Dean Jelani Cobb in Santiago: A Call to Defend Journalism in an Era of Uncertainty
Cobb’s visit to Santiago underscored journalism's enduring, crucial mission.
In late April, Jelani Cobb, Dean of the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism (J-School), visited Santiago for a series of academic events that brought together students and faculty from a number of Chilean universities, as well as media professionals, all of whom participated in spirited conversations regarding the future of journalism.
His visit began at Universidad Diego Portales (UDP), where he was welcomed by Dean Marcela Aguilar in the auditorium of the Nicanor Parra Library, filled to capacity for the UDP School of Journalism’s inauguration of the academic year. For the event, co-organized with the Columbia Global Center Santiago, Cobb delivered a lecture titled “The Challenges of the Press in Turbulent Times,” setting the tone for a week centered on reflection and urgency. The event also included a conversation with Paula Escobar Chavarría, a UDP Journalism professor and executive director of the Women and Media Chair.
Cobb opened his remarks by recounting the experiences of journalists who have faced imprisonment and censorship, grounding his analysis in the human cost of reporting. He pointed to a broader global trend, describing a climate in which journalists encounter increasing hostility and danger — conditions that, he noted, have intensified over the past decade. Framing his argument within the long arc of democratic development, he reflected on the United States and highlighted growing tensions between political power and the press, including cases of aggression and threats to press freedom.
“For a nation anchored in the will of the people, it is a sacred responsibility to ensure that the people are well informed,” he said, underlining the importance of journalists’ role in bolstering democracy.
He suggested that countries like the United States have much to learn from other democratic trajectories, pointing specifically to Chile’s experience in the 1990s as an example of how societies navigate periods of political transition.
Cobb continued these discussions at Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez (UAI), where he addressed journalism’s evolving role in an event organized jointly by Columbia Global Center Santiago, UAI’s School of Communications and Journalism, and the Columbia Alumni Association in Chile, which brought together academics, practitioners, alumni, and students for a wide-ranging exchange.
The session was opened by Magdalena Browne, dean of UAI’s School of Communications and Journalism, while Carlos Franco, director of the journalism program, introduced the concept of “transformative journalism” as a framework for the conversation. This approach, focused on the social responsibility of journalism, set the stage for a deeper examination of the profession’s current challenges.
Moderated by prominent Chilean journalists and Columbia alumni Constanza Santa María (JRN´00) and José María del Pino (JRN’23), the discussion explored the pressures facing contemporary media, particularly in the context of misinformation and institutional distrust. Cobb emphasized that, despite these challenges, the core principles of journalism remain unchanged: rigorous reporting and a firm commitment to ethics.