Supporting Student Journalists: 10 College Newspapers to Follow This Year
Photo by Suzy Hazelwood on Pexels
College newspapers are the training grounds for future journalists. Many function not only as a source of campus news, but as providers of reliable coverage of what’s happening in the wider community.
These college newspapers are just a few of the many across the country that are grabbing readers’ attention, shining a light on campus voices and discussing crucial topics that apply both within and beyond the classroom, including politics, finance, technology, sports, entertainment and social justice.
Whether you’re a student at one of these schools, living in the nearby community or just want to be inspired by up-and-coming journalists, we think you should check these out.
Yale Daily News, Yale University
The Yale Daily News is the nation’s oldest college daily newspaper, publishing Monday through Friday during the school year. The nearly 300-person staff powers 20 desks covering art, science and technology, opinion, local news and more. Experienced editors steer coverage that serves the Yale and New Haven communities.
The Daily Orange, Syracuse University
Considered one of the best college newspapers in the country, The Daily Orange was first published in 1903 and aims to “serve our readers by gathering and sharing factual, relevant information with diligence and care.” The independent, nonprofit newspaper receives no funding from Syracuse University and is run entirely by SU students. Its online coverage runs 24/7, including over breaks, and a print product is published on Thursdays during the school year.
The Cornell Daily Sun, Cornell University
Founded in 1880, The Cornell Daily Sun is the oldest continuously independent college daily in the U.S. World-renowned writer Kurt Vonnegut served as an assistant managing editor and associate editor at The Sun during his time at the university. The website publishes new content daily, and the print edition is available on Wednesdays during the academic year. It’s one of several unique outlets on this list, because Cornell does not offer a dedicated journalism major.
The Daily Bruin, UCLA
The Daily Bruin, founded in 1919, still publishes three times a week during the school year and posts new digital content year-round. The paper “offers local insight and coverage of events, trends and important topics on campus and in Westwood every day it publishes.” The Daily Bruin also publishes PRIME, a quarterly culture and lifestyle magazine, and The Stack, a data journalism blog. UCLA also does not offer a dedicated journalism major, so the paper is a crucial training ground.
The Daily Collegian, Penn State University
The student-operated newspaper has been publishing for more than a century. It dates back to 1887, when the first edition of Free Lance appeared. The Daily Collegian’s mission is “to publish a quality campus newspaper and to provide a rewarding educational experience for the student staff members.” It’s published weekly in print on Fridays while classes are in session.
The Daily Athenaeum, West Virginia University
The award-winning Daily Athenaeum began in 1887 and the university students on staff produce all content, sell the ads and update the website daily. Several non-student employees manage the paper at the business level. Its circulation of 12,000 copies is delivered on campus Thursdays and inserted Fridays in the Charleston Gazette. It began as a literary magazine, hence the name Athenaeum, which refers to the forum in ancient Athens where oratory and debate took place. It transformed into a daily over the years as journalism instruction grew at the university and the paper became independent in 1970.
The Daily Tar Heel, The University of North Carolina
“Printing news. Raising hell. Since 1893.” The Daily Tar Heel is an independent student newspaper that offers all of its news, both print and digital, for free. It’s been funded by ad revenue since 1993. With a staff of more than 300 student journalists, it’s the largest community newspaper in the area, distributing 10,000 print copies each Wednesday during the regular academic year throughout campus, Chapel Hill, Carrboro, Chatham and Durham.
The Daily Kansan, University of Kansas
Founded in 1904, “THE student news source for KU students by KU students” publishes a print edition for every KU men’s basketball home game (to help keep the fun cone and confetti tradition alive) and special occasions as well as an email newsletter three times a week.
The Hilltop, Howard University
The Hilltop is university-owned and student-operated, and has a print circulation of 7,000 and a digital circulation of more than 200,000. First published in 1924, it was created as a monthly publication for the discussion of registration follies and campus events. In 2005, the newspaper claimed the spot as the only daily news publication in the country run by African Americans, not only in the collegiate realm, but also professionally.
The Daily Iowan, University of Iowa
The Daily Iowan has been serving the University of Iowa, Johnson County and Iowa City communities for more than 150 years. George Gallup, creator of the Gallup poll, was editor of The Daily Iowan in the early 1920s. The award-winning newsroom covers campus news, local area news, Hawkeye sports and opinions, and offers video coverage via DITV. The newspaper is published twice a week, while the digital site is updated daily. The paper’s scholarship for future journalists is awarded to four high school seniors each year.
Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.
Rocky Parker is the Manager of Audience and Journalist Engagement at Cision PR Newswire. She's been with the company since 2010 and has worked with journalists and bloggers as well as PR and comms professionals. Outside of work, she can be found trying a new recipe, binging a new show, or cuddling with her pitbull, Hudson.
