The Nation is conducting an internal review of work by columnist Ross Barkan after New York Magazine terminated his contract due to plagiarism. The magazine stated that Barkan is not under contract to write a column for The Nation.
New York Magazine announced its decision to part ways with Barkan after a four-month review uncovered 67 columns that lacked proper attribution of language, information, and sourcing. The publication has committed to updating these pieces and addressing any other instances that may come to light. A spokesperson for New York Magazine apologized to the writers whose work was not appropriately attributed, stating that Barkan's work did not meet their editorial standards.
Barkan, who has written extensively and is known for his commentary on Mayor Zohran Mamdani, previously downplayed the plagiarism allegations, attributing them to working at a fast pace. He stated that there were times he should have been more careful with his citations and expressed his intention to produce more careful work in the future. He also mentioned plans to write a new column for The Nation at a more considered pace.
Following the announcement from New York Magazine, The Nation confirmed it is reviewing articles Barkan has written for the publication since 2019. The New York Post reached out to other outlets where Barkan has contributed, including The New York Times, The Atlantic, and The Guardian, to inquire about their review processes.
The initial probe by New York Magazine was reportedly triggered when a Washington Post reporter identified similarities between the lead of one of Barkan's articles and a previous piece on the same subject he had written. Further allegations were unearthed by NPR, leading to the magazine's comprehensive review.