The Towerlight is the online independent student newspaper at Towson University. It is run by Towson students, and frequently updates the campus on events and news. In the summer of 2008, Baltimore Student Media (BSM) was established by The Towerlight's staff and general manager. BSM is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing support for aspiring student journalists, photographers, videographers and graphic designers. In July 2008, Towson University agreed to sign over its rights to The Towerlight to BSM.

History

According to the first issue of The Oriole, the very first newspapers were published in 1921 with no names, in order to advertise the school and increase enrollment. There were only two issues published in 1921, and the first monthly publication was created in January 1922. Also in the first issue, then-principal Lida Lee Tall wrote that the purpose of the newspaper was: The original name (The Oriole) was a suggestion from one of the seniors at the time, Ellen Hutchinson. There were a pool of names suggested, and the students voted unanimously for the name. In March 2020, The Towerlight ended weekly print publication and fully transitioned online. The final special editions are the "Spring 2020", "Summer 2020", "Fall 2020", "Spring 2021", and "Fall 2021" editions.

Notable coverage

Recognition

The Society of Professional Journalists named The Towerlight No. 1 in its region and No. 2 nationally in the category "Best All-Around Non-Daily Student Newspaper Newspaper" at its annual conference in Houston in 2002.

Notable alumni