What’s in a (college newspaper) name?

You have the press badge - but what to put on it?

The editors over at The Chronicle — the College of Saint Rose student newspaper where I served as a staff writer and Executive Editor for a few years — are currently considering a name change to coincide with changes being made to the Saint Rose Communications Department.

Deciding on a name for anything is usually a difficult task. Whether it’s your first-born or even just your fantasy football team, it’s easy to get caught up in a whirlwind of options. Names are so intrinsically tied to identity. Choose the wrong one, and it invokes all the wrong connotations for your product/publication/child. (Just think about the recent iPad debacle).

Names for publications generally encompass two things: the audience, and the purpose.

For newspapers, the audience aspect is usually location-based. The purpose portion, however, require some self-analysis.

What kind of publication do you want to produce? Do you plan to chronicle or record the happenings of your city or school? Are you going to ask the tough questions or sound the alarm to corruption? Or, is it more important that you be a voice for your audience and cover a wide spectrum of topics and ideas?

It’s imperative that you be confident in the identity and mission of your publication before deciding on a name. Really, you should already have these principles in place and written in an official mission statement or staff manual, but with the high turnover at college newspapers this can often get lost in the shuffle.

After the jump are some creative college newspaper names I found using the Campus Fundraiser College Newspaper Directory (not a complete directory, the Chronicle wasn’t listed).

University of Alaska-Anchorage — The Northern Light
A very creative way to reference location.

Hawaii Pacific University — Kalamalama
Not really sure if this is actually a clever name, but it is fun to say. Anyone know what it means? I couldn’t find a translation online.

Boise State University — The Arbiter
Sometimes newspaper names can be a fun vocab lesson. I didn’t know this, but an arbiter is like a judge.

University of Idaho — Argonaut
…Or a Greek mythology lesson. Wikipedia says: The Argonauts were a band of heroes who, in the years before the Trojan War, accompanied Jason to Colchis (modern day Georgia) in his quest to find the Golden Fleece.

Illinois State University — The Daily Vidette
More vocab: A mounted sentinel stationed in advance of an outpost or a small scouting boat used to observe and report on an opposing naval force.

Wichita State University — The Sunflower
It’s just such a happy name. Doesn’t it make you want to read that paper?

Tulane University — Tulane Hullabaloo
Awesome.

Assumption College — Le Provocateur
I wonder if they have some sort of French history at this college.

University of Massachusetts-Boston — The Mass Media
I don’t always go for puns, but this one is brilliant.

Side note: I like how the state of Michigan has a Western Herald, a North Wind, an Eastern Echo and a South End.

Central Missouri State University — The Muleskinner
Yes, their mascot is the Mules.

Youngstown State University — Jam Bar
I don’t get it, but I like it.

University of Rhode Island — The Good 5Cent Cigar
Once again.

Angelo State University — Ram Page
Another awesome pun, and their mascot is — of course — the Rams.

Do you know of any creative college newspaper names? Have any name ideas for the editors of the Chronicle? Leave them in the comments or contact them directly at chronicle@strose.edu.

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