In a photo on the official @medillcherubs Instagram account, cherubs listen attentively to guest lectures, hands in the air, ready to ask thoughtful questions expected of the journalists-in-training they are.
But Boye, oh Boye…
A cherub is photographed upside down on a dorm chair, feet in the air, “trying” to finish a trend story. Another picture shows a cherub asleep on the floor of Fisk Hall, using a backpack stuffed with AP Stylebooks and interview notes as a pillow. Another photo shows a cherub eating her 12th Allison churro of the day.
The account that captures all these moments? @barstoolcherubs.
An Instagram account made by a cherub, for cherubs. Four posts per week. Four weeks. Hundreds of blurry photos that, dare I say, deserve a Pulitzer?
My favorite parts of cherubs: the life-changing insights about journalism, the people — and the collection of unflattering (sorry!) photos I have of people in my camera roll, most of which are posted on @barstoolcherubs.
@barstoolcherubs captures the in-the-moment moments. A friend falls asleep in Fisk? Photo. Someone sits in the strangest position in Jones after check-in? Photo. Cherubs burst into laughter over something that makes no sense out of context? Definitely a photo.
The account is almost entirely based on “snipes” or, as instructor Carlin McCarthy likes to call them, “action shots.” On their own, they’re just badly taken candid photos. But if you were there, they’re hilarious. It’s photojournalism at its peak.
What makes the account so special is that it’s unaffiliated with the Medill cherub program and Northwestern. It’s a completely student-run tradition started two summers ago in 2024, with each class passing down the account to the next like a sacred journalism relay race (arguably more athletic than Junior Junior Olympics).
Oh, and every photo is an “exclusive.” The golden standard of journalism: reporting something that’s never been reported before, according to instructor Cynthia Wang.
The account is private, and you won’t get accepted just because you requested to follow it after receiving your acceptance letter. You have to become a cherub first.
That notification of “@barstoolcherubs accepted your follow request” is THE welcome. You’re not just attending cherubs anymore. You are a cherub.
In a program where each day is packed with lectures, interviews, deadlines and sprinting back to the dorms through rain or the 800 air quality index (thank you, Canada), @barstoolcherubs slows everything down. It gives people a chance to look back at the moments that make this summer the best summer of your life.
More than anything, @barstoolcherubs lets us into this “chamily” — our cherub family.
