Hannah Natanson’s Advice to Journalists

A lecture to the Columbia Journalism School class of 2026.

Look, I know it’s a tough time to be starting a career in journalism. Trust in the news media is historically low. I could list some statistics, but I’m sure you know them already. Jobs are few, and getting fewer. I recently read—in my own newspaper—a quote from an expert declaring the media industry “low hire and some fire.” The rise of artificial intelligence is alarming many newsrooms across the country. I’m hopeful we will find responsible ways to harness this revolutionary tool, but we might not. You’re also graduating at a moment when people in power are taking unprecedented steps to intimidate or silence the free press. (I don’t think I need to specify an example here.) I could keep going with this depressing list. But I don’t want to.