The Daily Toreador

The Daily Toreador
Front page of The Daily Toreador
TypeStudent newspaper
FormatBroadsheet
SchoolTexas Tech University
Owner(s)Texas Tech Student Media
PublisherToreador Media
Editor-in-chiefMarianna Souriall[1]
News editorAynsley Larsen[1]
FoundedOctober 3, 1925; 98 years ago (1925-10-03)[2]
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersMedia & Communication Rotunda, Room 180
Lubbock, Texas 79409
CountryUnited States
Circulation10,000 (daily)[3]
Websitewww.dailytoreador.com
Free online archivesissuu.com/toreador

The Daily Toreador, also known as The DT, is the student newspaper of Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. The newspaper was first published in 1925 as The Toreador and later changed its name to The University Daily before arriving at the current name in 2005. All content for The DT is produced by a staff around 40 members including editors, reporters and photographers. The DT has received numerous regional and national awards, including a Columbia Scholastic Press Association Gold crown award, two Columbia Scholastic Press Association Silver crown awards, and two Associated Collegiate Press Pacemaker Award finalists. As well, the paper counts five Pulitzer Prizes and four winners amongst its former staff members.

History

1925-1966: The Toreador

On October 3, 1925, two days after classes began at Texas Technological College, the first issue of The Toreador was published.[4] The chosen name of the publication was explained in the first issue relevant to the Spanish Renaissance architecture of the campus buildings and unofficial moniker of the football team:

It is well known, of course, that in the favorite sport of Spain and Old Mexico, the 'toreador' is an assistant to the 'matador,' or bull fighter—an aggravation you might say. So when the name Matador was suggested in keeping with the Spanish architecture and design of the college buildings, nothing seemed more appropriate as a name for the student publication an The Toreador. And we might add that it is our intention to have the name retain its full meaning, for we expect it to be one of the strongest supporters of the Tech Matadors. Therefore when The Toreador announces that the Matadors are ready to 'kill,' you may depend upon it.

— The Toreador Vol. 1, No. 1[5]

In 1929, The Toreador hosted a contest to create a new school song, with a prize 25 dollar prize offered to the winner. The final result was The Matador Song written by the R.C. Marshall, the editor of the 1931 La Ventana.[6][7]

During World War II, the newspaper format of The Toreador was reduced in size to tabloid format, and publication was reduced from semi-weekly to weekly.[8]

In 1962, the name of newspaper changed to The Daily Toreador reflecting the increased frequency in publication.[9]

1966-2005: The University Daily

To represent a change in size format from tabloid to broadsheet, the newspaper debuted its new name The University Daily, on September 20, 1966, three years prior to the name change of Texas Technological College to Texas Tech University.[10][11]

2005-present: The Daily Toreador

To coincide with its 80th anniversary in 2005, the name was reverted to The Daily Toreador.[11] Following the Rawls College of Business move to a new building in 2012, the College of Media & Communication and Student Media relocated to the old Business Administration building.[12][13]

Circulation

The newspaper prints 10,000 issues on Thursdays during the fall and spring semesters and Tuesdays during summer sessions, and has around 2,000 to 5,000 unique visitors per day to its website, continually making it one of the top-25 read college newspapers in the nation.[14]

Awards

Associated Collegiate Press

  • 2003–2004 Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist [15]
  • 2011 Online Pacemaker Finalist [16][17]

Columbia Scholastic Press Association

  • 2000–2001 Silver Crown Certificate [18]
  • 2003–2004 Silver Crown Certificate [19]
  • 2022–2023 Gold Crown Certificate [20]


Editorial staff

Although two advisers watch over the operations of the newspaper, the day-to-day decisions for the newspaper rest on the student staff. The advisers choose not to restrict the content that is placed in the paper, but instead make suggestions and give advice to the editorial board.

