DCAA launches #No-30- campaign for the Cardinal's future

The Daily Cardinal staff holds the rendering of a check made out to the paper by the DCAA in March 2018. "A little photoshop work here, but nothing fake about how thankful our staff is for this generous check from the DCAA," Cardinal editor in chief Madeline Heim wrote of the photo.

It’s time for the people who care about The Daily Cardinal to stand up.

The Daily Cardinal Alumni Association was founded in 1998. In the past 20 years, we’ve raised more than $300,000 for the paper in endowments, scholarships and direct financial support. We’ve provided training, mentorship and advice to thousands of students used our professional networks to provide opportunities for the paper and its staff; and connected the paper’s future inextricably to its history with more than two dozen events from coffee hours to conferences.

Now, we recognize the vital role we play in the future of fearless, independent journalism and practical journalism education at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Now we move from providing targeted, immediate help to the Cardinal to sustaining the paper far beyond this year. The current Cardinal staff is asking for our contributions to make up a significant part of its revenue base to take the paper into the future.

The local and even national advertising markets have collapsed. The university — facing significant cuts itself — no longer advertises at all and cannot provide a reliable source of funding for independent journalism. Digital revenue models are still finding their way, as is evidenced in every newsroom across the country. Every day, leaders in journalism look for someone to “save” it, and we must understand that no one besides us will do that for the Cardinal.

If you’re reading this, chances are you’ve worked somewhere that’s now closed, or whose staff and resources are greatly diminished. We’ve all attended reunions for things that don’t exist anymore. We’ve all watched news organizations make decisions based on poverty. We’ve all wished there was something we could do.

For the Cardinal, that something exists. It always has. The paper has always thrived based on the willingness of those who cared about it to go above and beyond what was expected of them, and we can have that same impact today. Just click here to make a monthly, sustaining donation to the Cardinal.

If everyone who said they cared about the Cardinal takes this small step — contributing $10, $25, $100 per month — we will have the paper where we once learned our craft in perpetuity. None of our memories there will end with a -30-.

And generations of students will continue to learn at the Cardinal, as we did, that nothing need hold you back because your Cardinal colleagues will always fight for you.

The Daily Cardinal celebrates its 125th birthday

One hundred and fifty-six Cardinalistas gathered at the Madison Concourse Hotel in Madison, Wis., to celebrate The Daily Cardinal's 125th anniversary Saturday, April 1.

Throughout the day, attendees had listened to 28 speakers on 15 separate panels discuss the futures of investigative journalism; the early life of Cardinal founder William Wesley Young; and changes in crisis communications, among other topics.

Alumni also had the opportunity to chat with the Cardinal's current staff during an open house at the paper's Vilas Hall office Saturday afternoon.

Thank you to all of our speakers and participants! Let's raise a pint of the Plaza's Long Island Iced Tea to another 125 years. #CardinalsFlyTogether

DCAA fund Cardinal award entries, seeks mentors

The DCAA board, at its January 20 meeting, approved a $370 funding request from the Daily Cardinal staff to cover expenses for the Society of Professional Journalist regional awards program for student journalists.

This includes three entries in 12 different categories of reporting, writing, photography and best all-around daily. The grant also includes funds for a year-long student membership for the Cardinal in the SPJ. 

"Submitting, and hopefully winning, these awards further affirms our tradition of excellence and is a tangible way to prove the Cardinal's success in a number of areas," said Abby Becker, the Cardinal's editor. "These awards are beneficial for our ad sales team to show to advertisers to boost sales and to display to interested writers to show the Cardinal's capabilities. In addition, these awards are a reward for editors and staff members who have been committed throughout the year and have given their best work, time and dedication to the Cardinal."

The Cardinal has a long history of scooping up these awards. Last year, the Cardinal staff won awards in seven categories, including first-place finishes in in-depth reporting, sports column writing and feature photography. Oh, and a little award they call the Best All-Around Daily Student Newspaper.

The board also moved forward on its plans for a joint fund-raising effort in 2014 with the Daily Cardinal Media Corporation. In addition to the DCAA's annual fundraising drive this year, the joint appeal is aimed at building up the Cardinal's liquidity and reserves and involving the DCAA more directly in protecting the Cardinal's long-term future. Cardinalstaff and board members and the DCAA board will be contacting alumni directly to establish a stronger connection between Cardinal generations. We will send out more information out ahead of the kickoff.

The Mentorship Committee of the DCAA seeks to expand its program to include mentoring help not just for current staffers but for recent grads trying to make their initial way in today's complicated job market. If you'd like to participate as a mentor, or if you're a recent grad in need of some timely career advice, apply online.

Planning ahead: The DCAA board will hold its annual meeting in Madison on Saturday April 26. The Journalism School usually hosts its annual awards dinner that weekend and we will be hosting a Cardinal staff recognition event over the weekend as well. All Cardinal alumni welcome!