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10 Best College Newspapers

Written by College Cliffs Team At CollegeCliffs.com, our team, comprising seasoned educators and counselors, is committed to supporting students on their journey through graduate studies. Our advisors, holding advanced degrees in diverse fields, provide tailored guidance, current program details, and pragmatic tips on navigating application procedures.

Reviewed by Linda Weems I got started researching colleges and universities about 10 years ago while exploring a second career. While my second career ended up being exactly what I’m doing now, and I didn’t end up going to college, I try to put myself in your shoes every step of the way as I build out College Cliffs as a user-friendly resource for prospective students.

Updated: March 9, 2024, Reading time: 12 minutes

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Before the birth of digital articles and content, news and other data were released by the media and newspaper outlets in physical formats. The same thing goes for universities and colleges. They have long practiced publishing newsletters and periodicals through their campus newspapers.

While times have changed, and some may no longer print them out and simply post them online, campus newspapers have stood the test of time. 

Best College Newspapers - fact

There are physical student newspapers, bulletins, and magazines available across the nation, and nearly all colleges and universities have an online school newspaper. These are vital tools for students to learn about events occurring on campus, at the institution, in the local community, and beyond.

School newspapers promote staff and student accomplishments and cover topics that are pertinent to the students’ lives. These copies of information not only benefit those who are interested in journalism but also any kind of learner

College Cliffs is an advertising-supported site. Featured or trusted partner programs and all school search, finder, or match results are for schools that compensate us. This compensation does not influence our school rankings, resource guides, or other editorially-independent information published on this site.

Importance of College Newspapers

It promotes the student body.

Campus newspapers report and share updates about the good aspects of the university. It’s a way to show gratitude for what the university and its students have accomplished.

The newspaper may celebrate individuals who took part in competitions, sports, and other events. A list of the recipients of scholarships and the honor roll may also be published.

As a result, many other students get inspired or motivated and are also able to learn about their peers’ accomplishments. They could be inspired to do better to make the university proud of them as much as to get featured in the newspaper.

It serves as an avenue for students to speak their minds.

Campus newspapers are the best avenues or mediums for students to speak their minds. If they feel like their voices aren’t heard, writing articles and columns can make it easier for them to voice their ideas and opinions. In the age of social media, where a single voice can easily get lost in the sea of opinions, representation is crucial. Students also may share their opinions and ideas through school publications.

Students may take part in the conversation about social concerns by doing this. They can step down from their role as mere observers and instead be proactive members of the community and family. Young people must believe their opinions count on all things. 

It creates a highly valuable impact.

When writing for a university newspaper, the author will draw their conclusions and facts from experience rather than from perception. This is more likely to make a significant impression on the readers. This is a result of the reader’s experience and the writer’s similar experiences.

The content is realistic and relatable for everyone. It can also report on certain problems with the university more effectively. Because readers are more invested, it may raise awareness more effectively. This enables them to approach the problem with a shared objective, which is to better their school experiences. 

It ignites positive change.

Things could change positively if enough students start discussing a certain topic. For instance, the publication draws attention to the incidence of attacks at the college. Students may be motivated by this to exercise greater caution and to report any incidents.

It urges the school administration to implement guidelines to maintain the safety of the premises. Good messages and practices get across more effectively through campus newspapers. 

It can also alter students’ perspectives and dispositions toward a subject. They might not know enough about the subject to make an informed judgment. However, if the newspaper covers it, readers are better able to generate conclusions based on the information provided.

It presents an effective way of fundraising.

Many universities and colleges hold fundraising events due to a cause. Unfortunately, some schools don’t use the right strategies to acquire enough funds from people.

A campus newspaper can be particularly critical for underfunded schools. They can get in touch with nearby companies to close deals on newspaper advertisements or other services. They can partner with advertisers and promote their businesses in exchange for funding. 

The newspaper club’s ability to pay for their publication and printing is by far the greatest benefit of this. Should students perform well enough, the school’s assistance may not even be required. Its ability to publicize further fundraising events for its club or the school itself is a bonus.

