Image by Anaïs Fotsing
SPECTATOR PUBLISHING COMPANY
January 25, 2026
Report by Emily Lu
Graphics and production by Jenny Ye
Introduction
Spectator’s mission is a twofold endeavor of service to our internal and external community. Through our investigative journalism and robust suite of accessible products, we serve our external audience by offering them the information they need to best navigate and engage with the Columbia and West Harlem communities. We inform, empower, and inspire. Internally, our mission is driven by the same values: As an independent student-run news organization, we aim to serve the talented staff who create these products and journalism by offering them a space to grow and learn—professionally, personally, and intellectually.
To enhance and maintain the diversity of our staff, Spectator is committed to strengthening the scope and depth of our coverage, as well as supporting staff-wide initiatives to increase diversity, equity, and inclusion through recruitment, training, and organizational-wide infrastructure.
Following the 2023 staff diversity report, 2022 staff diversity report, and 2019 staff diversity report, Spectator conducted a mandatory internal diversity survey in October 2025 to better understand the composition of our staff. 86.5% of the 393-person staff completed this survey. All questions were mandatory.
2. Results
Across Spectator’s staff, white and East Asian each comprised 30 percent of total responses, making up 60 percent of the total respondents. In Journalism, the plurality of respondents were white, making up 38 percent of total respondents. In Business and Innovations, the plurality of respondents were East Asian, making up 52 percent of total respondents. 8 percent of respondents were Black. In terms of leadership positions, Pacific Islanders made up the smallest category, representing 1.6 percent of total respondents. Middle Eastern or North African and Native American or Indigenous people were not represented in leadership roles.Of non-leadership staff, Pacific Islander and Native American or Indigenous individuals made up the smallest percentage, with no respondents selecting those races.
2.2 Gender
The majority of Spectator’s staff is composed of women, making up approximately 72 percent of total respondents. 70 percent of Journalism respondents are women, while 71 percent of B&I respondents are women. Across leadership and non-leadership roles, women accounted for approximately 72 percent and 70 percent, respectively.
At Spectator, 49 percent of respondents identify as heterosexual. The sexual orientation with the second-largest number of respondents was bisexual, representing approximately 19 percent of the total respondents. In Journalism, 44 percent of respondents identify themselves as heterosexual, while 62 percent of respondents in B&I identify as heterosexual. Across leadership and non-leadership positions, 40 percent of respondents and 53 percent of respondents identify as heterosexual, respectively.
2.4 Class Year
The class of 2028 make up the majority of Spectator’s staff, accounting for 36 percent of total respondents. The second largest class size is 2027, with 26 percent of respondents. The majority of leadership respondents are from the class of 2027 at 41 percent, and the most represented class among non-leadership is 2028 at 43 percent.
Based on the demographics survey, 78 percent of total respondents do not identify as low-income, while 17 percent of total respondents identify as low income. In Journalism and B&I, 16 percent and 19 percent of total respondents identify themselves as low income, respectively. In leadership and non-leadership positions, 13 percent and 18 percent of respondents identify as low income, respectively.
41 percent of respondents indicated that they are on financial aid. In leadership and non-leadership positions, 38 percent and 42 percent of respondents indicated they are on financial aid, respectively.
At Spectator, 23 percent of respondents indicated that they are on work study, while 73 percent of respondents indicated that they were not on work study. In Journalism and B&I, 23 percent and 22 percent of respondents are currently on work study, respectively. Similarly, the number of respondents in leadership positions on work study is 29 percent, while respondents in non-leadership positions on work is 20 percent.
2.8 Non-Work-Study Job Status
On Spectator, 39 percent of respondents have a non-work-study job, while 57 percent of total respondents do not have a non-work-study job. 41 percent of Journalism respondents have a non-work-study job, and 33 percent of B&I respondents have a non-work-study job. 47 percent of respondents in leadership roles have a non-work-study job, while 35 percent of respondents in non-leadership roles do not have a non-work-study job.
3. Looking Forward
As a student news organization, we aim to foster a welcoming and inclusive environment that empowers our staffers to make a positive impact on the Columbia, and West Harlem communities. Since the formal establishment of a head of diversity, equity, and inclusion position in 2022, Spectator has implemented numerous staffwide initiatives to address DEI-related goals and issues. We have built a DEI committee composed of staffers across a diverse array of sections and leadership levels and established affinity groups based on race, ethnicity, and religion. Additionally, we have implemented section-specific DEI trainings, sexual violence response trainings, and increased communication between the head of DEI and staff members on relevant workplace issues.
With each new year, we strive to expand the infrastructure that supports our staffers’ development and promotes more community voices. We aim to instill diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives and processes throughout our entire organization.
We welcome feedback from the community on this report and any issues of diversity and inclusion as they pertain to Spectator. Please reach out to us at editor@columbiaspectator.com or dei@columbiaspectator.com with any questions, concerns, or feedback you may have. We look forward to discussing with you!