Progressive columnist Ross Barkan loses New York Magazine platform over plagiarism findings

After a three-month investigation, New York Magazine concluded that 67 of Ross Barkan's columns failed to credit original language or sources, resulting in the magazine ending its collaboration with him. The controversy began when a journalist at one outlet pointed out near-identical passages in Barkan's article about Ben Shapiro, a finding later echoed by a journalist at one outlet and additional media outlets. Barkan first responded on X by denying wrongdoing and insisting that hyperlinks sufficed as citation, but later posted a limited apology acknowledging lapses.

The piece notes Barkan’s history of aggressive progressive commentary, including a 2018 state Senate primary run in Brooklyn and his support for former campaign manager Zohran Mamdani. Observers argue that his prior role in policing others' ethics makes the plagiarism revelations especially striking, and that New York Magazine acted appropriately by reviewing and updating the affected work.