Old Gold & Black

The Old Gold & Black is the student-run newspaper of Wake Forest University, named after the school's colors. Founded in 1916, the newspaper is currently on its 94th volume. "Covering the campus like the magnolias," it is published every Thursday with the exception of school holidays and exam weeks, and has a circulation of over 5,000.

The Old Gold & Black's office is located on the fifth floor of the Benson University Center on Wake Forest's main campus. The office is the headquarters for both the editorial and business staff.

The paper covers campus news and events, serving as the printed history of the university. The Old Gold & Black is the only university newspaper.

The paper comprises four main sections: news, opinion, sports and life. Each section is managed by a number of editors and assistant editors. In addition, the Old Gold & Black employs a photo and web editor. They are all under the leadership of an editor in chief and a managing editor. These editors form the editorial board which meets weekly to discuss campus issues, compose a left-hand editorial and decide editorial content.

The Old Gold & Black employs copy editors, graphic designers, production assistants, photographers and staff writers. All positions at the Old Gold & Black are paid, though a new writer must submit three articles for publication in order to receive pay and become a staff writer. The Old Gold & Black consistently employs a total staff of over 100 members, the majority of them writers.

Wake Forest does not offer a journalism major, so working for the Old Gold & Black is often the best way for Wake Forest students interested in journalism to get their "feet wet". Many editors, writers and photographers do complete the 15-hour journalism minor.

Despite heavy workloads and limited journalism resources, the Old Gold & Black is an award-winning newspaper, having placed many times at Associated Collegiate Press conferences.

Current Staff

Justin Catanoso - The Old Gold & Black is advised by journalism professor Justin Catanoso, the executive editor of the Business Journal in Greensboro, North Carolina, and author of My Cousin the Saint -- A Search for Faith, Family and Miracles. Catanoso helps coach beginning writers, advises editors and teaches several of the advanced journalism classes at Wake Forest.

Editor in Chief: Ashton Astbury

Business Manager: Stephen Shepherd

Managing Editor: Robert O'Connor

Executive News Editor: Renee Slawsky

News Editor: Meenu Krishnan

Opinion Editor: Jenn Leser

Sports Editors: Gary Pasqualicchio and Matt Poppe

Life Editor: Hilary Burns with assistant Aaron Colston

Photo Editor: John Turner

Web Editor: Bronwen Gainsford

Notable Alumni

Wayne King - The Old Gold & Black was advised from 1992 to 2010 by English and journalism professor Wayne King, former writer for the New York Times and a Pulitzer Prize winner for his coverage of the 12th Street Riot in Detroit in 1967 when he worked for the Detroit Free Press.

Al Hunt, former writer for the Wall Street Journal and current Washington Managing Editor for Bloomberg News, was an Old Gold & Black staff member.

W. J. Cash, author of The Mind of the South, served as editor of the Old Gold & Black while an undergraduate at Wake Forest.

Gerald Johnson, author, columnist and editorial writer for the Baltimore Sun, was on the OGB staff.

Mike Riley, former editor, is the senior vice president and editor of the Congressional Quarterly in Washington, D.C.

Recent Awards

At the Spring 2011 ACP conference, the Old Gold & Black was awarded seventh place in the category of "small college website."

At the 2008 ACP conference, the Old Gold & Black was awarded third place in the "Best in Show: 4-year college weekly broadsheet" category. Also, the newspaper's Web site, [1], was awarded 10th place in the category of newspaper Web site. [2]

At the 2007 ACP conference, the Old Gold & Black was awarded second place in the "Best in Show: 4-year college weekly broadsheet" category. [3]

In 2006, the Old Gold & Black took home third place in the "Newspaper of the Year: 4-year colleges-Weekly Broadsheet" category. [4]

At the 2005 ACP's, the Old Gold & Black received third place in the "Best in Show: 4-year colleges-weekly broadsheet" category. [5]

At the 2002 Associated Collegiate Press Conference, the newspaper received third place in the "Best in Show: Four-year college" category. [6]

The Old Gold & Black was one of 11 newspapers to receive the 2003-2004 ACP Online Pacemaker Award. It won the Pacemaker in 2001 as well.

Old Gold & Black reporters Sabrina Parker and Jordan Wagner received first place in the "Story of the Year: Diversity" category.

Former sports editor Lisa Hoppenjans and former managing editor Jae Haley have both received the Jim Murray Scholarship Award.

Former editorial cartoonist William Warren was the first-place winner of the 2006 John Locher Memorial Award. [7]

Marks on Wake Forest History

The Old Gold & Black is responsible for naming the Wake Forest mascot, the Demon Deacon ^[1].

In 1923, the Wake Forest American football team defeated rival Duke University. In the following issue of the Old Gold & Black, sports editor Mayon Parker (1924 Wake Forest graduate) first referred to the team as "Demon Deacons," in recognition of what he called their "devilish" play and fighting spirit. ^[2].

Henry Belk, Wake Forest's news director, and Hank Garrity, the coach who led the team to their victory, liked the title and used it often, so the name stuck.

Special Publications

The Old Gold & Black publishes a freshman tabloid the week before classes. The tabloid tells freshman about all aspects of the school from academics, to partying to sports.

Beginning in 2007, the Old Gold & Black published an annual graduation tabloid profiling seniors from various departments from the undergraduate campus. The "grad tab" is published in early May in order to be distributed during Commencement weekend events.

The Old Gold & Black publishes a Basketball Preview insert each year. Basketball is one of the most popular sports at Wake Forest and each year's insert includes player and coach profiles and interviews, along with a brief look at the other ACC teams.

The Old Gold & Black publishes an April Fool's edition each year. Past April Fool's mastheads include Sweat Mold & Plaque, I Sold my Soul for Crack and OGBYN. The issue is produced by senior editors and includes spoof articles, columns and incriminating staff photos.

External links

• The Old Gold & Black [8]
• The Old Gold & Black on Facebook [9]
• The Old Gold & Black on Twitter [10]
• Wake Forest University [11]
• Old Gold and Black, digital collection of issues from 1916-2000 at the Z. Smith Reynolds Library, Wake Forest University

References

1. ^ http://oldgoldandblack.com/?p=10395
2. ^ http://oldgoldandblack.com/?p=10395