It helps promote ethics and values.

Working in the newspaper club allows members to develop skills and acquire good work ethics and values. After all, a newspaper job serves as a kind of practical training. It teaches the proper mindset you need to live a daily life, such as taking responsibility for your errors and growing from them.

They acquire professionalism and the appropriate frame of mind to handle responsibilities and pressure. They also learn about fairness because their effort may have an impact on someone’s life.  

It mimics a real work setting.

One of the few extracurricular activities at school that accurately depicts the workplace is the campus newspaper. Besides work-study programs, campus newspapers are the closest to an actual work setting in which roles are assigned and work ethics are upheld. Campus newspaper staff must demonstrate leadership and teamwork to work within timelines.

However, writing on a school website or maintaining a column in the school newspaper is not the same as writing a school assignment. Unlike an essay that is primarily subject only to the teacher’s review, newspaper items are published for hundreds to read. It entails a larger sense of responsibility that is somewhat similar to an actual company you’ll be working for. 

Learn what goes into making a school newspaper:

10 Excellent US College Newspapers

The Daily Northwestern

The Daily Northwestern

Northwestern University

One of the oldest campus newspapers is The Daily Northwestern, which is from Northwestern University. This has been run for over a century (135 years), and it’s being operated solely by university students. They have won many awards over the years. And they have been consider as a vital part of the university’s history and culture. 

Some of their awards include the Illinois College Press Association, which they gained in February 2012. They also gained seven awards in the Pulitzer Prize for college journalism. The Daily Northwestern uses a range of multimedia assets to cover all audiences. They produce podcasts, graphics, and videos, and their topics are a wide range that go from sports and events to arts, campus life, and local government.

Additionally, the Daily Northwestern serves as a training ground for future journalists and media professionals as well as a source of information for the Northwestern community.

The Diamondback

The Diamondback

University of Maryland

The University of Maryland’s campus newspaper is called The Diamondback, and it dates all the way back to 1910. Engagement is a major focus for them, which is why they have virtual versions. The Diamondback makes a sincere effort to provide content that readers of the university will like, whether it be by discussing topics that are important to students or interacting with their Twitter followers.

This once-weekly newspaper, which is updated online every day, is read by 8,000 people. Reporters cover opinions and sports as well as “diversions” from the classroom, such as fashion, cuisine, music, and literature. These writers cover events in Maryland, the country, and the world, in addition to local occurrences on campus. In addition, the Diamondback oversees a few unique initiatives.

The Chicago Maroon

The Chicago Maroon

University of Chicago

The University of Chicago is proud to present The Chicago Maroon as its campus newspaper. 

They started publishing in 1892, covering a broad spectrum of subjects with an emphasis on community and university concerns, including news, sports, art, and opinions. They have both online and on-print newspapers, allowing readers to gain access to updates, news, and articles.

On top of serving as a valuable source of information and interaction for readers, The Chicago Maroon newspaper contributes to the campus community. Their wide topics being published are more on campus life, arts, events, sports, and local news. The Maroon staff consists of undergraduate and graduate students who complete the writing, reporting, editing, and layout tasks.

The Daily Mississippian

The Daily Mississippian

University of Mississippi

The Daily Mississippian is widely distributed, with 13,500 copies being distributed every publish. Since it began publication regularly in 1911, it has become recognized as one of the most remarkable newspapers in the nation for several reasons. Even though it was going under a different name back then, some sources date it to 1877. Several aspects of this college paper make it unique. This campus newspaper is the only one in the state to be published five times a week. 

It is the only collegiate newspaper in Mississippi that is a full member of the state press organization. The Daily Mississippian competes against professional daily newspapers in the Mississippi Press Association’s Better Newspaper Contest as a result of that affiliation.

The Chronicle

The Chronicle

Duke University

The Chronicle has the same high reputation as Duke University. Its publication has a staggering 30,000 copies in circulation, and an estimated 70,000 readers read them online. In the United States, it is one of the most widely read and recognized college newspapers. A print version of The Chronicle is published every Monday through Thursday, and an online version is published every Friday throughout the academic year.

