The first issue of The Yellow Journalist, an anonymously-written student newsletter, has received positive feedback from faculty in the School of Journalism.
In the tradition of The Onion, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart and The Colbert Report, the satirical newsletter dishes out playful and biting commentary relevant to journalism students in regards to the changing media industry, the impact of technology on newspapers and the newly-refurbished lobby in the Jesse H. Jones Communication Center Building A.
"It's terrific. It's exactly what we're trying to teach people to do here is have a lot of fun and learn journalism and sometimes pop people's bubbles," said Dave Garlock, a journalism senior lecturer whose classroom commentary is quoted twice in the newsletter.
One hundred more copies of the newsletter, printed on thick yellow paper and carrying the slogan "The Unofficial UT Journalism School Newsletter," will be distributed in the communications building today, said the editor and creator of the newsletter, who goes by the pen name "Pure Gold."
Newsletters first appeared in the lobby of the communication building and on reporters' desks in The Daily Texan office Tuesday.
The newsletter includes an advice column, an argument that students should receive internship credit for working at The Daily Texan and a letter urging President Bush to reinstate the draft so that young people will read newspapers again.
"I think it's funny in places and very creative," said Lorraine Branham, director of the School of Journalism. "It shows that our students have a sense of humor, which I think is great."
A front page article, under the armpit of a smiling image of Richard Nixon, addresses the push in the journalism school to train journalists to write, film and record interviews for online publications.
"I'm one of those ink stained wretches," Branham said in response to the article. "I spent 20 years in a newsroom, but I realize news readership is going down. We need to start creating publications for the way people want to get their information."
To remain accountable to readers and critics, the newsletter provides an e-mail address at the bottom left-hand corner of the first page. Anyone who wishes to contribute is encouraged to send in his or her thoughts by e-mail, Pure Gold said.
The Yellow Journalist defends its right to anonymity.
"Making it anonymous is key because we can say whatever we want without fear of discrimination," Pure Gold said. "The main goal of this newsletter is to be relevant and witty. I want people to laugh but get something out of it and possibly even get angry or excited enough to write something for it."
Indeed, the very future of journalism depends on it.