Rocky Mountain Collegian

Last updated
Rocky Mountain Collegian
Type Student newspaper
Format Berliner
Owner(s)Rocky Mountain Student Media Corp.
EditorAllie Seibel
Founded1891
HeadquartersColorado State University
Lory Student Center Box 13
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
U.S.
Circulation 5,000
Website www.collegian.com/%20collegian.com

The Rocky Mountain Collegian is the daily student newspaper of Colorado State University. Founded in 1891, the paper is one of the oldest daily student newspapers west of the Mississippi River and is the only student-run daily newspaper in the state of Colorado. In 2010, the Collegian was ranked one of the top three daily student newspapers in the nation by the Society of Professional Journalists. [1]

Contents

The publication is not an official publication of Colorado State University, but is published by the independent 501(c)3 non-profit Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation using the name The Rocky Mountain Collegian pursuant to a license granted by CSU. The Rocky Mountain Collegian is a 5,000-circulation student-run newspaper intended as a public forum. It publishes digitally four days a week, Monday through Thursday, and in print each Thursday. During the regular fall and spring semesters breaking news and sports coverage is occasionally published on Fridays, Saturday and Sundays. Corrections may be submitted to the editor-in-chief at errors@collegian.com and will be printed and corrected online as necessary. The Collegian is a complimentary publication for the Fort Collins community. The first copy is free. Additional copies are 25 cents each.

The Collegian won the Silver Crown Award from the Columbia Scholastic Press Association for its work in the fall semester of 2008. [2] Its investigative team has received both the Robert Novak Collegiate Journalism Award and its writers have received numerous college journalism accolades throughout the years.

The Rocky Mountain Collegian is an affiliate of UWIRE, [3] which distributes and promotes its content to their network.

Editorial staff

The Collegian editorial staff for the fall 2024 semester are: [4]

Notable awards

Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Awards

The National Pacemaker Awards are awards for excellence in American student journalism, given annually since 1927. The awards are generally considered to be the highest national honors in their field, and are unofficially known as the "Pulitzer Prizes of student journalism."

2017:

2014:

2013:

2010:

2007:

2005:

2004:

1995:

Society of Professional Journalists Mark Of Excellence National Winners and Finalists since 2000

The Mark of Excellence Awards annually honors the best in student journalism in print, radio, television and online collegiate journalism. Entries are judged regionally, and first-place regional winners advance to the national competition.

2016

Best Affiliated Website (Finalist)

2015

General News Reporting, Erin Douglas (Finalist)

2013

Best Use of Multimedia, Hannah Glennon, Hunter Thompson and Corinne Winthrop (Finalist)

General Column Writing, Zane Womeldorph (Finalist)

2012

Breaking News Photography, Dylan Langille (Finalist)

2011

Breaking News Photography, Hunter Thompson (Finalist)

Photo Illustration, Hunter Thompson (1st place)

2010

Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (Finalist)

2008

Online Feature Reporting, Staff (Finalist)

2005

Feature Writing, Caroline Welch (Finalist)

2004

Spot News Reporting, J.J. Babb (1st place)

General News Reporting, Amy Resseguie (1st place)

2002

Spot News Reporting, Vince Blaser, Josh Hardin and Summer McElley (3rd place)

Sports Writing, Jason Graziadei (1st place) 2001 Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper (Finalist)

Controversy

On September 21, 2007, the paper's editorial board ran the words "Taser This... Fuck Bush" in large bold font as an editorial. Members of the board stated that the editorial was a response to the University of Florida Taser incident, which had occurred earlier that week. [5] Then-President Larry Penley responded: "While student journalists enjoy all the privileges and protections of the first amendment, they must also accept full responsibility for the choices they make. Members of a university community ought to be expected to communicate civilly and rationally and to make thoughtful arguments in support of even unpopular viewpoints." [6] Community members and the campus' College Republicans called upon Colorado State University's Board of Student Communications to dismiss Editor-in-chief J. David McSwane, who had final say in all matters of editorial content. [7] After a heated public hearing and a closed-door meeting with witnesses, the board chose only to admonish McSwane for violation of two guidelines in the university's student media code: use of profane language in an editorial and using poor judgment in framing the editorial. [8] [9]

The university and Penley were not finished scrutinizing the Collegian, however. Penley began private conversations with the local, Gannett-owned newspaper, The Fort Collins Coloradoan, so that the Coloradoan would enter a "strategic partnership" with the Collegian and run it as part of the for-profit Gannett chain. [10] Student-journalists caught wind of a January 2008 meeting between Penley and then-Coloradoan Publisher Christine Chin, and showed up uninvited and unannounced to voice their displeasure. [10] They were turned away. [11] [12]

"This takes privatization in a whole new direction and threatens the very core of student press freedom on that campus," wrote Kathy Lawrence, director of student media at the University of Texas-Austin, and a former College Media Association president. "Everyone who cares about an independent student press needs to sound the alarm loudly." [11]

Penley and the university released a statement on January 23, 2008, and announced that CSU would accept a formal proposal from Gannett for their "partnership." [13] The university in February 2008 formed an "advisory committee" to review the structure of the Collegian and to review proposals from Gannett and other interested suitors. [14] The proposal offer was eventually extended to other corporate entities and to the then-Department of Student Media, which had been running the Collegian's business affairs — as well as those of CTV, KCSU-FM radio and College Avenue magazine. [15] University officials eventually accepted a proposal by Student Media Director Jeff Browne, that would create a non-profit media company working through a contract with CSU, to provide media services and news to the student body and to the community. [16] The university's Board of Governors adopted the plan in May 2008, and the Rocky Mountain Student Media Corporation began operations that summer.

