The Auburn Plainsman

Infobox Newspaper
name = The Auburn Plainsman


caption =
type = Weekly student newspaper
format = Broadsheet
foundation = 1893
(as the "Orange and Blue")
ceased publication =
price =
owners = Independent
publisher =
editor = David Ingram
language =
circulation =
headquarters = B-100 Foy Student Union
Auburn University, AL 36849-5343
United States
ISSN =
website = [http://theplainsman.com theplainsman.com]

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

It is published Thursdays throughout each academic term and freely distributed at more than 75 locations. The editor is selected by a group of faculty, students and professional journalists. In turn, the editor hires a paid staff to run the paper and recruits volunteers. Plainsman staff and volunteers create all the paper's content without the use of a wire service. The business manager, also a student, is selected by a group similar to the one that selects the editor. The business manager hires advertisement salespeople and designers.

"The Plainsman" is a self-supported publication and receives no student or state taxpayer money. Though located on campus, it pays rent to Auburn University. A typical page count for each modern issue is 32 pages and includes four sections.

History

Founded by the school's two literary societies, Wirts and Websterians, students began publishing a newspaper for the Agricultural and Mechanical College of Alabama in 1893. The students called it the "Orange and Blue" after the colors worn by the football team formed a year earlier.

The paper began as twice monthly publication. Through its early years, the paper was small. It resembled other newspapers of the day. The first major change in the paper's traditional production came in 1922, when the name went from the "Orange and Blue" to "The Auburn Plainsman." Name changes since then were minor, as editors have dropped and picked up the word "Auburn," but the word became a permanent fixture in the title in 1961-62, a year after the Alabama Legislature changed the school's name for the final time, from Alabama Polytechnic Institute to Auburn University.

Aside from the paper's name change, the frequency of publication has shifted. It went from one edition per week to two editions per week in the fall of 1928. "The Plainsman" returned to a weekly publication schedule some time in the late 1940s, and is now the largest weekly newspaper in Alabama.

The first female editor was Martha Rand, in 1944. She was followed by Mimi Simms. Since Rand and Simms, only 10 women have served as editor.

The paper launched its online presence in early 1997 with only selected articles placed on a university-based website. In fall 1997, the paper moved to its current online home theplainsman.com. The online edition has received one Online Pacemaker in 2003-2004

The 2000-01 editor, Rachel Davis, lobbied the Board of Communications (Comm Board), a university committee charged with overseeing student media, such as The Plainsman as well as WEGL 91 FM, for a change in how "Plainsman" editors were chosen. The tired system of election by the student body was abandoned. Now, Comm Board and its special Advisory Board select the editor, who takes a series of tests before interviewing for the job.

Awards

One of collegiate journalism's highest prizes is the National Pacemaker Award, handed out since 1928 by the Associated Collegiate Press. "The Auburn Plainsman" is the second-most decorated student publication in the competition.

* The Auburn Plainsman's Pacemakers:
** 2004-05, National Pacemaker, James Diffee, Editor
** 2003-04 Online Pacemaker, David Mackey, Online Editor
** 2002-03, National Pacemaker, Adam Jones, Editor
** 2001-02, National Pacemaker, Napo Monasterio, Editor
** 2000-01, National Pacemaker, Rachel Davis, Editor
** 1999-00, National Pacemaker, Bill Barrow, Editor
** 1998-99, National Pacemaker, Lee Davidson, Editor
** 1996-97, National Pacemaker, Greg Walker, Editor
** 1994-95, National Pacemaker, Jan Clifford, Editor
** 1993-94, National Pacemaker, Tom Strother, Editor
** 1992-93, Pacemaker Finalist, Seth Blomley, Editor
** 1990-91, Regional Pacemaker, Wade Williams, Editor
** 1988-89, Regional Pacemaker, David Sharp, Editor
** 1987-88, Regional Pacemaker, Bret Pippen, Editor
** 1982-83, Regional Pacemaker, Tim Dorsey, Editor
** 1981-82, Regional Pacemaker, Steve Parish, Editor
** 1979-80, National Pacemaker, Rick Harmon, Editor
** 1975-76, National Pacemaker, Steele Holman, Editor
** 1974-75, National Pacemaker, Rheta Grimsley Johnson, Editor
** 1973-74, National Pacemaker, Bill Wood, Editor
** 1972-73, National Pacemaker, Thorn Botsford, Editor
** 1971-72, National Pacemaker, John Samford, Editor
** 1967-68, National Pacemaker, Bruce Nichols, Editor
** 1966-67, National Pacemaker, Jerry Brown, Editor

External links

* [http://www.theplainsman.com The Auburn Plainsman]