The Gamecock newspaper
Encyclopedia
The Daily Gamecock is the daily student newspaper
of the University of South Carolina
. It primarily serves the main campus of the university in Columbia
and regional campuses of the University of South Carolina System
in the state of South Carolina
.
The Daily Gamecock circulates 14,000 papers each weekday and claims a daily readership of 30,000. It was recently ranked as The Princeton Review's 17th best college newspaper. According to the South Carolina Press Association, The Daily Gamecock is South Carolina's 14th largest newspaper. The newspaper is editorially independent from the university. The newspaper is printed at the press of The State in Columbia
In its first semester
only three issues were produced, but in the following term the paper began weekly production. The paper eventually moved to publication on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and in the fall semester of 2006 began publishing Monday through Friday in print and online. Renamed the Daily Gamecock, it became the first student paper in South Carolina to publish daily. The print version of the Daily Gamecock is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer, with the exception of university holiday
s and exam periods.
In the fall 2007, Jackie Alexander became the first black
editor-in-chief
.
On January 30, 2008, the newspaper completed 100 years of operation, which it marked with prizes, a special letterhead
, historical headlines, and an alumni ball celebrated the milestone.
In January 2011, the newspaper launched the latest version of its Web site at dailygamecock.com. In 2009, the newspaper also launched its Facebook account and fan page "The Daily Gamecock" as well as four Twitter accounts: "TDG_Sports", "GamecockMix", "GamecockNews" and "TheGamecock". The staff also launched staff and section blogs. The Twitter account now has more than 7,000 followers.
news, metro news, sports, viewpoints
, "The Scene at USC," and comics
, as well as its daily "Mix" (arts and entertainment). The Gamecock also publishes the design-winning Friday Football Blitz, broadsheet
-format specials released each Friday before South Carolina Gamecocks football
games.
for the Associated Collegiate Press
in 1999. In October 2007, the Gamecock won the Sun Newspaper of the Year Award and ten other awards at the 2007 Southern University Newspaper Conference. The newspaper also won 14 awards including "Best Newspaper" at the SCPA awards in 2009. The paper also won best collegiate newspaper for South Carolina in 2010 and 2011.
In March 2006 , The Daily Gamecock was recognized by the South Carolina Press Association for excellence for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina
. Eight Gamecock staffers drove to hurricane-affected areas
in Louisiana
, Alabama
, and Mississippi
to report on the story.
, two multimedia editors, three photography
editors, three desig
n editors, one graduate assistant, a public relations team and ten section editors, all of which are appointed by the editor-in-chief.
Student newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....
of the University of South Carolina
University of South Carolina
The University of South Carolina is a public, co-educational research university located in Columbia, South Carolina, United States, with 7 surrounding satellite campuses. Its historic campus covers over in downtown Columbia not far from the South Carolina State House...
. It primarily serves the main campus of the university in Columbia
Columbia, South Carolina
Columbia is the state capital and largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. The population was 129,272 according to the 2010 census. Columbia is the county seat of Richland County, but a portion of the city extends into neighboring Lexington County. The city is the center of a metropolitan...
and regional campuses of the University of South Carolina System
University of South Carolina System
The University of South Carolina System is a state university system of eight campuses set up in 1957 to expand the educational opportunities of the citizens of South Carolina as well as extend the reach of the University of South Carolina throughout the state...
in the state of South Carolina
South Carolina
South Carolina is a state in the Deep South of the United States that borders Georgia to the south, North Carolina to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Originally part of the Province of Carolina, the Province of South Carolina was one of the 13 colonies that declared independence...
.
The Daily Gamecock circulates 14,000 papers each weekday and claims a daily readership of 30,000. It was recently ranked as The Princeton Review's 17th best college newspaper. According to the South Carolina Press Association, The Daily Gamecock is South Carolina's 14th largest newspaper. The newspaper is editorially independent from the university. The newspaper is printed at the press of The State in Columbia
History
The first issue of The Gamecock was published on January 30, 1908. Robert Gonzales, a student, was largely responsible for the paper's establishment.In its first semester
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...
only three issues were produced, but in the following term the paper began weekly production. The paper eventually moved to publication on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and in the fall semester of 2006 began publishing Monday through Friday in print and online. Renamed the Daily Gamecock, it became the first student paper in South Carolina to publish daily. The print version of the Daily Gamecock is published Monday through Friday during the fall and spring semesters and nine times during the summer, with the exception of university holiday
Holiday
A Holiday is a day designated as having special significance for which individuals, a government, or a religious group have deemed that observance is warranted. It is generally an official or unofficial observance of religious, national, or cultural significance, often accompanied by celebrations...
s and exam periods.
