The Barnard Bulletin’s 125th anniversary journalism panel and gala brought over 200 attendees

Students and alumni from Barnard and Columbia Journalism School attended a panel on “Journalism’s Impact in an Age of Media Mistrust.”

Photo by Sherry Chen/The Barnard Bulletin

By Jahnavi Bolleddula and Reema Bolnedi

April 18, 2026

On April 10, 2026, The Barnard Bulletin hosted a journalism panel and gala in the Diana Event Oval. Organized to commemorate 125 years since The Bulletin’s founding in 1901, the event attracted over 200 attendees, including 33 Barnard alumni.

The evening began with opening remarks from The Bulletin’s editors-in-chief, Karissa Song (BC ’28) and Ava Glicksberg (BC ’28). 

Glicksberg opened with a quote from the editors of The Bulletin’s first issue, published in January 1901: “So now, it comes about that The Barnard Bulletin presents itself to the college world. Its aim is, primarily, to supply the college with news—its broader, underlying aim is to be the element of strength that shall weld the college together.”

“One hundred twenty-five years later, these words serve as our foundation and as a reminder of just how much there is to celebrate tonight,” Glicksberg stated.  

Afterward, Sunaya Mueller (BC ’26), The Bulletin’s Senior Advisor & Director of Development and editor-in-chief from 2022 to 2024, moderated a panel of four journalists.

Answering questions surrounding the panel’s theme of “Journalism’s Impact in an Age of Media Mistrust,” panelists argued that the role of journalism is integral to upholding democracy in times of political turmoil. According to a 2025 Pew Research Center survey, Americans’ trust in information from national and local news organizations declined by 11 percentage points since March 2025. Only “56% of U.S. adults now say they have ‘a lot of’ or ‘some’ trust in the information they get from national news organizations.” 

The panelists included Maria Gavrilovic, a broadcast journalist and producer for CBS News’ “60 Minutes”; Lisa Lerer (JRN ’04), a national political correspondent at The New York Times; Julianna Goldman (BC ’03), founder of MamaDen and former White House correspondent for Bloomberg News and CBS News; and Rebecca Deczynski (BC ’16), a senior editor at Inc. Magazine and former editor-in-chief of The Barnard Bulletin. 

“Journalism and civics are intertwined,” Goldman said. “In a time where truth is questioned, where leadership needs to be held accountable, institutions need to be held accountable, [and] where everyone needs to dig deeper and not take what they’re reading for granted on their screens, journalism is hopefully keeping the truth out there and holding those to account.”

Gavrilovic acknowledged that this accountability had become harder to achieve as the public grew more critical of journalists and the overall media landscape.

“In 2026, I think there is a lot of fear. Not really about journalists but about sources. It’s really hard to get to the truth and to make people comfortable to tell their stories,” she said. “People have to agree to show their faces and their names, and that’s really hard in this current climate.”

Lerer noted the barriers that journalists can face in 2026, especially when sharing news and information with a wider audience.

“It feels sometimes like you’re under siege from every angle: the business model, AI, the administration, the internet, social media. It’s just coming at you in all directions all the time,” she said. “But I think … sometimes when you are in these moments of crisis, it’s also an opportunity for reimagination.” 

When asked whether artificial intelligence could be used as a tool or a detriment to reporters, and whether it will eventually replace journalists, Lerer answered, “It’s a threat, but it can’t replace what we do. Our job is to find out things people don’t know. AI’s job is to look at everything that’s out there and distill it.” 

Deczynski recalled her experience as an intern prior to the invention of AI transcription services. 

“Because I was a very fast transcriber, I was transcribing all of these editors’ interviews, and that’s how I learned to be a good interviewer. Today, that’s not a job that a junior can do,” she said.

The panelists also discussed the collapse of local media and the consequential separation between reporters and interviewees. Goldman admitted that it is difficult to come up with a solution regarding this conflict.

“That’s the beauty of student journalism, right?” she continued. “[Student journalists] are embedded in [their] community. You are reporting on what’s happening on the ground, what you’re seeing. You see something interesting, you hear something noteworthy, you chase it down. You kind of get that appreciation for how, at a very granular level, you are impacting that information system.” 

“We got one thing out of this panel: we need more journalism,” Goldman concluded. “We need more student journalists. We need more local journalists.”

Following the panel, incoming editors-in-chief Jaya Shankar (BC ’28) and Kimberly Wing (BC ’27) were introduced and spoke to the attendees, highlighting the growing responsibility of student journalists to deliver reliable news in a tumultuous climate.

“Working alongside a brilliant team to bring light to campus issues, especially in times of national political turmoil, has felt both more critical and more rewarding than ever,” Shankar stated.

A reception followed the panel, allowing students to connect with Barnard alumni working in journalism and related fields over dinner.

Rachel Powell (BC ’22) commented on student journalism at Barnard. 

“When I was a student here, [Barnard students] were doing really great things,” Powell said. “The media landscape is always getting more complicated. It’s been interesting to see how student journalists are adapting to that.” 

She noted the importance of maintaining those newly formed Barnard connections.

“Talk to as many people who are currently working in journalism as you can,” said Powell. “Not just to network, but to hear their perspectives, like we heard from the panel tonight. The more perspectives you hear, the more possibilities will seem open to you.” 

The Bulletin’s 125th anniversary commemorates over a century of student journalism on Barnard’s campus. As the oldest continuous publication on a women’s college campus in the United States, The Bulletin prioritizes ethical reporting through a feminist, truth-seeking lens. The newspaper began as an informational publication, covering campus events, student life, administration, Board of Trustees affairs, and its relationship with Columbia University. 

The panel and gala brought together professional and student journalists to reflect on what the future of the field holds. As the media landscape continues to evolve, The Bulletin celebrates its bold legacy and many contributions to student journalism.