The New York Times rushed to expose its story about Zhodi Mamdani, claiming to be an African American when he applied to Colombian University, as the newspaper feared he would be killed by the right journalist Christopher Rufu, according to a report.
The gray lady faces a storm of criticism after her decision to publish the story based on hacked Colombia documents, who have revealed cheat nominees for Democrats for the mayor of New York, identified as “Asian” and “Blacks or African -American” at her 2009 college request.
Mamdani, who is of Indian origin and was born in Uganda, confirmed the details of Times and said he had checked these boxes because the application did not reflect the complexity of its origin.
Zhodi Mamdani, the mayor of New York’s Democracy Applicant, claims to be an African -American in his college request in 2009 Paul Martinka for NY Post
Two people familiar with the reporting process told Semafor that Times knew that Rufo and other reporters were working on the same leading role.
Rufo confirmed to Semafor that he has pursued history and plans to release more details in his support.
A Times spokesman has denied that Rufo’s reporting caused the publication time.
“We publish stories after confirming news information and our reporters and editors have completed their work,” Times spokesman told The Post.
“This was the case with this story; we went to G -n Mamdani, he confirmed our information as true and our colleagues made a thorough reporting. We do not hit the publication because others can work on one story.”
Times editors also sought to repel public criticism.
“The most important thing here is whether the information was true and factual -it was confirmed by G -n Mamdani; that it was confirmed independently; that it is relevant to the public,” says Patrick Hilli, an assistant editor of standards and confidence in The Times, before CJR.
Mayor Eric Adams, who runs against Mamdani as an independent, publicly urged Colombia to release the entries for adoption of Mamdani, calling his racial identification “deeply offensive.”
Former governor Andrew Kuomo, who lost to the democratic primary, said that Mamdani’s claims could be the “tip of the iceberg” and that the state Assembly could hide more “fraud”.
New York Times violated the story of Mamdani’s request at Columbia University. Christopher Sadovski
The Times track has caused criticism over the weekend, sparking a heated debate among Mamdani supporters, media observers, and even the journalists of the gray lady.
Some critics have defended the racial identification of Mamdani, pointed out that he was born in Africa. Others have asked the ethics of a college report, which was ultimately rejected, and whether hacked materials from a teenager’s personal file deserved a full news article.
A large share of criticism focuses on the source of the documents – an online figure known for the use of the nickname Cremieux.
Originally described by Times as “academic and opponent of affirmative actions”, Crémieux had previously encouraged conflicting views on the relationship between race and IQ.
According to The Guardian Crémieux is the nickname of Jordan Lasker. Later, the Times updated the article to note that Crémieux “Writes often about IQ and Race.”
The post has sought a comment from Rufo and Mamdani. Lasker was not available immediately for comment.
Jane Kirtley, a professor of media ethics at the Faculty of Law at the University of Minnesota, called into question the decision to provide the anonymity to the source.
“It seems a little amazing to play this game of” We know something you don’t know, “she said.
“Why would you promise him anonymity and then play a hiding place with readers?”
She added: “My question is: Why would you even make this promise to this individual first? I don’t see the need.”
The story also caused friction within the Newsroom Times.
According to a report, the Times rushed to the history of history, as they feared it would be cut by the right journalist Christopher Rufo. The Washington Post through Getty Images
“People are really upset,” a journalist told Semafor one times.
Times Jamelle Bouie’s columnist was particularly vocal, posting to Bluesky: “I think you have to tell readers if your source is Nazi.”
He deleted this post – and others expressing powerlessness from the article – referring to a violation of the Times social media guidelines. Bouie did not answer a request for comment.
Lydia Polgreen, another colonist to times, shared her point of view without directly commenting on the Newsworthiness of History.
“I see why a political youth as a zhosk can fill in a college request as he,” she wrote on Twitter.
“Because if you are like me, you are struggling to be known in this country. Our visual sorting is so simple and quite brutal.”
Polgreen, who is a beer -based with African parents, said he was understanding the choice of identification of cheats.
He has unsuccessfully applied for admission to Colombian University (whose campus is visible above). AP
The Times management was standing from reporting.
According to Semafor, senior editors were aligned with their decision to publish and approve the story after a standard editorial review. A senior Times reporter defended the story by pointing to the public conversation that fell apart.
“The fact that this story gave birth to the whole conversation and debate that it feels like all the evidence you need to be a legal line of reporting,” the reporter said.
However, critics have asked Newsworthiness on the article and choosing Times to base it on stolen records.