A Message from Columbia Journalism School on the Passing of Fazil Khan
A member of the Class of 2021, Fazil is described as “a talented data journalist, a loving brother and son, and an incredibly kind friend."
Columbia Journalism School alumnus, Fazil Khan, passed away at the age of 27 on Friday, February 23, after a fire broke out in his Harlem apartment building. His recent and sudden death has had a significant impact on our entire community.
A member of the M.S. Class of 2021, Fazil is described in his obituary as “a talented data journalist, a loving brother and son, and an incredibly kind friend to everyone who knew him.”
His reporting as a 2021–2022 Columbia Journalism Investigations Global Migration Fellow and at the Hechinger Report had a tangible impact on the lives of those he covered.
“Mr. Khan was greatly admired and respected by his peers at CJS, those whom he worked with as a fellow and his colleagues at the Hechinger Report where he worked as a data reporter,” said Jelani Cobb, Dean and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism, in a letter to the CJS community.
“Our sympathies go to all of you who knew, taught or worked with Mr. Khan and those who may have only been acquainted with him through the banner reporting he produced.”
Fazil began his career as a copy editor, before working as a correspondent at CNN-News18 in New Delhi, India. His move to New York brought him to CJS, where he earned a Master of Science in Data Journalism, and established himself as an insightful and gifted reporter.
Our sympathies go to all of you who knew, taught or worked with Mr. Khan and those who may have only been acquainted with him through the banner reporting he produced.
As a Global Migration Fellow, Fazil contributed to the “Missing Them” project for over a year. His investigation revealed that roughly one in every 200 children in New York City had lost a parent or close caregiver to COVID-19.
He and his co-reporter Liz Donovan, ’19 M.S. and fellow member of the Global Migration team, spent months reporting on the Department of Education's response, and their work inspired state legislators to take action.
Advocates cited Fazil and his colleagues' reporting as a catalyst for the “baby bonds” bill: "It was absolutely something that has led to the momentum," one told THE CITY.
His time at the Hechinger Report also had a measurable impact: he led the creation of The College Welcome Guide, a tool that went “beyond the rankings” and helped students understand campus life and culture at colleges across America.
Fazil is survived by his grandmother, mother, five siblings in India and countless colleagues and friends around the world.
He will be missed greatly, not only by those close to him, but by the journalism community as a whole. Hear from his friends, family and colleagues speak about Fazil for “Documented;” and those interested in contributing to Fazil’s memory can visit this page.
Columbia Journalism School will host a memorial service on Wednesday, February 28 from 6 – 8 p.m. in the Brown Institute in Pulitzer Hall. For more information and to RSVP, visit this page.
To attend the memorial via livestream, please visit this link.