In the fall 2007, Jackie Alexander became the first black
Black people
The term black people is used in systems of racial classification for humans of a dark skinned phenotype, relative to other racial groups.Different societies apply different criteria regarding who is classified as "black", and often social variables such as class, socio-economic status also plays a...
editor-in-chief
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...
.
On January 30, 2008, the newspaper completed 100 years of operation, which it marked with prizes, a special letterhead
Letterhead
A letterhead is the heading at the top of a sheet of letter paper . That heading usually consists of a name and an address, and a logo or corporate design, and sometimes a background pattern...
, historical headlines, and an alumni ball celebrated the milestone.
In January 2011, the newspaper launched the latest version of its Web site at dailygamecock.com. In 2009, the newspaper also launched its Facebook account and fan page "The Daily Gamecock" as well as four Twitter accounts: "TDG_Sports", "GamecockMix", "GamecockNews" and "TheGamecock". The staff also launched staff and section blogs. The Twitter account now has more than 7,000 followers.
Content
"The Daily Gamecock" prints all-original coverage for its daily campusCampus
A campus is traditionally the land on which a college or university and related institutional buildings are situated. Usually a campus includes libraries, lecture halls, residence halls and park-like settings...
news, metro news, sports, viewpoints
Editorial
An opinion piece is an article, published in a newspaper or magazine, that mainly reflects the author's opinion about the subject. Opinion pieces are featured in many periodicals.-Editorials:...
, "The Scene at USC," and comics
Comics
Comics denotes a hybrid medium having verbal side of its vocabulary tightly tied to its visual side in order to convey narrative or information only, the latter in case of non-fiction comics, seeking synergy by using both visual and verbal side in...
, as well as its daily "Mix" (arts and entertainment). The Gamecock also publishes the design-winning Friday Football Blitz, broadsheet
Broadsheet
Broadsheet is the largest of the various newspaper formats and is characterized by long vertical pages . The term derives from types of popular prints usually just of a single sheet, sold on the streets and containing various types of material, from ballads to political satire. The first broadsheet...
-format specials released each Friday before South Carolina Gamecocks football
South Carolina Gamecocks football
The South Carolina Gamecocks football team represents the University of South Carolina in NCAA Division I college football. The Gamecocks have been a member of the Southeastern Conference since 1992. Steve Spurrier is the current head coach, and the team plays its home games at Williams-Brice...
games.
Awards and honors
The Gamecock has won many South Carolina Press Association awards and was a finalist for the National Pacemaker AwardsNational 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."The National Scholastic...
for the Associated Collegiate Press
Associated Collegiate Press
The Associated Collegiate Press is the largest and oldest national membership organization for college student media in the United States. The ACP is a division of the National Scholastic Press Association...
in 1999. In October 2007, the Gamecock won the Sun Newspaper of the Year Award and ten other awards at the 2007 Southern University Newspaper Conference. The newspaper also won 14 awards including "Best Newspaper" at the SCPA awards in 2009. The paper also won best collegiate newspaper for South Carolina in 2010 and 2011.
In March 2006 , The Daily Gamecock was recognized by the South Carolina Press Association for excellence for its coverage of Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
. Eight Gamecock staffers drove to hurricane-affected areas
Hurricane Katrina effects by region
This article covers the Hurricane Katrina effects by region, within the United States and Canada. The effects of Hurricane Katrina, in August 2005, were catastrophic and widespread. It was one of the deadliest natural disasters in U.S. history, leaving 1836 people dead, and a further 705 missing....
in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
, and Mississippi
Mississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
to report on the story.
Operations
The newspaper has a staff of more than 100 students, both paid and volunteers. The paper's main staff of editors include seven members of the editorial board, 10 copy editorsCopy editing
Copy editing is the work that an editor does to improve the formatting, style, and accuracy of text. Unlike general editing, copy editing might not involve changing the substance of the text. Copy refers to written or typewritten text for typesetting, printing, or publication...
, two multimedia editors, three photography
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
editors, three desig
News design
News design is the process of arranging material on a newspaper page, according to editorial and graphical guidelines and goals. Main editorial goals include the ordering of news stories by order of importance, while graphical considerations include readability and balanced, unobtrusive...
n editors, one graduate assistant, a public relations team and ten section editors, all of which are appointed by the editor-in-chief.