A letter from our new editor, Sewell Chan

Dear Readers,

This is my first week as editor-in-chief Columbia Journalism Review. I am deeply honored to be at the helm of a publication that for sixty-three years has sought “to assess the achievements of journalism in all its forms, to call attention to its shortcomings and strengths, and to help define—or redefine—the standards of honest, responsible service.”

We described this mission in our first issue, in the fall of 1961, in which we also noted “widespread concern about the state of journalism”—the fear that our craft was “not yet up to the complex conditions of our times.”

Our era has become even more complicated. Today, journalists face challenges from all sides: technological disruption, changing business models, growing disinformation, and threats to democracy and the First Amendment. There are exponentially more news sources than there were in 1961—and yet this explosion of information has not matched the growth in public understanding. This year’s presidential campaign highlights how tense the relationship between politicians and the press has become. We also live in an era when it seems everyone wants to be a critic of the media—some in good faith, some not.

And yet I am impressed by the enduring relevance of the goals originally set for CJR:

“To be open about what we consider to be shortcomings or irresponsibility, and to praise what we consider to be responsible, honest and professional.

“Discuss all the ways in which messages are conveyed to the public so that the issue can be looked at holistically, without the usual divisions.

“To provide a forum for meetings and thoughtful discussion about journalism, both among its practitioners and observers, to encourage debate and provide appropriate space for the expression of divergent views.”

CJR’s mission and goals are enduring, but the publication has always evolved with the times. Here are some of the goals I would like CJR to achieve during my tenure:

Our reporting needs to be much more international, recognizing the common challenges journalists face and the fact that topics like climate change and authoritarianism know no borders.

• We also need to focus on local news (including nonprofit and public media) because the proliferation of “news deserts” across America has accelerated the growth of isolation, apathy and distrust.

• We’ll cover the industry by discussing business models for news, as well as areas like audience engagement, data analytics and product strategy that modern newsrooms must master to survive.

• We will describe the development of artificial intelligence, which promises to be as transformative and revolutionary for the information industry as the development of the Internet.

• We will continue to consider the role of journalism as a civic practice. While reporting alone cannot fix all the problems that plague democracies, it is impossible to imagine a more democratic and just world without a strong free press.

I bring to this work a passion for supporting journalists in the field and defending the enduring values ​​of our craft. I don’t believe in uncritically celebrating news, but I also don’t believe in stories that demean, mock, or ridicule their subjects. I want CJR to uplift and shine a light on the great work of journalists while honestly examining the many ways we can do and be better. Journalism must engage in collective and critical self-reflection—not cynicism or defeatism.

I am proud to lead CJR in partnership with our publisher, Jelani Cobb, the dean of Columbia Journalism School, our board chair, Rebecca Blumenstein, NBC News, Editorial, and the many supporters who make our work possible.

There are many ways you can support our mission. First, continue reading this newsletter—run by my colleague Jon Allsop—and sharing it with others. Second, email me at [email protected] with story ideas, thoughts on our outreach, and suggestions on how we can be more useful and relevant to working journalists and anyone interested in journalism. Finally, if you can, consider making a donation to CJR and supporting our mission.

Thanks for reading.

Sewell Chan

Sewell Chan has joined Columbia Journalism Review as editor-in-chief in 2024. Previously, he was editor-in-chief Texas Tribune from 2021 to 2024, during which the nonprofit newsroom won its first National Magazine Award and became a Pulitzer Prize finalist for the first time. From 2018 to 2021, he was deputy editor and then editorial page editor at Los Angeles Timeswhere he oversaw coverage that won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial writing. Chan worked at New York Times from 2004 to 2018 as a metro reporter, Washington correspondent, deputy opinion editor and international news editor. He began his career as a local reporter in Washington Post in the year 2000.