The Michigan Daily facts for kids
| University of Michigan | |
|---|---|
The front page of the newspaper from November 1, 2019.
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| Type | Student newspaper |
| Format | Broadsheet (a large-sized paper) |
| Founded | September 29, 1890 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Ann Arbor, Michigan |
| Circulation | 7,500 |
| ISSN | 0745-967X |
| OCLC number | 9651208 |
The Michigan Daily, often called "The Daily", is the student-run newspaper for the University of Michigan. It is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The newspaper started on September 29, 1890. It is independent, meaning the university does not control what it writes or how it spends its money.
The paper is printed once a week when school is in session. Online, it gets millions of readers. It serves over 50,000 students at the university and many people living in the area.
The newspaper is led by two co-editors in chief, Zhane Yamin and Mary Corey. They were chosen by the newspaper's staff in December 2024.
Contents
History of The Daily
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The Michigan Daily has reported on many important events throughout its long history.
Major News Stories
On April 12, 1955, scientists at the University of Michigan announced that Jonas Salk's vaccine for polio was a success. The Daily was the first newspaper in the world to share this exciting news.
In 1957, the newspaper sent a reporter to Little Rock, Arkansas. This was during the time of school integration, when schools were ordered to allow students of all races to attend together. The reporter pretended to be a student to report on what was happening inside the school.
During the 1960s, the paper was led by students like Tom Hayden, who was an activist. The paper became known for sharing strong opinions. For example, in 1967, it published an article about a controversial topic that got attention from newspapers across the country.
The "Paul is Dead" Story
The Daily played a big part in spreading the "Paul is dead" urban legend about Paul McCartney of The Beatles. On October 14, 1969, an article by students Fred LaBour and John Gray listed "clues" that they said proved the rumor was true.
Many of these clues were made up by the writers for fun. However, their article was so popular that it caused the rumor to spread all over the world.
Recent History
In 2007, the newspaper's historic building on Maynard Street was updated. The money for the project was donated by people who used to work for the paper.
In 2014, The Daily was the first to report a story about a Michigan football player who had to leave the university. This news was picked up by media outlets nationwide.
In 2017, a student named Avery Friedman started the newspaper's first podcast section, bringing The Daily into the world of audio news.
How the Newspaper is Organized
The Daily is run entirely by students. It is separate from the university's administration. Because the University of Michigan does not have a specific program for journalism, many students learn about reporting by working at The Daily.
What's Inside The Daily?
The newspaper publishes new stories online every day. A printed paper comes out once a week during the school year.
The paper includes sections for news, sports, and arts. The arts section sometimes has a special magazine-style insert called The B-Side. There is also a weekly magazine called The Statement.
Who Runs the Newspaper?
The staff is led by one or two editors-in-chief. They are elected each year by the other students who work at the paper.
The newspaper is divided into many sections, including:
- News
- Opinion (where writers share their viewpoints)
- Sports
- Arts
- Photography
- Podcasts
- Video
The news section has reporters who focus on specific topics, called "beats." These include the university, student government, and city news.
The main editors from each section form a group called the Management Desk, or MDesk. This group makes the big decisions for the whole newspaper.
Famous Alumni
Many students who worked at The Michigan Daily became famous in journalism, government, and other fields. They have worked for major publications like The New York Times, The Washington Post, and Time magazine.
Some notable people who were once on The Daily staff include:
- Arthur Miller, a famous playwright.
- Thomas Dewey, who became the 47th governor of New York and ran for president.
- Tom Hayden, an activist and politician.
- Sanjay Gupta, a well-known doctor and TV journalist.
- Mike Wallace, a famous journalist and game show host.
- Harriett Woods, a politician who served as the lieutenant governor of Missouri.
Seven former staff members have won the Pulitzer Prize, one of the highest awards in journalism.
The Daily itself has won many awards. In 2023, it won a National Pacemaker Award for its online work, which is like a Pulitzer Prize for student newspapers.
