While most students were catching up with friends, seniors Sarah Nagem and Grant Smith were hard at work at The Daily Athenaeum (DA) newsroom the night before classes started. For the two editors of West Virginia Universitys student newspaper, they would not have it any other way.

Nagem, from Wheeling, was recently named editor of The DA; Smith, from Charleston, managing editor. Both are journalism majors.

A transfer student from Point State College in Pittsburgh, Nagem recently completed her second summer internship with the Clarksburg Exponent-Telegram. This is her third year at The DA. She first joined the paper as a news writer her freshman year, then advanced to city editor her sophomore year and was promoted to editor last semester.

“I think Id want people to know the paper functions just like any other newspaper,”Nagem said.”We put in a lot of hours and its hard work. I help wherever needed, but its the writers and editors who make it work. Im just there to make it all run smoothly.”

Nagem says she is interested in going to law school, but has not ruled out a career in journalism. In fact, it has always been her dream to write for the Baltimore Sun.

Smith just wrapped up an internship with the Charleston Daily Mail. He would like to write for a West Virginia newspaper after he graduates. This is his fourth year working at The DA. He served previously as campus calendar editor, associate news editor and news editor.

“Id say to students: look for more changes,”Smith said.”We have to have a dynamic paper and we really want to be a voice on campus. I want more thorough coverage of every beat. The staff has always done a great job in the past, but this year, Im hoping to raise the bar a bit.”

Smith hopes to raise the bar with a fresh look for the paper. The DA staff plans to hold a campus-wide contest, challenging students to create a new design for the paper.

The Daily Athenaeum is an award-winning newspaper. It has been in circulation since 1887 and serves WVU s 24,000 students. Supported by student fees, the paper is independent of the School of Journalism and the WVU administration.

“It places a lot of responsibility on us,”Smith said.”Maybe we make more mistakes, but we learn a lot more and the feedback helps us do a better job.”

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p. The Daily Athenaeum, Sports Illustrated team up


  • p. Sports fans: mark your calendars. Sports Illustrated is ready to roll out its first-ever campus edition at WVU in The Daily Athenaeum. SI On Campus will be dedicated solely to college athletics and the sports interests of college students.

The magazine is free, and will keep WVU students up to date on the big games and rivalries, as well as bring a new voice to the collegiate college experience from road trips to homecomings.

“Sports Illustrated is the most widely read magazine among males on college campuses and ranks third among all students,”said Bruce Hallett, president of Sports Illustrated.”SI On Campus will further tap into the passion that sports bring to the college experience.”

The venture is part of an initiative to give students internship opportunities. SI is recruiting students to assist with the launch of the magazine, assist with promotions and generate story ideas.

WVU is one of only 72 universities chosen to receive SI On Campus. SI selected universities based on student enrollment, and the success and popularity of their sports programs.

SI will distribute the publication at no cost to students 13 times each semester, primarily on Thursdays. You can find your copy of SI On Campus in The Daily Athenaeum starting in September.