With a budget exceeding $1 million each year, this university newspaper employs 120 students overall. Since breaking off formal ties with the organization in 1993, The Chronicle has functioned independently.

This publication is amazing due to its renown, several prizes, wide circulation, substantial budget, and large student staff. However, there is one fascinating truth about it. The Chronicle is officially older than Duke University, founded in 1924, as the school newspaper was initially produced by Trinity College, the forerunner to Duke, in 1905.

The Daily Trojan

The Daily Trojan

University of Southern California

Since 1912, The Daily Trojan has been the student-run newspaper for the University of Southern California community. They publish and produce articles on a range of subjects, including sports, news, sports, arts and culture, education, and campus life. This university newspaper has a long history of providing the USC community with informative and relevant information through high-caliber reporting.

The Daily Trojan publishes in print, but it also has a strong web presence that offers up-to-date news and updates around the clock. The Daily Trojan, with its committed team of editors, writers, photographers, and designers, is still an essential component of the university’s community.

Washington Square News

Washington Square News

New York University

Washington Square News was established in 1973 following the merger of New York University’s University Heights and Washington Square campuses. This was the means for all readers and students to gain access to information within the campuses. There are five stories a week throughout the academic year, including sports, culture, the arts, news, and opinions, as well as images and videos shot near campus and in New York.

Undergraduates from NYU who are interested in a wide range of subjects, including business, writing, journalism, reporting, design, illustration, photography, and video production, can all take part in Washington Square News. This is a gem for those students who want to remain updated with news and events.

WSN is expected to have 65,000 online readers in addition to its 10,000 print copies. During the autumn and spring semesters, it is published Monday through Thursday and is available online on Friday. Summer editions are issued as well. Another thing to keep in mind is that WSN sells only commercials to pay for its production, and it maintains editorial independence from the institution.

The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

The Johns Hopkins News-Letter

Johns Hopkins University

The student publication for Johns Hopkins University is called the Johns Hopkins News-Letter. Over 5,000 are being circulated during publication. Besides its weekly publications every Thursday, the News-Letter also publishes four magazines a year. The publication is the independent voice of JHU’s undergraduate students and prides itself on being “the voice of the student body.” 

Essays from students on subjects they find interesting are welcome in the Voices section. Multimedia includes photo essays and polls. The News-Letter’s most interesting feature is probably that, even though the Board of Trustees forbade student publications when JHU was formed in 1876, the paper started in 1896 and has gone by the same name ever since.

The Stanford Daily

The Stanford Daily

Stanford University

In an academic year, The Stanford Daily is published Monday through Friday and is distributed to over 200 places on and around the Stanford main campus in 4,000 copies. Every year, The Daily releases a number of special editions, such as ones for commencement, the Big Game, and new student orientation.

There is also a podcast and a magazine produced by this award-winning student paper.

Some of the topics they usually publish are about arts, sports, news, data, and humor. Founded in 1892, the paper has a long history. The Daily was among the first collegiate newspapers to publish online when it launched its website in 1995. The website is always up to date and in operation throughout the year. It includes information from the print version as well as exclusive content for the Web, which frequently consists of live blogs from important school events and athletic events.

The Red and Black

The Red and Black

University of Georgia

The University of Georgia’s student-run independent newspaper is called The Red and Black. With 10,000 copies in circulation, it publishes once a week and updates online every day. The inaugural edition was released in 1893. The newspaper is run entirely by students, with approximately 70 employees who handle all aspects of production, writing, advertising, and other duties. 

Additionally, the newspaper is self-sufficient through advertising and has no financial dependency on the institution. With well over 45,000 subscribers, The Red and Black is Georgia’s largest campus newspaper. The newspaper includes sports, local and national news, and other topics. A multimedia area with images, movies, and podcasts is also included.

The remarkable aspect of The Red & Black is how deeply entwined with controversy its past has been. The faculty at UGA issued an order to halt the publication of the article two years after its first release. However, the university took its control back in 1896. 

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