 The Daily Princetonian, February 22, 2012 | |
| Type | Dailystudent newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | ColorBroadsheet |
| School | Princeton University |
| Owner | The Daily Princetonian Publishing Co. |
| Editor-in-chief | Miriam Waldvogel |
| Founded | 1876 |
| Headquarters | 48 University Place Princeton, New Jersey, U.S. 08540 |
| ISSN | 0885-7601 |
| Website | www |
| Free online archives | Larry DuPraz Digital Archives |
The Daily Princetonian, originally known asThe Princetonian and nicknamed the 'Prince', is the independent dailystudent newspaper ofPrinceton University. The newspaper is owned by The Daily Princetonian Publishing Co. and boasts a circulation of 2,000 in print and around 30,000 daily online hits as of 2021. Managed by approximately 200 undergraduate students, the newspaper covers a range of sections, including news, sports, and opinions.
Throughout its history,The Daily Princetonian has evolved in frequency, editorial focus, and format. In the 20th century, it covered significant events such asWoodrow Wilson's tenure at Princeton and presidency, World War II, and student activism in the 1960s. In the 21st century, the newspaper faced controversy in 2007 for a fictitious article, and its archives were digitized in 2012. Currently, it operates with a digital daily and weekly print publication format. The newspaper is financially independent, with an annual budget exceeding $70,000. The editorial team of the 149th Board is led by the editor-in-chief Miriam Waldvogel and Managing Editors Eleanor Clemans-Cope, Isabella Dail, Bridget O’Neill, andBryan Zhang as of December 2024.
Notable alumni include Woodrow Wilson, the 28th U.S. president, Supreme Court justices, U.S. ambassadors, and journalists at various media outlets. The paper has received accolades such as a Silver Crown at theColumbia Scholastic Press Association Awards in 2012 and a finalist position for the Associated College Press OnlineNational Pacemaker Award in 2014.
ThePrince is the second oldest dailycollege newspaper in the United States.[1]
The newspaper was founded on June 14, 1876 as a biweekly publication and initially namedThe Princetonian. As the college grew, the newspaper grew too. In 1883, it became a weekly. In 1885, it increased its publication schedule to three-times weekly. In 1892, its name was changed toThe Daily Princetonian, its current name, and its publication schedule was increased to five afternoons a week. In 1895, its publication was increased again to six mornings a week. Early issues of thePrince called for unproctored examinations, a policy introduced with the implementation of the honor code system at the college in 1893. Another issue published atelegraphic report of aPrinceton Tigers baseball game, one of the first times a college used a telegraph in its coverage.[2]
In the early 20th century, prior toWorld War I, the newspaper experienced improvements in its coverage and editorial policy.Woodrow Wilson was covered extensively, first as president of Princeton University from 1902 to 1910 and then, after winning the1912 presidential election, as the 28thU.S. president from 1913 to 1921. In 1910, it incorporatedAssociated Press dispatches. It advocated for the abolition of mandatory chapel attendance, supported women's suffrage, and reinforced the ongoing revolt against the campuseating clubs. The 1920s saw the paper become more light-hearted, with the introduction of popular humorous columns, a weekly photograph supplement, and annual pieces like an April Fool's story.[3]
During the 1930s, the newspaper took on a more serious role, partnering withThe Harvard Crimson to persuade students to advocate against prohibition. It covered the escalating world tension that ultimately led toWorld War II, and published columns both for and against theUnited States entering the war. In February 1943, after the U.S. entered World War II, publication of the newspaper was suspended in February 1943 until the conclusion of the war in 1945. After World War II, thePrince covered the death ofAlbert Einstein, the election ofRobert Goheen a mere three hours after he was elected at a Princeton University faculty meeting, and other topics regarding Princeton University's administration and athletic program. A common topic for news and editorials were eating clubs elections and debates over their influence on student social life.[4]
In the 1960s, thePrince published articles on theassassination ofJohn F. Kennedy in November 1963, and the subsequent week-long cancellation of university events. Five years later, in 1968, theassassination ofMartin Luther King Jr. resulted in the publication of letters, editorials, and articles and columns on his influence and student involvement in thecivil rights movement. The newspaper continued as a progressive force, calling forcoeducation and requesting increased resources targeted at minority enrollment. ThePrince played a role in student activism opposing theVietnam War, organizing events and playing a role in organizing a two-week recess so students could campaign for in the1968 presidential election. In 1976, the newspaper celebrated the 100th anniversary of its founding with a seminar and two-day symposium.[4]
In January 2007, thePrince caused controversy when it published a fictitious article in its joke issue, which referenced a lawsuit by Jian Li, who sued Princeton alleging that he was denied admission for being Asian. It received complaints for its purposeful use of broken English and offensive stereotypes towards Asian-Americans.[5] ThePrince issued a statement concerning its motivations and expectations for the piece, stating that it did not mean to be offensive but rather satirical.[6]
The paper's archives were digitized in 2012 and were named in honor of a long-time employee,Larry DuPraz.[7] In 2021, the paper began publishing digital articles daily and print articles weekly.[8]
ThePrince is owned by The Daily Princetonian Publishing Co., which is controlled by a board of trustees of mostly former Princeton editors and staffers.[9] The organization is a registerednonprofit, and the organization and newspaper are independent from the university.[10][9]
The newspaper is produced and managed by a staff of around 200undergraduate students and has an annual budget of more than $70,000.[9] Its headquarters is located at 48 University Place on Princeton University's campus.[11] ThePrince has a daily print circulation of 2,000, and its website receives roughly 30,000 daily hits.[9]
The newspaper is managed by an editor-in-chief and a business manager, and its staff is grouped into various sections, like news, sports, opinions, and more.[12]
In 1974, thePrince elected its first woman business manager, Judy E. Piper;[13] in 1978, it elected its first woman editor, Anne C. Mackay-Smith.[14] The currenteditor-in-chief is Miriam Waldvogel, who was elected in December 2024.[15]
The current masthead of the Daily Princetonian's 149th Board:
Many columnists and editors for thePrince have gone on to hold prominent positions in both government, journalism, and more. Alumni includePresident of the United States Woodrow Wilson,Supreme Court JusticesJohn M. Harlan[16] andElena Kagan,[17]Governor of IllinoisAdlai Stevenson, firstSecretary of DefenseJames Forrestal,Secretary of the Air ForceJames H. Douglas, Jr., andU.S. ambassadorsLivingston T. Merchant,Jacob D. Beam,Shelby C. Davis,Robert H. McBride, andWilliam H. Atwood, among others.[16] PhilanthropistJohn D. Rockefeller III served on the paper's business board during his time at Princeton.[18]
Notable journalists and writers includePulitzer Prize winnersBarton Gellman,[19]Mark Stevens,[20]Annalyn Swan,[20]Richard Kluger,[21] andRobert Caro.[16] Others includeThe Washington Post writersJoel Achenbach[21] andCatherine Rampell;[22]The New York Times writersR.W. Apple, Jr.,[21]Bosley Crowther,[23] andJohn B. Oakes;[16]Hamilton Fish Armstrong ofForeign Policy,[16]Kate Betts ofHarper's Bazaar,[24]Frank Deford ofSports Illustrated,[16]William Greider ofRolling Stone,[21]John Stossel ofABC News, and more.[21]
Awards won by thePrince include a Silver Crown in the college newspaper category from theColumbia Scholastic Press Association in 2012[25] and becoming a 2014 finalist for the Associated College Press OnlineNational Pacemaker Award.[26]
