The Yellow Journal
Encyclopedia
The Yellow Journal is a student-run humor publication at The University of Virginia. Similar to Harvard
's Harvard Lampoon
, The Yellow Journal is the longest-running, though not continuously published, humor and satire publication at Jefferson's
university. The Yellow Journal's overarching outlook was summarized early on by the New York Times, which in a 1913 edition wrote, "The Yellow Journal [...] did not spare individuals, events or institutions in its ridicule and quips. It was well illustrated with appropriate cartoons. The character of the sheet can be best gathered from its motto, which is one of Mark Twain
's witticisms: Truth is precious--therefore economize with it."
, the first issue of The Yellow Journal was published in 1912 and appeared annually from 1920 through 1934 under the slogan "All The News That Is Unfit To Print". In its 1912 incarnation, the journal was sponsored by Sigma Delta Chi, the journalistic fraternity, but beginning in 1920 the journal was unaffiliated with Sigma Delta Chi; in fact, all articles were published anonymously.
The newspaper's outlandish headlines regarding prominent members of the University community caused a stir among the faculty and administration, and "Ye Yellow Journal" was denounced by some as being "inconsistent with the ideals and traditions of the University of Virginia." The satirical content was apparently less controversial than the broadsheet's anonymity; in 1928, the faculty senate adopted a resolution that viewed "with profound disapprobation anonymous publications," and "earnestly request[ed] the students responsible" to cease publication. When the Journal's editors stated an intent to omit references to the faculty from further issues, University professors stated that the principal objection was the paper's anonymity.
The Yellow Journal was discontinued in 1934, when the University's Administrative Council set forth an order forbidding "the publication or sale of any anonymous paper, and [we] desire to record our unanimous condemnation of the recent number of The Yellow Journal as scurrilous and indecent in the extreme."
90s counterculture. During this period, the Journal featured the early work of underground cartoonists Jen Sorensen
and M. Wartella
, among others.
The Yellow Journal gained national notoriety when it was featured on an episode of PBS' McNeil/Lehrer NewsHour
. The program was debating the Supreme Court case of Rosenberger v. University of Virginia
, and the constitutionality of whether a government-funded school had the authority to withhold funding from the Christian publication Wide Awake while simultaneously granting funding to other publications such as The Yellow Journal, "a humor magazine that has targeted Christianity as a subject of satire." The Yellow Journal also included satire of atheists, philosophers, and many other religions.
Despite a successful run throughout the 90s, The Yellow Journal ceased publication in 1999.
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
's Harvard Lampoon
Harvard Lampoon
The Harvard Lampoon is an undergraduate humor publication founded in 1876 at Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts.-Overview:Published since 1876, The Harvard Lampoon is the world's longest continually published humor magazine. It is also the second longest-running English-language humor...
, The Yellow Journal is the longest-running, though not continuously published, humor and satire publication at Jefferson's
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
university. The Yellow Journal's overarching outlook was summarized early on by the New York Times, which in a 1913 edition wrote, "The Yellow Journal [...] did not spare individuals, events or institutions in its ridicule and quips. It was well illustrated with appropriate cartoons. The character of the sheet can be best gathered from its motto, which is one of Mark Twain
Mark Twain
Samuel Langhorne Clemens , better known by his pen name Mark Twain, was an American author and humorist...
's witticisms: Truth is precious--therefore economize with it."
Original Run
Inspired by yellow journalismYellow journalism
Yellow journalism or the yellow press is a type of journalism that presents little or no legitimate well-researched news and instead uses eye-catching headlines to sell more newspapers. Techniques may include exaggerations of news events, scandal-mongering, or sensationalism...
, the first issue of The Yellow Journal was published in 1912 and appeared annually from 1920 through 1934 under the slogan "All The News That Is Unfit To Print". In its 1912 incarnation, the journal was sponsored by Sigma Delta Chi, the journalistic fraternity, but beginning in 1920 the journal was unaffiliated with Sigma Delta Chi; in fact, all articles were published anonymously.
