Spectator Launches Financial Aid Initiative for Staff

The annual Blue Pencil Lecture, sponsored by Spectator, drew almost 200 people to an evening of dining and shop talk in Low Library on Saturday night. The crowd, which was made up of former and current Spectator staff as well as members of the Columbia community, turned out for a speech on the current state of print journalism and the unveiling of a new work-study initiative for editors on financial aid.

The keynote speaker, Washington Post Executive Editor Leonard Downie, addressed the changes in journalism and newsrooms, in light of new media like Web sites and blogs that have drawn readers away from traditional printed newspapers.

“The Internet has created new forms of storytelling,” Downie said, while also acknowledging the risk that new media poses to traditional media sources. “In some cases, the threat may prove fatal.”

Downie extolled the virtues of what he called “accountability” journalism, investigative journalism that demands people in power to be held responsible for their actions. Downie cited the recent example of Post reporters uncovering failures at Washington, D.C.’s Walter Reed Army Medical Center to illustrate his argument of journalism as a public service.

“This is relevant journalism, journalism that matters,” he said. “I cannot think of a better way to live your life as I have lived mine.”

Spectator also announced the launch of a new initiative to compensate members of the managing, deputy, and associate boards of the paper who qualify for financial aid through work-study positions. The initiative is designed to make participation on the paper open to a wider range of socio-economic groups on campus, and stipends will range $500-$1000, depending on position.

“It really will strengthen the staff and product,” Max Dickstein, CC’ 01 and a former sports editor, said.

Editor-in-Chief Tom Faure and Managing Editor Amanda Sebba, both CC ’09, also presented awards to former Humor Editor JD Porter, CC ’08, and deputy production editor Yipeng Huang, CC ’11, who were honored as notable senior and freshman staff members, respectively.

“It is imperative that alums support the Spec. ... Selfishly, I’m proud to be a part of Spec,” said Chase Behringer, CC ’06, a former publisher and member of the newspaper's Board of Trustees. “There was so much energy here.”

“This is the highlight of my February,” Megan Greenwell, CC ’06 and a former Editor in Chief, said.

alix.pianin@columbiaspectator.com