The ''Truman State University Index'' is a weekly

student newspaper A student publication is a media outlet such as a newspaper, magazine, television show, or radio station produced by students at an educational institution. These publications typically cover local and school-related news, but they may also repor ...

distributed at

Truman State University Truman State University (TSU or Truman) is a public university in Kirksville, Missouri. It had 4,225 enrolled students in the fall of 2021 pursuing degrees in 52 undergraduate and 11 graduate programs. The university is named for U.S. Presid ...

and throughout the

Kirksville Kirksville is the county seat and most populous city in Adair County, Missouri. Located in Benton Township, Adair County, Missouri, Benton Township, its population was 17,530 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. Kirksville is home to ...

Missouri Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...

community. The publication is entirely

student A student is a person enrolled in a school or other educational institution. In the United Kingdom and most commonwealth countries, a "student" attends a secondary school or higher (e.g., college or university); those in primary or elementar ...

-run and funded mostly through its own advertising revenue. It has published continuously since 1909, and its current circulation is about 4,500. The Index publishes about 14 issues per academic term for a total of 28 per year, on Thursdays, and does not publish when classes are not in session. An issue usually includes 20 pages.

Membership

Staff members of the Index attend conferences sponsored by the Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) and

College Media Advisers, Inc. A college (Latin: ''collegium'') is an educational institution or a University system, constituent part of one. A college may be a academic degree, degree-awarding Tertiary education, tertiary educational institution, a part of a coll ...

and many belong to the Truman chapter of SPJ.

Recognition

The Index has won regional and national awards through SPJ and CMA, including the nationwide Apple Award by College Media Advisers in 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 and 2009 in its category of best non-daily broadsheet newspaper and national Best in Show award, given by the CMA, in 2006. The Index has been named a Pacemaker finalist, one of the most prestigious honors bestowed on collegiate media, by th
Associated Collegiate Press
seven of the last 10 years, in 1997, 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005. 2007's finalists will be announced in the fall. Individual staff members claimed 26 awards at the Missouri CMA conference in April 2007, which earned the Index the sweepstakes award, and 10 Mark of Excellence awards at the regional SPJ conference, also in April.Society of Professional Journalists: SPJ News
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Competition

Although the Index is published in the same micropolitan area as the

Kirksville Daily Express The ''Kirksville Daily Express'' is a bi-weekly newspaper published Wednesday and Saturday. It serves the Kirksville and Adair County, Missouri area including the communities of Brashear and Novinger. It is owned by Phillips Media Group. Hist ...

and they are therefore in nominal competition, the two newspapers often feature different content and focus. The Daily Express is published six times per week, its staff is smaller and it relies on

wire Overhead power cabling. The conductor consists of seven strands of steel (centre, high tensile strength), surrounded by four outer layers of aluminium (high conductivity). Sample diameter 40 mm A wire is a flexible strand of metal. Wire is c ...

content. The Daily Express also publishes stories relating to high school sports and other local events, while the Index tends to focus on events that relate to the university community.

Quality standards

The Index follows

AP style The ''AP Stylebook'', also known by its full name ''The Associated Press Stylebook and Briefing on Media Law'', is an American English grammar style and usage guide created by American journalists working for or connected with the Associated Pr ...

and has developed its own Index stylebook so that references to campus and community events, places and traditions are standardized. Its staff is highly trained and expected to maintain the

ethical standards Ethics or moral philosophy is a branch of philosophy that "involves systematizing, defending, and recommending concepts of right and wrong behavior".''Internet Encyclopedia of Philosophy'' The field of ethics, along with aesthetics, concerns ma ...

of any professional media outlet. The online version of The Index is hosted by College Publisher. In addition to viewing each week's stories and accessing an archive, readers can check for updates for breaking news.

References

External links

Truman State University Index online
Student newspapers published in Missouri Truman State University Publications established in 1909