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Columbia University has ended its association with Sewell Chan, the executive editor of Columbia Journalism Review (CJR), just months after he assumed the role at the publication dedicated to media criticism and journalism. Chan was appointed to this position in June 2024 and had officially begun his tenure the following September. However, his biography on the CJR website has recently been updated to reflect his time at the outlet in the past tense.
The updated biography succinctly states, “Sewell Chan served as executive editor of the Columbia Journalism Review from 2024 to 2025. Previously, he was editor in chief of the Texas Tribune from 2021 to 2024, during which the nonprofit newsroom won its first National Magazine Award and was a Pulitzer finalist for the first time.” Reports of his departure surfaced first via The Washington Post.
In his career prior to CJR, Chan was the deputy managing editor and editorial page editor at the Los Angeles Times between 2018 and 2021. He also has experience working with other reputable news organizations, such as The New York Times and The Washington Post.
CJR has yet to release a public statement regarding Chan’s departure. However, in an internal email shared with staff members, CJR dean Jelani Cobb confirmed that Chan is “no longer with” the publication, while choosing not to elaborate on the circumstances of his exit.
Further details emerged from Cobb’s communication. He expressed gratitude for the resilience and commitment of the CJR staff, highlighting their dedication amidst changes within the organization. The dean’s message was also documented by journalist Katie Robertson on social media, where she shared insights into the ongoing situation at CJR.
Chan’s recent activity on social media has diminished, with his profile on X noting that he is “No longer active on X,” and the last interaction on his account being a repost from February that critiqued changes made by Jeff Bezos to one of his publications. His bio also suggests that he is available on BlueSky, although his last post there was a month ago.
Before his departure, Chan contributed to CJR with his final article published on April 15, addressing the impending closure of The Houston Landing, a nonprofit newsroom that commenced operations in 2023, which adds another layer to the evolving landscape of journalism.
Source
www.thewrap.com