A commemorative edition
CLARION citrus college
A Look Back...
After 76 years, the Clarion’s print run is coming to an end.
June 13, 2023
At its end of print newspapers, the Clarion looks back on its history BY GWEN RYAN
STAFF REPORTER
GRYAN@CCCLARION.COM
200 students gathered around the firepit at Citrus one day after the assassination of MLK. “Are you willing to say what you believe knowing that you may be killed? Will you alienate yourself from your parents, friends?” The question was posed to white students as Black students questioned their sincerity. Historical events. Censorship challenges. Homecoming festivities. Lawsuits. Elections. Celebrity appearances. Historical events. The Clarion has covered it all through the years. Since 1947 the Clarion has had one purpose, to serve the community. However this was no easy task, with multiple censorship challenges, interview strikes and faculty backlash the Clarion still prevailed. As the Clarion has dealt with criticism, the newspaper has multiple aspects that left and joined as the paper evolved. n Polls: The Clarion would conduct polls, regarding questions
ROBERT DAVIS - STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
about the school. These polls then were used as data for an article in the next edition, recapping both sides. n Letters to the editor: When sent a letter, the Clarion staff would include it in print editions to acknowledge and share the letter. n Paper scheduling: The Clarion has alternated from a weekly, biweekly and tri weekly paper. n Color print: Originally published in black and white, the Clarion has spent more years without color than with. The
transition to color print was slow, for years color was only printed on the front page until 2015 when the entire Clarion included colored ink. n Featured sections: As society has evolved, the Clarion has gone with it, feeding readers demands. The Clarion has included recurring sections of: what is trending on social media, popular ted talks, local, state, national and global news, local crime reports, trivia quizzes, campus questions and national election coverage. Beginning as the Citric Acid, changing into the Collegiate Owl
BY ABIODUN COLLINS
STAFF REPORTER
ACOLLINS@CCCLARION.COM
PHOTO COURTESY OF DEPOSIT PHOTOS
“The innovation is happening online, and not in print, and we want our students to be innovative.”
Patrick Schmiedt Clarion Adviser
Schmiedt said having something tangible in your hands is fun, however, at the same time, one can replicate that feeling online in a bunch of ways, such as having social media posts with lots of likes and shares. Schmiedt said seeing the Clarion’s impact is easy with print. However, online publishing is measurable.
Schmiedt said the thing he fears the most is that students leave the college unprepared and not ready for what the university or profession is going to throw at them because they are being taught how the job was done 20 years ago. “We want them to be able to do the job and foresee what is going to be coming in the next 20 years,” Schmiedt said. Even though the 30 newspaper stands on the college campus will be gone, Schmiedt said opportunities for serendipity are not. He said the Clarion has more opportunity for serendipity online through social media posts, which it plans to capitalize on. In terms of on campus visibility and reach, Schmiedt said the Clarion
has got big ideas to stay relevant, such as hosting a table in the Campus Center Mall, having display boards in place of the stands, and organizing events on campus in the community as the Clarion and student media. The Clarion has a weekly newsletter that keeps the student, faculty, staff and the Citrus College community updated on recent stories. Each newsletter includes recently published stories alongside article picks from each reporter regarding pertinent issues. To receive the Clarion newsletter, visit the Clarion website, scan the QR code on print issues, or visit the Clarion’s social media handles for the links to join.
then the Clarion, the newspaper much like the college has a long history. Citrus College was originally operated by Citrus Union High School District, functioning as both a junior college and high school. During this time period, the paper was named the Cougar Growls with Joan White as the advisor. The Clarion has been supported by many advisors through its time consisting of Lee Walker, Janice Rawson, Meg O’Neil, Jim Gulli, Stacy Long and Patrick Schmiedt.
A Look Ahead...
With the print publication coming to an end, the Clarion’s online presence grows
The future of the Clarion without its print publication will be different in diverse areas of emphasis, such as doing more online works that contain audio, video, photos and graphics. Communication/journalism professor and adviser to the Clarion, Patrick Schmiedt, said this is an exciting time for the Clarion to try something new, different and special. “The innovation is happening online, and not in print, and we want our students to be innovative,” said Schmiedt, who initiated the change. Schmiedt said this change means the Clarion will be more responsive to where college students are. Citrus students are mostly online and they are not necessarily reading newspapers. Schmiedt said a better way to be more responsive is to put focus on what Clarion is doing online, and that is something the Clarion is going to embrace. Schmiedt said a bit of sadness comes with the change, but at the same time, the evolution is a good one for students and for the college. “It is also a good chance to be able to prepare students to transfer and to be able to enter the professional world,” Schmiedt said. “… We have to keep up with what is happening in our profession.”
THE LAST PRINT