The newspaper's outlandish headlines regarding prominent members of the University community caused a stir among the faculty and administration, and "Ye Yellow Journal" was denounced by some as being "inconsistent with the ideals and traditions of the University of Virginia." The satirical content was apparently less controversial than the broadsheet's anonymity; in 1928, the faculty senate adopted a resolution that viewed "with profound disapprobation anonymous publications," and "earnestly request[ed] the students responsible" to cease publication. When the Journal's editors stated an intent to omit references to the faculty from further issues, University professors stated that the principal objection was the paper's anonymity.
The Yellow Journal was discontinued in 1934, when the University's Administrative Council set forth an order forbidding "the publication or sale of any anonymous paper, and [we] desire to record our unanimous condemnation of the recent number of The Yellow Journal as scurrilous and indecent in the extreme."
80/90s Revival
In 1986, The Yellow Journal, or "YJ", was resurrected as a University-funded, student-run publication, published three times per semester. Students Walter Alcorn and Andy Metcalf obtained the student council funding to re-launched the publication, and formattted The Yellow Journal as a magazine instead of a newspaper. This new incarnation featured a slightly more intellectual approach to college humor magazines than was found at other schools, and reflected the pithy, politically-minded humor of alternativeAlternative culture
Alternative culture is a type of culture that exists outside or on the fringes of mainstream or popular culture, usually under the domain of one or more subcultures...
90s counterculture. During this period, the Journal featured the early work of underground cartoonists Jen Sorensen
Jen Sorensen
Jen Sorensen is an American cartoonist who authors Slowpoke, a weekly comic strip that often focuses on current events from a liberal perspective. The comic generally makes use of three recurring characters: Mr...
and M. Wartella
M. Wartella
Michael M. Wartella is an American underground cartoonist and animator based in New York City who generally publishes under the name "M. Wartella".- Career :...
, among others.
The Yellow Journal gained national notoriety when it was featured on an episode of PBS' McNeil/Lehrer NewsHour
The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer
PBS NewsHour is an evening television news program broadcast weeknights on the Public Broadcasting Service in the United States. The show is produced by MacNeil/Lehrer Productions, a company co-owned by former anchors Jim Lehrer and Robert MacNeil, and Liberty Media, which owns a 65% stake in the...
. The program was debating the Supreme Court case of Rosenberger v. University of Virginia
Rosenberger v. University of Virginia
Rosenberger v. Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, , was an opinion by the Supreme Court of the United States regarding whether a state university might, consistently with the First Amendment, withhold from student religious publications funding provided to similar secular student...
, and the constitutionality of whether a government-funded school had the authority to withhold funding from the Christian publication Wide Awake while simultaneously granting funding to other publications such as The Yellow Journal, "a humor magazine that has targeted Christianity as a subject of satire." The Yellow Journal also included satire of atheists, philosophers, and many other religions.
Despite a successful run throughout the 90s, The Yellow Journal ceased publication in 1999.
Current Revival
In December of 2010 a new issue appeared at various locations around Grounds during the fall semester's finals week. Another issue has since been published and it is assumed that this paper will continue to operate in the near future. This incarnation is similar to the original run in that it features fake news, spoofs, and centers on life at the University of Virginia.Mottos
Throughout the decades, the Journal utilized many various slogans and mottos, including (but not limited to):- "All The News That Is Unfit To Print" 1912
- "Truth is precious--therefore economize with it." 1913
- "Be Not Hasty in the Spirit To Be Angry, For Anger Resteth In The Bosom of Fools." 1921
- "Silence Is The Journal's Thunder. To Be Ignored By The Journal Is Ignominy." 1921, 1992, 1993
- "Quidquid discipuli disciplulorum in usum pepentistis, frustum eius hic videstis. (Your student activity fees at work.)" 1987, 1992, 1993
- "Definitively inaccurate since 1912" 2010-Present