Santiago Campos, an 18-year-old high school student, made headlines at the 47th annual News and Documentary Emmy Awards in New York City on Wednesday night. While accepting the Mike Wallace Memorial Scholarship, he criticized the network that funded it, CBS News, for what he described as a troubling editorial direction under editor-in-chief Bari Weiss and owner David Ellison.
A Bold Speech
Campos, a graduating senior at the District of Columbia International School, traveled to New York with his mother and teacher for the event. He was awarded the $10,000 scholarship by veteran 60 Minutes correspondent Scott Pelley, who noted that Wallace would have seen something of himself in Campos. However, after thanking CBS for the grant, Campos launched into a critique: "I want to also acknowledge how the recent direction of the outlet stains the legacy of Mike Wallace, the namesake of this scholarship."
He continued: "As corporate elites take hold over the very pipes through which our information flows, journalism that serves the people becomes increasingly harder to come by, yet ever more crucial. And what the people want is the truth. So if at any time you hesitate to utter the word 'genocide', or remain silent in the face of blatant lies, remember to ask yourself: 'Who is this for?' I hope you choose us."
Reaction and Aftermath
Pelley effusively praised Campos, saying, "I know that Mike Wallace is looking down on you with pride at this very moment." The moment quickly went viral on social media. Speaking to the Guardian on Thursday while taking the train back to Washington, Campos explained his motivation: "I knew it was kind of what I had to do. I felt like I couldn't just accept the scholarship and also ignore just how wrong the direction of CBS is going."
Campos said he was nervous but never doubted his plan. He does not use Twitter but was aware of the reaction. "I think it received a lot more attention than I was expecting," he said. "I think that that just shows where we are right now and how low the bar is in terms of our expectations of journalists and the mainstream media."
Support and Future Plans
Campos shared his remarks in advance with the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences, which he said was broadly supportive. "If Bari Weiss has a problem with what I said and doesn't want me to receive the scholarship, then she can talk to me," he said. "But I think most people in the room agreed with me."
After his speech, Campos received some job leads, including an internship offer at a national newspaper, though his current summer plan is to lifeguard at a county pool. Long term, he is interested in independent, long-form, non-fiction video journalism rather than broadcast television. "I'm pretty disillusioned with the current media environment," he said. "I think that the future is more independent journalism on social media, on YouTube."
In the near future, however, he is focused on prom and graduation. Campos will attend Georgetown University in the fall using the scholarship funds.
