Radford’s weekly student-run newspaper, The Tartan, features news and information about Radford University and the surrounding area and is distributed both on campus and around town. The newspaper also exists to provide an experimental ground for students so they can experience what it takes to make it as a journalist, whether they want to be a reporter, editor, copy editor, editor-in-chief, designer or even something else entirely. We proved the support, outlet, and leadership opportunities to make you and your experience at Radford University thrive by expanding your portfolio, engaging with people from all backgrounds, being apart of something big, and giving the tools you need to “make it.” The Tartan strives to provide fair and balanced coverage of the community and to give a fair opportunity to work for all students who wish to be a part of the student-run newspaper.

Our History

Our Origins

Further Changes

Website

Website Relaunch

Our Origins

The Tartan was originally started eleven years after Radford University was founded in 1910. Radford University was originally an all women’s college. Radford University’s only student-run newspaper (originally called The Grapurchat before it changed in 1979) was four pages, featured one picture, and the first centerpiece detailed a cocktail party which had happened the week before.

Further Changes

The Tartan utilized the RU Student Media’s in-house advertising agency, SMADS, to gather and design advertisements which The Tartan uses as its main stream of revenue. The Tartan nets about $2,100 a week in advertising revenue alone!

Website

In March 2011, The Tartan launched a WordPress website to complement the print form of the publication. The website features a mix of articles published in the weekly issues of The Tartan but also plays host to content uploaded throughout the week that does not get published in the weekly Tuesday editions.

Website Relaunch

January 2023 came the relaunch of The Tartan website. It was completely redesigned from the ground up to offer a more modern and sleek feel to The Tartan. This would expand the audience of people who are interested in viewing the newspaper online.