Newsroom

CORVALLIS - The Oregon State University Daily Barometer was named the nation's second best collegiate newspaper by the Society of Professional Journalists during the group's national convention in Tampa, Fla.

The University of Texas Daily Texan was voted the top collegiate paper, while OSU finished in a second place tie with the Penn State Daily Collegian. Fourth place went to the Indiana Daily of Indiana University.

"This is an incredible accomplishment for a university without a journalism school," said Frank Ragulsky, OSU's student media adviser. "Without exception, the schools we compete against have enormous journalism programs - and budgets that dwarf ours. It's really a testament to the ability of our students."

Last year, the Daily Barometer was selected the best all-around daily in the competition, while reporter Matt LaPlante won the top award for feature writing. This year, the Daily Texan returned to the top of the voting, after winning the best all-around paper award in 2000 and 2001.

OSU eliminated technical journalism in the early 1990s because of budget reductions. Prior to the cuts, the Daily Barometer was often a regional winner of the Society of Professional Journalists competition, but never advanced to the national stage. That changed last year, when the Barometer not only made the top four, but was named the overall winner.

Ragulsky said the paper's selection into the national competition this year demonstrates that last year's award was "not a fluke."

"We have been fortunate to have a series of excellent editors, writers and photographers who have worked with the next generation of staff members to prepare them for leadership roles," Ragulsky said.

Several OSU departments have added basic courses in writing and other subjects that have helped budding journalists, he added, and an increasing number of Barometer reporters have earned solid summer internship experiences.

"Those things all combine to increase the paper's level of professionalism," Ragulsky said.

The Barometer staff last year was led by Allison Pyburn, editor-in-chief, and Kelly Dwight, business manager.

The Barometer, which is self-supporting, began as a campus newspaper in 1896.