Larry Penley's term as CSU president ended abruptly in November 2008 with his resignation under fire. A Colorado Independent investigation uncovered Penley's questionable handling of money, including shifting money away from academic colleges and the library and into athletic department coffers, and the tripling of his own office's budget. [17]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Colorado State University</span> Public university in Fort Collins, Colorado, U.S.

Colorado State University is a public land-grant research university in Fort Collins, Colorado. It is the flagship university of the Colorado State University System. Colorado State University is classified among "R1: Doctoral Universities – Very high research activity". It was founded in 1870 as Colorado Agricultural College and assumed its current name in 1957.

<i>The Maneater</i>

The Maneater is an official, editorially independent student news publication at the University of Missouri. The Maneater editorial and advertising staffs are composed entirely of students, with the exception of a professional business adviser. Financially, The Maneater is a non-profit publication funded by advertisers. The newspaper is distributed free of charge, and all aspects of its website remain accessible at no cost to readers. The editorial department of The Maneater remains independent from any student governments and organizations, as well as the Missouri School of Journalism and university itself.

The Minnesota Daily is the campus newspaper of the University of Minnesota, published Monday and Thursday while school is in session, and published weekly on Wednesdays during summer sessions. Published since 1900, the paper is currently the largest student-run and student-written newspaper in the United States and the largest paper in the state of Minnesota behind the Minneapolis Star Tribune and the St. Paul Pioneer Press. The Daily was named best daily college newspaper in the United States in 2009 and 2010 by the Society of Professional Journalists. The paper is independent from the University, but receives $500,000 worth of student service fees funding.

<i>The Denver Post</i> American daily newspaper in Colorado

The Denver Post is a daily newspaper and website published in the Denver metropolitan area. As of June 2022, it has an average print circulation of 57,265. In 2016, its website received roughly six million monthly unique visitors generating more than 13 million page views, according to comScore.

<i>The Michigan Daily</i> Newspaper in Ann Arbor, Michigan

The Michigan Daily, also known as 'The Daily,' is the independent student newspaper of the University of Michigan published in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Established on September 29, 1890, the newspaper is financially and editorially independent from the university. The Daily is often considered one of the most influential student publications, and is one of the largest student publications in the United States with over 500 student staff members.

The Oklahoman is the largest daily newspaper in Oklahoma, United States, and is the only regional daily that covers the Greater Oklahoma City area. The Alliance for Audited Media lists it as the 59th largest U.S. newspaper in circulation.

<i>Tulane Hullabaloo</i>

The Tulane Hullabaloo is the weekly student-run newspaper of Tulane University in New Orleans, Louisiana. As of 2024 Ian Faul serves as 120th Editor-in-Chief. The Tulane Hullabaloo is also self-funded by selling advertisements to business owners and other organizations on the self-serve advertising platform. The Tulane Hullabaloo publishes its print edition once a month. It has received multiple Pacemaker Awards, the highest award in college journalism.

The Daily Bruin is the student newspaper at the University of California, Los Angeles. It began publishing in 1919, the year UCLA was founded.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arapahoe High School (Colorado)</span> American high school in Colorado

Arapahoe High School is a public high school in Centennial, Colorado, United States. Located in a suburb of Denver, it is the flagship of the Littleton Public Schools District as the largest of three high schools, with an enrollment of 1,820 students. It has been designated a Blue Ribbon School by the U.S. Department of Education.

<i>The Red & Black</i> (University of Georgia) Student newspaper serving the University of Georgia

The Red & Black is an independent weekly student newspaper serving the University of Georgia (UGA), updated daily on its website.

<i>The Daily Tar Heel</i> Student newspaper of UNC-Chapel Hill

The Daily Tar Heel (DTH) is the independent student newspaper of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. It was founded on February 23, 1893, and became a daily newspaper in 1929. The paper places a focus on university news and sports, but it also includes heavy coverage of Orange County and North Carolina. In 2016, the paper moved from five days a week in print to four, cutting the Tuesday edition. In 2017, the paper began to print on only Monday, Wednesday, and Friday. In 2021, the paper began to print only on Wednesdays. All editorial content is overseen by student editors and a volunteer student staff of about 230 people. It's located at 109 E. Franklin St. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, and it is the largest news organization in Orange County.

