Isabella Ramírez, 148th Editor-in-Chief, Columbia Daily Spectator

On this episode, we're joined by Isabella Ramírez. Isabella just completed her tenure as editor in chief of the Columbia Daily Spectator at Columbia University and President of Spectator Publishing Company. She is the first Latina to hold that position. She just received the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Student of the Year award.

One of the people who nominated her for the award said Isabella's leadership changed her campus.

Isabella led a staff covering protests against the Israel-Hamas War and the university's investments in Israel. That included a Gaza Solidarity encampment in April, the takeover of a campus building, Hamilton Hall, the subsequent arrests of hundreds of protesters by the NYPD, and the resignation of the school president. The protests at Columbia were a catalyst for other collegiate protests across the country. Isabella also represented The Spectator in national and international interviews.

Isabella discussed her journalistic leadership during campus protests, her approach to storytelling, managing, and teaching, and the significant internal and external challenges faced by The Spectator during her tenure. She also reflected on her heritage, how she manages her mental health, and her aspirations within journalism.

Isabella's salute: National Association of Hispanic Journalists.

An oral history of the protests written by Columbia students for New York Magazine

https://nymag.com/intelligencer/article/columbia-university-protests-israel-gaza-campus.html

An interview with Isabella on how the staff managed its mental health

https://mindsitenews.org/2024/05/08/a-student-journalist-on-how-her-team-coped-with-the-stress-of-covering-a-campus-under-siege/

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