An Emmy-Winning Journalist Returns to School

Aziza Shuler may be an Emmy Award-winning journalist, who co-anchors Weekend Mornings on CBS News New York, but she is also a student at Columbia, working toward a master’s degree at the Journalism School.

When will you graduate from Columbia Journalism School, and what is your degree in? 

I graduate in August 2026 from the Journalism School with a master’s of science in documentary journalism.

What was your path to pursuing graduate work at Columbia?

Interestingly, when I was a teenager filling out college applications, Columbia was my dream school! Sadly, I didn’t get in. Then, as I was getting ready to graduate as an undergrad, I thought about trying again and applying to Columbia Journalism School for my master’s. I hate to admit it, but doubt and intimidation got the best of me. I ended up putting it off for a whole decade before this moment finally came, and now here I am, a 32-year-old graduate student.

During that time, I built a career as a local news reporter and anchor, working in a few markets—from one of the smallest (Yuma, Arizona) to Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and, now, one of the top markets, New York City. While I was working in Philadelphia, I finally felt that undeniable nudge to chase the goal I’d been holding on to for years: Continuing my education at the one school I’ve always believed truly represents the kind of work I want to keep doing in this industry.

Has there been a special mentor/professor during your time here? Or a particular class that inspired you?

I’ve found inspiration in my documentary reporting class with Professor Robe Imbriano. It’s been creatively eye-opening and challenging—exactly what I’d been craving after coming from such a formulaic, traditional local news background. For one, Robe’s body of work is the kind I deeply admire and aspire to emulate. He tells stories that reflect and dig into issues of equality and the Black American experience, and that resonate with me on so many levels.

Also special about this course is my classmates. They’re all so creative in their own ways. I especially love the time we spend in class screening each other’s short documentaries, which we’ve spent the week producing. It’s amazing to see how differently each of us interprets the same theme or subject. I always take away something new—whether it’s a shooting technique, a storytelling approach, or even a thought-provoking critique of my own piece. It all pushes me to grow as a journalist and a documentarian.

How do you like studying in the city? What are your favorite urban pastimes?

After spending most of my adulthood on the West Coast, I’d been dreaming of returning to New York City, and now I finally call the Bronx home. There’s an energy here that feels both grounded and alive, and I’ve loved diving into all the local spots that give this borough its flavor. Some of my favorite pastimes involve eating at family-run mom and pop restaurants.

There’s a Trinidadian place where I can’t get enough of the vegetarian chickpea roti! Take my word for it, IT’S THE BEST! And when it comes to dessert, nothing beats a slice of red velvet cake from Lloyd’s Carrot Cake Bakery up near Van Cortland Park. (Their Bronx location is temporarily closed for a makeover, but the East Harlem location is still open.) I’ve made it a personal mission to explore as many of the Bronx’s diverse eateries as I can.

Any specific recommendations for things to do beyond campus?

Get out of Manhattan and explore the other four boroughs. 

What’s the most special thing about being a Columbia student?

The sense of legacy of which I’m now a part. The Journalism School isn’t just historic: It’s sacred ground for anyone who believes in the power of truth and storytelling. I’ll never forget orientation, when Dean Jelani Cobb spoke about the honor of studying in the very school Joseph Pulitzer established more than a century ago. In that moment, it really hit me that I was standing in the place where so many of the greats once stood, people who shaped journalism as we know it. 

Pulitzer believed in journalism that serves the public with honesty, depth, and purpose, and that spirit still lives in these halls. Every time I walk into class, I’m reminded that I’m carrying forward that tradition, and it pushes me to rise to the standard of excellence this school represents.

What are your plans post-graduation?

Continue working in news. Direct and produce documentaries.