Hedge fund heavyweight Paul Singer might seem an odd choice of a business titan to chair the annual Columbia University Knight-Bagehot gala fundraising dinner, which will be held Nov. 4 at the New York Marriott Marquis.
Three years ago, Singer seemed more interested in thwarting the business press — which the fellowship is aimed at — than aiding it.
Singer’s Elliott Management asked a Manhattan state judge in 2010 to force AR magazine — a publication covering hedge funds — to reveal the name of the person who leaked information about Elliott’s fund positions as laid out in a letter to investors.
New York’s shield law protects journalists from revealing sources, and the magazine published the information before Elliott could get a court hearing on the matter.
Terri Thompson, the director of the Knight-Bagehot business and economics journalism program, did not return a call for comment. But the program’s website says its “continued success is due in large measure to the generous support of our donors.” Singer could not be reached.