Current

  • Sheri Lewis – director [21]
  • Marianna Souriall – editor-in-chief [21]
  • Vacant – managing editor [21]
  • Marianna Souriall – sports editor [21]
  • Aynsley Larsen – news editor [21]
  • Aynsley Larsen – features editor [21]
  • Jacob Lujan – multimedia editor [21]
  • Mya Wilson – opinions editor [21]
  • Mya Wilson – digital content manager [21]
  • Nathan Kenison – copy editor [21]
  • Vacant – editorial assistant [21]

Advertising staff

Current

  • Dawn Zuerker – sales, marketing, & design manager [21]
  • Vacant – student marketing manager [21]

Professional staff

Current

  • Sheri Lewis – director [21]
  • Kristi Morse – business manager [21]
  • Vacant – administrative assistant [21]

Notable alumni

Name Class year Former position Notability Refs
Frank Bass 1985 1988 Pulitzer Prize, General News Reporting, Alabama Journal, 1996 Outstanding Alumni Recipient [22][23][24]
Dennis Copeland 1977 Photographer 1985 Pulitzer Prize, Spot News Photography, The Register, 1993 Pulitzer Prize, Public Service Award, The Miami Herald, 1995 Outstanding Alumni Recipient [24][25]
Michael J. Crook 1983 News editor News editor, reporter, 1993 Pulitzer Prize, Public Service Award, The Miami Herald [26][27]
Marshall Formby 1932 Editor-in-chief Texas State Senator, radio station owner, and attorney. 1981 Outstanding Alumni Recipient [24][28][29]
Thomas Jay Harris 1938 Associate editor News Editor at the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, and namesake of the Thomas Jay Harris Institute for Hispanic and International Communication, 1983 Outstanding Alumni Recipient. [24][30][31][32]
Charles E. Maple 1954 Business manager Journalist, Chamber of Commerce member, State Parks System Administrator [33]
Jeff Klotzman 1976 Sports editor KJTV-TV News Director, 2002 Outstanding Alumni Recipient [24][34]
Robert Montemayor 1975 Editor-in-chief 1978 George Polk Award, Local Reporting, Dallas Times Herald, 1984 Pulitzer Prize, Public Service Award, Los Angeles Times, 1984 Outstanding Alumni Recipient [24][35][36][37]
Winston Reeves 1938 Photographer Lubbock and West Texas photographer whose 60,000 pictures were donated to the Southwest Collections/Special Collections Library in 1996. [38]
Tod Roberson 1981 2010 Pulitzer Prize, Editorial Writing, Dallas Morning News, 2011 Outstanding Alumni Recipient [39][40][41]
Dirk West 1952 Cartoonist Creator of Raider Red; elected mayor of Lubbock in 1978. [42][43]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "Contact Us". The Daily Toreador. Retrieved February 28, 2024.
  2. ^ "The Toreador" (PDF). The Toreador. October 3, 1925. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  3. ^ "The Daily Toreador Advertising Rates" (PDF). www.DailyToreador.com. The Daily Toreador. Retrieved September 7, 2014.
  4. ^ Andrews, Ruth Horn (1956). The First Thirty Years: a History of Texas Technological College. Lubbock, Texas: The Texas Tech Press. pp. 341–342.
  5. ^ "El Toro" (PDF). The Toreador. October 3, 1925. p. 1. Retrieved September 20, 2013.
  6. ^ "Student Council to Select School Song" (PDF). The Toreador. April 10, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  7. ^ "Council Adopts Song for Tech" (PDF). The Toreador. May 1, 1930. p. 5. Retrieved December 11, 2013.
  8. ^ Andrews, Ruth Horn (1956). The First Thirty Years: a History of Texas Technological College. Lubbock, Texas: The Texas Tech Press. p. 63.
  9. ^ "The Daily Toreador". The Daily Toreador. November 14, 1962. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  10. ^ "With new size format: University Daily debuts". The University Daily. September 20, 1966. p. 1. Retrieved March 4, 2014.
  11. ^ a b Blackburn, Elliott (June 2, 2005). "Tech reclaims identity with renamed student newspaper, 'Daily Toreador'". www.lubbockonline.com. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  12. ^ Cranford, Leslie (August 23, 2012). "Newly Remodeled Media and Communication Building Opens". today.ttu.edu. Texas Tech Today. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  13. ^ Hoover, Brittany (August 23, 2012). "Texas Tech opens newly remodeled Media and Communication building". www.lubbockonline.com. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved October 13, 2013.
  14. ^ "Home". collegepublisher.com.
