Type Weekly Newspaper Founded 1916 Website www.ricethresher.org | Format 11x17 tabloid Editor in Chief Yasna Haghdoost | |
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The Rice Thresher is the weekly, student newspaper of Rice University in Houston, Texas. It was founded in 1916. It has an estimated circulation of 3,000 and is distributed throughout the university and its surrounding areas. The Thresher has won numerous awards from journalism organizations like the Society of Professional Journalists, Texas Intercollegiate Press Association, the College Media Association, and the Associated Collegiate Press, including 2016 Best Newspaper for a 4 year university under 5,000, 2007 Best in Show for a tabloid weekly, 2005 First Place for a tabloid weekly, and 2003 ACP Newspaper Pacemaker Finalist.
Contents
The Thresher runs on a six-figure budget, employs over 100 staffers, and is distributed each Wednesday of the school year with the exceptions of examinations periods and holidays. The paper is separated into five sections: News, Opinions, Arts and Entertainment, Sports, and the satirical Backpage.
History
In 1992, the Thresher broke a cheating scandal, revealing athlete corruption while the university refused to confirm or deny the events. The Thresher's coverage garnered national recognition.
In 2010, the Thresher received commendations for its coverage of the proposed Rice-Baylor College of Medicine merger.
News
Thresher News focuses almost entirely on campus events.
Opinion
Opinions typically prints the staff editorial, submitted letters, columns, and a cartoon. The section has been home to several awards won by the Thresher.
Arts and Entertainment
Thresher A&E reviews campus plays, new movies, music and often contains a column by the editor or other writers.
Sports
With Rice's Division I-A status, Thresher Sports is unusually large for a weekly paper of a small school. In addition to Rice's official sport teams, it focuses on intramural and residential college sports.
The Backpage
There is a section called "the Backpage" that included a regular feature "Misclassifieds" (Misclass), in which students would write embarrassing stories about their friends or funny and embarrassing quotes heard around campus. In recent years, the Backpage has taken on more of a humor or satire theme, addressing issues on campus.
The Backpage has resulted in many controversies over the years, including at November 1996 Backpage titled "Rice Women Are Like...," a Misclass concerning former Rice president Malcolm Gillis' wife, and a September 2006 Backpage that received attention from online blogs all of which resulted in apologies or firings.