Ross Barkan, a long‑time columnist for New York Magazine and The New York Times, has issued a public apology after a plagiarism scandal erupted. The controversy began when editors discovered that several recent pieces contained passages that closely matched published work. The revelations sparked an internal investigation.

In his statement, Barkan wrote that he had “never intended to crib from anyone’s work.” He acknowledged that the oversight was a severe lapse in judgment and apologized to readers, editors, and the authors whose material was used without attribution.

The investigation determined that Barkan reused unattributed text in three articles over the past year, with the most recent instance appearing in a feature on urban culture. The Times’ editorial board has suspended his column pending a review of his future contributions.

Both publications emphasized that maintaining editorial integrity remains a priority. Barkan has pledged to undergo additional training on proper citation practices and to submit a revised set of guidelines for his work. The case highlights the importance of rigorous fact‑checking in journalism.