspect of the collaboration and highlighted the importance of passing on knowledge to aspiring journalists.
The partnership between The Spectator and New York magazine showcased the power of collaboration between student journalists and industry professionals. By combining their resources and expertise, the two publications were able to produce a comprehensive report on the protests that went beyond surface-level coverage. The collaboration not only provided valuable learning opportunities for the student journalists but also allowed them to contribute to the historical documentation of the events on campus.Overall, the collaboration between The Spectator and New York magazine was a successful venture that demonstrated the importance of teamwork and mentorship in the world of journalism.
