The Daily Collegian
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| The Daily Collegian | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Name | The Daily Collegian |
| Type | Student newspaper |
| Format | Broadsheet |
| Foundation | 1887 |
| Owners | Pennsylvania State University |
| Headquarters | University Park, Pennsylvania |
| Language | English |
The Daily Collegian is the independent student newspaper serving Pennsylvania State University and the University Park campus. Founded in the late 19th century, the paper has chronicled campus life, athletics, politics, and arts across successive generations of students, faculty, and administrators. The Collegian operates within the broader landscape of American collegiate journalism alongside peers such as The Harvard Crimson, The Daily Princetonian, The Dartmouth, and The Michigan Daily.
History
The paper traces its roots to the late 1800s and evolved through eras marked by expansion of Pennsylvania State University enrollment, the growth of Lion Shrine (Penn State), and national events such as the World Wars, the Great Depression, and the Civil Rights Movement. Throughout the 20th century the Collegian reported on campus developments tied to figures like Joe Paterno, Graham Spanier, Richard Nixon, and Bob Dole, and engagements with cultural institutions including Centre County, Beaver Stadium, and the Nittany Lion Shrine. During periods of student activism contemporaneous with the Vietnam War and the Kent State shootings, the paper documented demonstrations, administrative responses, and curricular changes. In the 21st century the publication navigated digital transformation alongside outlets such as BuzzFeed, The Huffington Post, and legacy organizations like The New York Times and The Washington Post.
Organization and Staff
The Collegian is staffed by undergraduate and graduate students from across Pennsylvania State University colleges including College of Communications (Penn State), Smeal College of Business, Eberly College of Science, and Penn State Law. Editorial leadership typically includes an editor-in-chief, managing editors, section editors, multimedia directors, and business managers who coordinate with campus units such as the Student Affairs (Penn State) office and campus media groups like Onward State. Alumni of the paper have moved into newsrooms at organizations including Associated Press, Reuters, Bloomberg, NPR, ESPN, CNN, and The Wall Street Journal. Training programs have drawn upon journalism milestones like the Pulitzer Prize and reporting models from Columbia Journalism School and the Poynter Institute.
Editorial Content and Sections
Typical sections mirror national and collegiate peers: news coverage of university governance involving figures such as Eric J. Barron and Graham Spanier, sports reporting on Penn State Nittany Lions teams in conferences like the Big Ten Conference, features on arts and culture referencing venues such as Pegula Ice Arena and events like THON (Penn State), opinion pages hosting debates about policy linked to actors such as Tom Wolf and causes like Title IX, and multimedia journalism integrating photo essays, podcasts, and video packages in the spirit of outlets like The Atlantic and Vox Media. The sports desk has provided in-depth coverage of coaches and athletes, situating reporting within narratives involving Joe Paterno, Kerry Collins, Saquon Barkley, and Christian Hackenberg. Investigative pieces have examined administrative decisions, campus safety protocols, and student life issues connected to institutions such as Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education.
Distribution and Circulation
Historically printed as a daily broadsheet for campus distribution at locations including Beaver Stadium, Old Main (Penn State), and residence hall foyers, the paper has adjusted print frequency and distribution in response to digital readership patterns exemplified by platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Circulation numbers have been affected by advertising markets tied to regional businesses in State College, Pennsylvania, sponsorships with campus organizations such as THON (Penn State), and partnerships with university offices. The Collegian's online presence publishes breaking news, feature packages, and archives accessible to audiences beyond campus, echoing distribution strategies used by The Boston Globe and Los Angeles Times.
Notable Coverage and Impact
The paper's reporting has shaped campus conversations and influenced policy at Pennsylvania State University, including coverage prompting reviews by university leadership during episodes connected to figures such as Graham Spanier and institutional responses parallel to national scrutiny faced by universities like University of Virginia and Ohio State University. Coverage of THON (Penn State), athletic achievements in the Big Ten Conference, and investigative reporting on student conduct and campus safety have been cited by regional outlets including Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and Centre Daily Times. Alumni reporting has won recognition in collegiate journalism competitions affiliated with organizations like the Associated Collegiate Press and the Society of Professional Journalists.
Controversies and Legal Issues
As with many student newspapers, the paper has encountered controversies over editorial decisions, freedom of the press debates involving academic administrators, and legal questions around access to records under statutes similar to Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Instances of conflict have involved reactions from campus groups, protests paralleling events at institutions such as University of California, Berkeley, and deliberations over journalistic ethics in reporting sensitive allegations comparable to national controversies at Michigan State University and University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Disputes have sometimes led to dialogue between student journalists, the administration, and external media law advisors from organizations like the Student Press Law Center.