  15. ^ "2004 ACP Newspaper Pacemaker Finalists". www.StudentPress.org. Associated Collegiate Press. Archived from the original on February 17, 2009. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  16. ^ Magelssen, Tommy (May 1, 2011). "The Daily Toreador's website named finalist for Online Pacemaker award". www.DailyToreador.com. The Daily Toreador. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  17. ^ Cortez, Lori (May 17, 2011). "The Daily Toreador Up for High Honor". today.ttu.edu. Texas Tech Today. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  18. ^ "2002 – Awards For Student Work Crown Awards – Collegiate Recipients". www.cspa.columbia.edu. Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  19. ^ "2005 – Awards For Student Work Crown Awards – Collegiate Recipients". www.cspa.columbia.edu. Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  20. ^ "2023 – Awards For Student Work Crown Awards – Collegiate Recipients". www.cspa.columbia.edu. Columbia Scholastic Press Association. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p "The Daily Toreador Contact Page". www.DailyToreador.com. The Daily Toreador. Retrieved February 20, 2022.
  22. ^ "Frank Bass Bio Page". www.ttu.edu. Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  23. ^ Elizabeth A. Brennan; Elizabeth C. Clarage (1999). Who's who of Pulitzer Prize Winners. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 251–. ISBN 978-1-57356-111-2. Retrieved 7 September 2013.
  24. ^ a b c d e f "Outstanding Alumni Recipients". www.ttu.edu. Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication. Archived from the original on September 29, 2014. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  25. ^ "Dennis Copeland Bio Page". www.ttu.edu. Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  26. ^ Vanderhoof, Nadia (March 7, 2011). "Scripps to launch new Vero Beach weekly newspaper in April". Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  27. ^ La Ventana. Vol. 58. Texas Tech University. 1993. pp. 174–175. Retrieved April 30, 2014.
  28. ^ "The Toreador Staff" (PDF). The Toreador. May 19, 1932. p. 2. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  29. ^ "Marshall Formby Historical Plaque Dedication". rootsweb.ancestry.com. Ancestry.com. Retrieved December 18, 2009.
  30. ^ "The Toreador Staff" (PDF). The Toreador. September 1, 1938. p. 8. Retrieved September 9, 2013.
  31. ^ "Jay Harris Obituary". www.LubbockOnline.com. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. March 2, 2006. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  32. ^ Ursch, Blake (September 4, 2013). "Tech names Hispanic communication institute after former A-J editor". www.LubbockOnline.com. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  33. ^ "Degree Candidates for Spring Graduation Announced" (PDF). The Toreador. May 13, 1954. p. 6.
  34. ^ "Jeff Klotzman Bio". www.MyFoxLubbock.com. KJTV-TV. October 7, 2009. Archived from the original on January 8, 2010. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  35. ^ "Robert Montemayor Bio Page". www.ttu.edu. Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  36. ^ "Previous Award Winners". www.liu.edu. Long Island University. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  37. ^ Molter, Nicole (February 26, 2012). "1984 Pulitzer Prize winner presents lecture at Tech". www.DailyToreador.com. The Daily Toreador. Retrieved September 4, 2013.
  38. ^ "Winston Reeves Photograph Collection". www.swco.ttu.edu. Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library. Retrieved October 16, 2013.
  39. ^ "Tod Robberson Pulitzer Bio Page". www.ttu.edu. Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  40. ^ "The 2010 Pulitzer Prize Winners Editorial Writing". www.pulitzer.org. Pulitzer Prize. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
  41. ^ "Tod Robberson Bio Page". www.ttu.edu. Texas Tech University College of Media & Communication. Archived from the original on September 15, 2015. Retrieved May 1, 2013.
  42. ^ Gulick, Joe (November 16, 2011). "Raider Red has been a Tech tradition for 40 years". www.LubbockOnline.com. Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. Retrieved July 21, 2013.
  43. ^ "Dirk West Biography". www.everything2.com. Everything2. Retrieved July 21, 2013.

External links

  • The Daily Toreador
  • The Daily Toreador digital collection at TTU
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