An association for alumni and supporters of The Daily Texan, student newspaper at the University of Texas at Austin

Journalism

New Editor-in-Chief and two new Managing Editors to lead The Texan

A new Editor-in-Chief and two new Managing Editors have been selected to lead The Daily Texan in the coming year. Sanika Nayak has been elected Editor-in-Chief of The Daily Texan for the 2021-2022 academic year.  After being in the opinion department for two years, Sanika was selected to serve on the Diversity and Inclusion Board as Internal Relations Director. In this role, she helps to create an inclusive environment within the Texan and works to ensure that coverage is respectful and representative of all communities on campus. As Internal Relations Director, Sanika helps to edit stories, maintain coverage tracking, and […]

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Texan Editorial Adviser Bob Hilburn and his cousin Larry McMurtry

Editor’s Note: Those who worked at The Daily Texan on the University of Texas campus in the 1960s, 70s and 80s remember  “Mr. Hilburn.“ He was the editorial adviser to the student paper, and a renowned journalist himself before returning to Austin to work with the students. Bob Hilburn was also the cousin of  author Larry McMurtry. Bob never mentioned that to Texan staffers. But when Hilburn was inducted into the Friends of The Daily Texan Hall of Fame in 2018 the photo with this article came from his wife Jeanette, and his daughter Sidney Hilburn, who provided this info: […]

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Vartan Gregorian, friend of The Daily Texan, and Savior of the New York Public Library, dies at 87

Editor’s note: One of the best friends of The Daily Texan during the Erwin years has passed on. Vartan Gregorian had such a distinguished career that his early years at the University of Texas  barely earn a mention in the NYT obit. But he is remembered for his  helpful guidance and insight about faculty politics during some very tumultuous times that threatened the very existence of The Daily Texan. He orchestrated a big support dinner in 1971 that raised funds for a lawsuit against Erwin and the board of regents that ultimately preserved TDT’s independence. He was also a very […]

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Tumulty on Nancy Reagan: More than a love story; a partnership that made Reagan President

Editor’s note: Below is information about Daily Texan and UT graduate Karen Tumulty’s critically-acclaimed biography of Nancy Reagan. In addition, here is a link to an except in The Washington Post about Mrs. Reagan’s critical role in the White House, and Tumulty’s new book. ••••••• With this definitive biography of the fiercely vigilant and politically astute First Lady, Washington Post political columnist Karen Tumulty shows how Nancy Reagan shaped one of the most consequential presidencies of the 20th century, and made herself a place in history. Tumulty spent four years interviewing the people who knew this couple best and draws […]

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Honoring current and former Texan staffers: Celebrate (and Please Donate)

With COVID-19 forced cancellation of Friends of The Daily Texan Hall of Fame dinner and fund-raiser last fall, the Friends group has created a “virtual” celebration to honor those who would normally be recognized in person. Ten Daily Texan Hall of Fame honorees are being honored and 7 Texan staffers have received scholarship awards. All are recognized in a series of videos on the Friends of The Daily Texan YouTube  channel. A total of 15 Texan reporters and videographers, hired by the Friends group, did the interviews and video work. The videos are short and concise – 5 minutes or […]

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50 years later, Paul and Ruth SoRelle remember meeting and marrying at The Texan

By Natalie England, Assistant Director of Communications Moody College of Communication   Ruth and Paul SoRelle met as journalism students working at The Daily Texan. “I was on the copydesk, and he came in (to the newsroom) to schmooze with the copy chief,” Ruth recalled. “Paul was (still in school) and also with the Long News Service covering the Legislature. I remember he had on a suit – an usual form of dress in the late 1960s.” Initially friends, they started dating and eventually announced their marriage engagement to their families, which prompted a “heated discussion on the wedding and […]

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Trinady Joslin named spring 2021 Managing Editor

Trinady Joslin has been named Managing Editor of The Daily Texan for the spring semester. Trinady started on The Texan as a general reporter in Life and Arts in Fall 2018 and quickly moved up to a senior reporter position during Spring 2019, writing two stories a week, as well as a long form story on barriers disabled students face when applying for accommodations. She also developed a beat within disability reporting. She was an Associate Life and Arts Editor in Fall 2019 and head Life and Arts editor in Spring and Summer 2020 In fall of 2020 she served […]

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Travel virtually across the globe with two Pulitzer Prize winning former Daily Texan photographers

For two decades, two Associated Press Photographers who met at The Daily Texan traveled war zones and pockets of peace in Central America, South Asia, Africa and the Mideast, taking photos that would win each a Pulitzer Prize in Photography. Those two photographers – John McConnico and Jean-Marc Bouju –  were recently named members of The Daily Texan Hall of Fame, sponsored by Friends of The Daily Texan, Inc. They are other Daily Texan 2020-2021 Hall of Fame honorees will be featured in a series of videos to be released in coming weeks. Because of health concerns, the Friends group […]

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First Black female sports editor of Texan talks about sports coverage during a pandemic

Editor’s Note: This article focusing on Myah Taylor, first Black female Sports Editor of The Daily Texan, recently appeared in Spectrum News Austin. (Since the article was written, the Friends of The Texan group has verified that Myah is the first Black female sports editor at The Texan.)   Daily Texan Sports Editor Finds Her Voice, Makes History By Stef Manisero Spectrum News Austin AUSTIN, Texas – The University of Texas at Austin campus feels a bit lonelier than it used to. “Usually there’s a lot of people at that crosswalk and there’s this really friendly crossing guard, everyone loves […]

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Seven Daily Texan staffers receive scholarship grants from donors, Friends group

Seven staffers at The Daily Texan at the University of Texas at Austin have been selected to receive grants totaling $7,500 for the 2020-21 school year. The grants are sponsored by Friends of The Daily Texan and two sets of donors (listed below) and are normally presented at the Friends annual Hall of Fame dinner on the University of Texas campus each fall. That dinner has been cancelled this year due to safety and health concerns, and the Friends group is announcing the student scholarship grants via social media. A $1,000 McConnico-Bouju Print Award is sponsored by John McConnico and […]

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