Betsy Morais Named Editor in Chief of Columbia Journalism Review

Columbia Journalism Review has promoted Betsy Morais CC '11 to Editor in Chief, effective November 1. Morais, who has been with CJR for more than seven years, most recently served as Acting Editor, guiding the publication through a period of ambitious reporting and in-depth analysis.

“Betsy Morais is a steadfast and discerning voice at Columbia Journalism Review,” said Dean Jelani Cobb, publisher of the Columbia Journalism Review and Henry R. Luce Professor of Journalism. “The J-School community congratulates her on this well-deserved promotion and looks forward to her continued leadership.”

Throughout her tenure, Morais has overseen coverage of the challenges and triumphs shaping journalism today. Stories and special projects she’s edited have covered press freedom in the U.S. and internationally, the rise of AI-generated misinformation and the economic pressures transforming newsrooms. She has championed projects that combine rigorous reporting with thoughtful critique, including investigative series on newsroom ethics, business models and the experiences of journalists working under threat.

“I'm grateful for the opportunity to lead CJR at such a critical time for journalism and the media industry,” Morais said. “There are so many important stories to tell—from press freedom to AI to the slippery relationship between news and influencers—and we are uniquely positioned to provide clear-eyed coverage about all of it. This publication is produced by a dedicated team of curious and creative people who strive to make CJR an essential resource, which we hope will inform and enliven a growing audience of readers.”

Under her editorial leadership, CJR published “Urgent Ideas for Defending Press Freedom in Gaza” in collaboration with the Simon and June Li Center for Global Journalism. The series brought together journalists, human rights advocates and academics to address unprecedented reporting challenges, including targeted killings and restrictions on reporting. Before joining CJR, Morais worked at The New Yorker, Harper’s, The Atlantic and other publications. 

Her promotion reflects a sustained commitment to CJR’s mission as a respected voice in press criticism and positions her to continue developing the publication’s role as a thought leader in media analysis and accountability. 

Read her incoming editor’s note here.

About Columbia Journalism Review
Columbia Journalism Review was founded at the Journalism School in 1961 and publishes a biannual magazine that analyzes news and media trends, acts as a watchdog for professional ethics, and tells the stories behind the news. It is the most respected voice on press criticism and shapes the ideas that make media leaders and journalists smarter about their work. Through fast-turn analysis and deep reporting, CJR is an essential resource not only for journalists but also for thousands of professionals in communications, technology, academia and other fields reliant on solid media industry knowledge.

About Columbia Journalism School
For more than a century, Columbia Journalism School has been preparing journalists in programs that stress academic rigor, ethics, journalistic inquiry and professional practice. Founded with a gift from Joseph Pulitzer, the school opened its doors in 1912 and offers a Master of Science, Master of Arts, a joint Master of Science degree in Computer Science and Journalism and Doctor of Philosophy in Communications. It houses the Columbia Journalism Review, the Brown Institute for Media Innovation and the Tow Center for Digital Journalism. The school also administers many of the leading journalism awards, including the Alfred I. duPont-Columbia University Awards, the Maria Moors Cabot Prizes, the John Chancellor Award, the John B. Oakes Award, the J. Anthony Lukas Prize Project, Paul Tobenkin Memorial Award and the Meyer “Mike” Berger Award.