Student journalists walked off the job two days ago because their boss was mean. No, this is not the Babylon Bee. Forty three “journalists” penned a grievance letter announcing their decision and looking for applause.

“We, the undersigned WSN Fall 2020 Editorial Staff, have collectively decided to resign from Washington Square News, effective immediately. This was extensively deliberated in collaboration with 43 staff editors, and it was not a decision we enjoyed making. However, we understand that continuing to work at WSN in our current circumstance would do more harm than good, and we refuse to condone what we have seen over the past three weeks.

Three weeks ago, our Editor-in-Chief was fired without warning to the rest of the staff. His termination was the result of a new editorial advisor, Dr. Kenna Griffin, who joined WSN’s staff. We are aware that she is employed by the university and that she is not a member of our publications board. Dr. Griffin’s relationship to WSN and the amount of power she held was never clarified. Though she initially claimed that she would include the managing staff in the process of defining her role, she has yet to follow through with that promise.”

Let’s unpack this. Key points here.

They don’t like the current environment and people in charge aren’t listening to them, so a tantrum is thrown and they walk out.

An editor was fired without warning and no one will tell the staff why. Guess what kiddies, you are employees. You are not owed any explanation from anyone as to why another employee was fired. 

In regards to your expectation that Griffin’s “power” be clarified because you demand it, and you as employees believe that YOU get to define the parameters of her role as editorial advisor… the real world is going to be a severe shock to all of you. 

A boss expects you to DO YOUR JOB even without an editor in chief, and your response is that she is too harsh and not using her nice words? How ….horrifying for you! Good grief, if they can’t meet high expectations while in college, how the hell will they handle life? Narrator: They won’t, they will fail.

These student snowflake journalists quit so abruptly that even the NYU administration was caught by surprise. However, do they plan to ride to the rescue of these snowflakes and make things all better? 

““If there is a way that the university can help, we would; however, we would want to do so in a manner that ensures that such assistance does not impinge upon or raise any specter of doubt about the paper’s editorial independence,” Mr. Beckman said in a statement.”

In other words, that’s a big fat NOPE.

Evidently the last straw with Griffin daring to offer up criticism of their article about Breonna Taylor and the protests in NYC. Upon reading the article, it is quite evident that the journalists (both of whom are part of the group who quit the newsroom) are very much in sympathy with Black Lives Matter and had no interest in practicing objective journalism. 

All of the snowflake editors are gleefully posting on social media. Look at MEEEE!! We stood up and made demands! We are awesome!!

Here is a copy of the email the remaining News Desk staff sent to all of NYU’s journalism professors and department heads regarding mass resignations and the future of the Washington Square News. https://t.co/MKMxShKNem

— Matthew Fischetti (@Matt_Fischetti) September 28, 2020

A great number of their demands reek of critical race theory. Meanwhile, their gambit is kind of working, as they are getting a small bit of applause.

I support the staff of Washington Square News (@nyunews). Our district & city are better off when they're reporting.

I urge NYU to address these disturbing allegations & ensure all are protected so that these reporters can continue doing invaluable work.https://t.co/hDmGZq8Kx4

— Senator Brad Hoylman (@bradhoylman) September 28, 2020

Their list of grievances is long and laughable. Reading it between the lines it’s again very evident that they wanted to have their cake and eat it to. Then they provide a list of fifteen demands. Here’s the first six.

“Our demands are as follows:

1. Dr. Kenna Griffin must resign immediately.
2. Each semester, the editorial staff must be introduced to the publications board and its members in order to ensure transparency; the capabilities and the importance of the board’s existence must be discussed.
3. WSN should not be labeled as an “independent” news publication, as it is intertwined with the Journalism department and its very existence depends on the emotional and financial support of the university.
4. Issue a revision of WSN’s Constitution in order to ensure that an EIC cannot be fired by the publications board or anyone else without the editorial staff’s democratic vote on the matter.
5. All of WSN’s finances — including but not limited to money received from the university and how this money is distributed to the staff, including budget overages and shortages — must be disclosed to the entire staff and will be available to anybody upon request.
6. Frequent interactions between senior management and desk editors, and the publications board. The board should be ready to offer feedback and advice. Management should meet with the board twice a month. Desk editors should meet with the board once a month.”

The employees want to rule the roost. If those demands aren’t met you see, they will not return to work ever again. 

If I were NYU, I’d meet with those journalists, tear up their list of unrealistic demands right in front of them. Tell them NO and give them two choices. 

Go back to work or leave. 

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