The Columbia Chronicle has selected new editors-in-chief for the summer and fall semesters.
William Blakley, a junior double film and television and journalism major from Surprise, Arizona, will assume the top position this summer. Sofía Oyarzún, a junior photojournalism major and marketing minor from suburban Chicago, will be editor-in-chief in the fall.
Both will step into the role after a year of significant newsroom coverage, including reporting on campus leadership changes, housing and academic restructuring.
Blakley, who joined the staff in Summer 2025, has reported on arts and culture and campus news and events.
He said the Chronicle helped him develop the communication skills needed to lead a newsroom.
“The Chronicle has taught me how to talk to people,” he said. “As editor-in-chief, you have to communicate with leadership while also guiding reporters.”
He said he aims to strike a balance between authority and collaboration.
“It’s about having a strong voice while maintaining relationships,” Blakley said. “The Chronicle has shown me how to use my voice for the benefit of our students, and I hope to extend that to our staff.”
Oyarzún said she is excited to work closely with various desks around the newsroom.
“While I’ve held different positions, there are so many I’ve yet to work closely with,” Oyarzún said. “I really look forward to gaining experience with them to learn from those teams as I have the pleasure of leading all of them together.”
Blakley and Oyarzún were selected by the Chronicle’s Advisory Board, which includes Faculty Advisor Jackie Spinner, former Faculty Advisor Curtis Lawrence and former editors-in-chief Molly Walsh, Olivia Cohen and Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez.
Albuerne-Rodriguez said Blakley’s writing shows range “from the deeply human Tony Ward obituary to the provost finalist story on Cristina Goletti, to strong arts coverage.” His storytelling is evident, she said.
Oyarzún, who joined the Chronicle in 2023 as a first-year, has held various positions including staff reporter, bilingual reporter, photojournalist and, this semester, editor of La Cronica, the Chronicle’s bilingual section.
“That experience has absolutely helped my versatility as a member and soon-to-be leader of the newsroom, as well as my understanding of each team’s importance and how they all work together, something I want to reinforce,” she said.
Oyarzún won first place awards this year from the Illinois College Press Association and College Media Association for a news photograph from a protest last fall at the Broadview detention facility. She is a finalist for the Lisagor award for best news photo and for a story about the Aguijón Theater published by Univision.
“More than two years in the newsroom, working on multiple desks, bilingual reporting, and a demonstrated instinct for localizing big stories — the National Guard piece, the Little Village street vendor story, the Broadview detention center coverage — shows an EIC-level understanding of what makes Columbia Chronicle coverage matter to its specific community,” Albuerne-Rodriguez said.
Fernando Diaz, the Chronicle’s bilingual media advisor, said he’s watched Oyarzún develop as a journalist.
“It has been a pleasure to watch Sofia produce award-winning writing and photography on a range of tough assignments under pressure,” Diaz said. “In the last year, she’s also grown as a thoughtful and supportive editor at La Crónica, and I’m thrilled to see the positive impact she makes as editor in chief.”
Spinner, who has been an advisor since Spring 2023, said the advisory board selects students who grasp this role, are respected by peers, and, most importantly, safeguard the Chronicle’s credibility.
“The board’s choice of our new leadership this year reflects the diversity of disciplines in our newsroom and also the versatility of our students,” Spinner said. “Sofia is the first photojournalism major to lead the newsroom, and Will will definitely be an asset for our summer coverage with his background in film and television.”
The deputy editor this fall will be Marc Balbarin, a communication and journalism major who will be a junior.
“The Chronicle team will continue to grow and thrive under their leadership,” Spinner said.
Copy Edited by Samantha Mosquera
Resumen en Español
El Columbia Chronicle ha seleccionado nuevos editores en jefe para los semestres de verano y otoño.
William Blakely, estudiante de doble especialidad en cine y televisión y periodismo de Suprise, Arizona asumirá el cargo principal este verano.
Sofía Oyarzún, estudiante de tercer año de fotoperiodismo con especialización secundaria en marketing de los suburbios en Chicago, será editora en jefe en otoño.
Blakely, quien se unió al equipo en el verano de 2025, ha cubierto el arte, la cultura y noticias del campus.
“El Chronicle me ha enseñado a hablar con la gente”, dijo. “Como editor en jefe, debes comunicarte con el liderazgo y al mismo tiempo guiar a los reporteros”.
Oyarzún dijo que está entusiasmada por trabajar de cerca con destinos equipos dentro la redacción.
“Aunque he tenido varios puestos, hay muchos con los que aún no he trabajado de cerca”, dijo Oyarzún. “Realmente espero ganar experiencia con ellos para aprender de esos equipos, mientras tengo el placer de liderarlos a todos juntos”.
Blakely y Oyarzún fueron seleccionados por la junta asesora del Chronicle, que incluye a la asesora docente Jackie Spinner, al ex-asesor Curtis Lawrence y los ex-editores en jefe Molly Walsh, Olivia Cohen y Doreen Abril Albuerne-Rodriguez.
“La elección de nuestro nuevo liderazgo este año refleja la diversidad de disciplinas en nuestra redacción y también la versatilidad de nuestros estudiantes”, dijo Spinner. “Sofía es la primera estudiante de fotoperiodismo en liderar la redacción, y Will sin duda será un activo para nuestra cobertura de verano con su experiencia en cine y televisión”.
El editor adjunto este otoño será Marc Balbarin, estudiante de comunicación y periodismo que cursará su tercer año.
Resumen por Anthony Hernández
