The Chronicle, the student-run newspaper of the Duke community, is older than Duke University itself. Students at Duke's predecessor, Trinity College, founded the newspaper in 1905, and the first issue published on Dec. 19 featured articles about a campus debate and a speech by a Charlotte businessman. The paper was created by members of the Hesperian and Columbian literary societies but eventuall
y moved beyond those roots. In 1968, after years of being published two or three times a week, the paper began five-day-a-week publication during the academic year. And in 1993, The Chronicle incorporated as the Duke Student Publishing Company, breaking formal ties with Duke. The company has a contractual relationship with the university governing issues such as office space and distribution rights, but independence allows The Chronicle the freedom to cover campus news without fear of repercussions from administrators. Advertising revenue allows the newspaper to be self-sustaining. In 1995, The Chronicle launched its web site, which now has a readership of 70,000 and serves as a resource for Duke alumni, parents and sports fans who want the latest news from Durham. Over the years, the milestone moments for the paper included coinage of the term "Blue Devils" for the school's sports teams, publication of the first full-color photo in 1984 and the placement of a black bar of mourning around the front page after Richard Nixon was elected president in 1968. In addition to its role in providing news on campus, The Chronicle has a long tradition of educating students in journalism and propelling them into careers in the field. Among the paper's alumni are prominent journalists who have worked for publications such as The New York Times, The Washington Post and Newsweek. The paper is still entirely run by students, who are not paid and are responsible for all content. The business and advertising operations are managed by a professional staff. The company's board, composed largely of former staff members, sets broad policy for the organization.
