History
      

As told by Dr. Joel Gambill
Chairman of the Department of Journalism and Printing

The campus newspaper was first called The Aggie Herald, published November 18, 1921. It was published semi-monthly. The paper relied solely on revenue generated by selling advertising. It was printed off campus as there was no printing facility.

The first permanent sponsor was Dr. F. W. Plunkett, who became head of the English Department in 1929. The paper became the Arkansas State College Herald in 1932. It had been a five-column tabloid size paper until this time when it became an eight-column, full-size sheet. In 1933 it began being printed on campus. Also in 1933, the first journalism class was offered and by 1934 a degree was offered.

William Wyatt was sponsor from 1936 until 1938 when Tex Plunkett began teaching the journalism classes at ASU. In 1966 Joel Gambill was hired to sponsor the paper and teach journalism. Other sponsors include Roy Ockert, Bob Glaves, Paula Keeney, Dorothy Powell, Tommy Mumert, Marlin Shipman, Gil Fowler, Lillie Fears and Bonnie Thrasher.

Because of paper shortages during World War II, the paper was reduced to five columns and became tabloid size again. It remained in this format until 1947.

One significant event in the paper's history was the special edition when Arkansas State received university status in 1967. The staff stayed up around the clock to produce the first story anywhere in the state about this major event in the university's history. In those days there were coeditors who shared the duties and responsibilities.

In 1970 a publications board was established with the authority to select the editor. The publication committee is made up of four faculty members and four students. Two of the faculty members are appointed by the university president and two by the Faculty Senate. Two students are appointed by the Student Government Association and two by the chair of the Department of Journalism and Printing.

Today the editor applies and is selected by the board and then the editor and the adviser select the remainder of the staff.

The Herald was located in Wilson Hall until 1963 when it moved to what is now the Art Annex. The Herald moved to its current location in 1983, after the College of Communications building was completed.

Former Herald Staff Members

• Gene Foreman of Wabash, who is deputy editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer and a former president of the Associated Press Managing Editors
• Carol Stogsdill of Imboden, who is second in command at the Los Angeles Times
• Dorothy Bland of Little Rock, who worked for USA Today and is now publisher of the Fort Collins (Colo.) Coloradoan
• Jeff Hankins of Pine Bluff, who is editor of Arkansas Business
• Lindel Hutson of Hardy, who is bureau chief of the Associated Press in Oklahoma City
• Debra Hale of Marked Tree, who is correspondent with the Associated Press in Chicago
• Bill Winter of Jonesboro, who is executive director of the American Press Institute in Washington that conducts programs for professionals all over the country
• Larry McDermott of Parkin, who is publisher of the Springfield, Mass., Republican and News
• Amanda Husted of Wynne, who is copy editor and three times a week columnist for the Atlanta Ga., Constitution-Journal
• Jim Barden of Pocahontas, who is copy editor for the New York Times
• Chris Bynum of Dermott, fashion editor of the New Orleans, La. Times-Picayune
• Warren Byrd of Jonesboro, sports editor of the Russellville Courier Democrat
• David Keith of Malvern, city editor of the Conway Log Cabin Democrat
• Mark Carnopis of Yellville via Chicago, Ill., city editor of the Boise, Idaho, Stateman
• James Lassiter of Conway, N.C., sports columnist for the Denver, Colo., Rocky Mountain Daily News
• Rusty Starr of Little Rock, publisher of the Palatka, Fla., Times
• Christina Quick is a reporter for the Jonesboro Sun
• Tisha Gilbert is a copy editor for the Texarkana Gazette