The Daily Nebraskan, the independent student news organization at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, is marking its 125th anniversary this year, celebrating more than a century of student journalism, storytelling and campus impact.
Founded June 13, 1901, the publication has provided generations of students hands-on experience in reporting, editing, design, advertising and media leadership. Through the past 125 years, it has chronicled campus life, covered local and national events, and served as a training ground for journalists across the country.
“For 125 years, The Daily Nebraskan has been a place to launch careers and inform the campus community and beyond,” said Allen Vaughan, general manager. “Our students gain real-world experience while producing meaningful journalism and, along the way, have helped build one of the state’s largest newsrooms and a publication generations of readers can trust. Our mission remains just as critical today as it was at our founding.”
The publication has evolved alongside the media industry, transitioning from print-focused operations to a multi-platform newsroom. Today, it produces reporting and storytelling across digital, social, video and magazine platforms, while also operating a student-run media business group that connects campus and community through advertising and creative services.
“For a generation that grew up alongside digital newsrooms, the DN remains a steady force that delivers unbiased information in a timely manner,” said Editor-in-Chief Nina Kudlacz, a University of Nebraska–Lincoln senior. “We are taking old-school journalism skills and finding new ways to reach our peers.”
The Daily Nebraskan has produced numerous journalists and professionals who have gone on to careers in media, communications and other fields. Alumni have earned local, regional and national recognition, including Pulitzer Prizes.
As part of the anniversary celebration, alumni will gather in Lincoln for a reunion Sept. 4-6. More information is available by contacting Vaughan at allen.vaughan@unl.edu.
Looking ahead, the organization plans to expand multimedia storytelling, strengthen business and revenue innovation, and create new opportunities for students in a rapidly changing media environment.
The Daily Nebraskan’s nonprofit operations are supported by advertising, and it is also accepting donations to its Editorial Support Fund, which supports student salaries in perpetuity. Donations can be made through its website or by contacting allen.vaughan@unl.edu.