The GW Hatchet is the student newspaper of the George Washington University. Founded in 1904, The Hatchet is the second-oldest continuously running newspaper in Washington, D.C., only behind The Washington Post. The Hatchet is often ranked as one of the best college newspapers in the United States and has consistently won awards from the Society of Professional Journalists and from the Associated Collegiate Press. Alumni of the GW Hatchet include numerous Pulitzer Prize winners, Emmy Award winners, politicians, news anchors, and editors of major publications.

The Metropolitan, or The Met as it is commonly called, is the school newspaper of Metropolitan State University of Denver. It has a weekly press run of 700 copies, which are distributed every Wednesday to more than 60 locations across the Auraria Campus and select locations in downtown Denver. The paper is a tabloid style publication with sections for news, sports, opinions, features and music. It focuses on issues of interest and concern to students at Metro and the other colleges located on the Auraria Campus.

The Coloradoan is a daily newspaper in Fort Collins, Colorado. The Coloradoan's website is updated throughout the day with breaking news and video coverage of community news in Northern Colorado.

<i>Collegiate Times</i> Student newspaper of Virginia Tech

The Collegiate Times is an independent, student-run newspaper serving Virginia Tech since 1903. The Educational Media Company at Virginia Tech (EMCVT), a non-profit student media consortium, owns the publication. Based in Blacksburg, Virginia, the Collegiate Times publishes local news, sports, features and opinions for 5,000 print readers every Tuesday of the academic year and prints weekly summer editions. The Collegiate Times represents the only daily newspaper produced in Blacksburg and also provides its content online via its website, mobile app, and various social media outlets.

The Daily Barometer is an independent campus newspaper of Oregon State University, in Corvallis. It is published weekly during the fall, winter, and spring quarters, and monthly during the summer.

<i>Willamette Collegian</i>

The Collegian or Willamette Collegian is the student-run newspaper of Willamette University in Salem, Oregon, United States. Founded in 1875, the weekly paper has been in continuous publication since 1889. It is a member of the College Publisher Network.

The Exonian is the weekly student-run newspaper of Phillips Exeter Academy in Exeter, New Hampshire. It has been printed continuously since April 6, 1878, making it the oldest continuously-published preparatory school newspaper in the country. It is published every Thursday by its student board and is subject to limited faculty censorship. Many parents and alumni hold subscriptions to the paper, which acts as a forum for the ideas of the Exeter community and prints extensive news, investigative, opinion, sports, and feature articles. In 2011, the newspaper became available to all students free of cost.

<i>The Auburn Plainsman</i> Newspaper in Auburn, Alabama

The Auburn Plainsman is the student-run news organization for Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. It has notably received awards for excellence from the Associated Collegiate Press and is the most decorated student publication in the history of the National Pacemaker competition.

<i>CU Independent</i>

The CU Independent is the student-run news publication for the University of Colorado Boulder. It has been digital-only since 2006, when it became one of the first major college newspapers to drop its print edition.

References

  1. "Mark of Excellence Awards - Society of Professional Journalists". Spj.org.
  2. "2010 - Awards for Student Work Crown Awards - Collegiate Recipients". Cspa.columbia.edu.
  3. "UWire | Search". Archived from the original on 2009-02-15. Retrieved 2009-02-22.
  4. "Collegian". Rockymountainstudentmedia.com. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  5. "Student paper headline ignites US free speech row". TheGuardian.com . 2 October 2007.
  6. "College editor faces sack over 'Fuck Bush' editorial". TheGuardian.com . October 2007.
  7. [ dead link ]
  8. McPhee, Mike; Whaley, Monte (4 October 2007). "CSU editor admonished, will keep job". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on Oct 11, 2012.
  9. Wooten, Casey (5 October 2007). "Colo. State editor will keep his job". Student Press Law Center. Archived from the original on Jun 6, 2023.
  10. 1 2 Roberts, Michael (January 31, 2008). "College Try". Denver Westword. Archived from the original on Jan 28, 2024.
  11. 1 2 Kanigel, Rachele (22 January 2008). "Gannett eyes yet another student newspaper". The Student Newspaper Survival Blog. Archived from the original on Mar 4, 2016.
  12. "Gannett Eyes Another Student Newspaper" . The Chronicle of Higher Education. January 23, 2008. Retrieved 18 February 2022.
  13. Kanigel, Rachele; Penley, Larry (23 January 2008). "CSU president 's letter on Gannett partnership". The Student Newspaper Survival Blog. Archived from the original on Dec 30, 2019.
  14. "Gannett will not seek partnership with student paper at Colo. State". Student Press Law Center. 10 March 2008.
  15. "Proposal would make student media at Colo. State independent". Student Press Law Center. 17 April 2008.
  16. "Committee endorses nonprofit plan for Colo. State student media". Student Press Law Center. 8 May 2008.
  17. "CSU President Larry Penley unexpectedly resigns; walks with $389,000". Coloradoindependent.com. 6 November 2008.