Today, Columbia Journalism School (CJS) launches a refreshed homepage at journalism.columbia.edu, designed to showcase the work, values and impact of its global community. The redesigned site highlights the voices and reporting of Columbia Journalists — past and present — and introduces a new companion site: wewerethere.journalism.columbia.edu.
#WeWereThere is a curated collection of over one hundred powerful stories reported, investigated, produced, written, filmed, anchored and posted by alumni, students and faculty of the J-School. The pieces span decades and continents, offering a lens into how CJS-trained journalists have shaped public understanding, held power to account and illuminated the stories that define our history.
The collection was developed through extensive research of prizewinning work, School archives and nominations from faculty, alumni and a panel of judges. Originally launched as 50 Great Stories in 2011, it was expanded through alumni voting in 2012, and further additions were made in 2025.
Now reimagined in a modern format, #WeWereThere is both a tribute to the CJS legacy and a statement of its ongoing relevance. Several of the featured stories appear on the new J-School homepage, anchoring our educational mission in the real-world work of our graduates.
These updates mark a new chapter in how Columbia Journalism School tells its story: by elevating the work of the journalists we train and the standards of reporting we uphold.
