The Daily Bruin: A Century of Student Journalism at UCLA
Since its founding in 1919, the Daily Bruin has been UCLA's primary campus newspaper, chronicling the university's history and serving as a vital platform for student voices. From its humble beginnings as a four-page weekly known as the Cub Californian to its current iteration as a multi-platform news organization, the Daily Bruin has evolved alongside UCLA, reflecting the changing times and consistently providing news and perspectives relevant to the campus community.
Early Years: From Cub Californian to Daily Bruin
The Daily Bruin's story began in the fall of 1919, coinciding with the establishment of the Southern Branch of the University of California, which would later become UCLA. The first issue of the Cub Californian, a modest four-page weekly, was published on September 29, 1919. Operating from a small office, the newspaper staff laid the foundation for what would become a UCLA institution.
By 1922, the Cub Californian increased its publication frequency to twice a week, signaling its growing importance on campus. A significant change occurred in 1924 when the university mascot transitioned to the Grizzlies, prompting the newspaper to rebrand itself as the California Grizzly, with the issue of March 21, 1924. The following year, the paper further expanded its operations, commencing daily printing.
In 1926, UCLA adopted its current mascot, the Bruins, leading to the newspaper's final name change to the California Daily Bruin on October 22, 1926. This name has remained since then. As UCLA relocated from its Vermont Avenue campus to Westwood in 1929, the Daily Bruin also experienced an upgrade in its facilities. The newspaper was housed in Royce Hall for two years before finding a permanent home in Kerckhoff Hall after the student union building's opening in 1931. The Daily Bruin operates under the Associated Students UCLA (ASUCLA).
A Voice Through the Decades: Navigating Challenges and Controversies
Throughout its history, the Daily Bruin has faced various challenges, reflecting the social and political climate of each era. During World War II, the newspaper reduced its publication frequency to three times a week under the title California Bruin, but it reverted to daily publication at the war's end.
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The McCarthy era brought accusations of Communist leanings against the newspaper staff, leading to increased scrutiny from the university administration. In 1955, the university revised the governance of the paper, instituting a system where the student body elected the editor.
The Daily Bruin has also weathered controversies related to content and editorial independence. In 1926, editor John F. Cohee was expelled for "indecent statements" published in a burlesque edition called "Hell's Bells." Similar incidents occurred in 1929 and later years, highlighting the ongoing tension between student expression and administrative oversight.
In 1935, ASUC president Tom Lambert resigned because he wanted more coverage of the student government. In October 1944, the student president charged that the Bruin was "unrepresentative and self-perpetuating" and that it was controlled by the liberal American Youth for Democracy. In spring 1949, some student leaders charged that Jim Garst and Clancy Sigal favored leftist positions. The staffers refused to work over the summer, and in the fall a new council approved Sigal. The same council, however, refused to reappoint him in the spring 1950 term.
In the spring semester 1951, President Robert Gordon Sproul wrote Provost Clarence Dykstra that he had received letters "pouring in" about opinion columns written by student Art Janov (later the author of The Primal Scream), "including one from the governor's office…. The student council turned down the staff's nomination of Jerry Schlapik as editor for the spring 1951 term in favor of conservative Bob Strock, who was then deemed ineligible because of a low grade-point average. On February 7, 1951, the council appointed Martin Brower as editor but also chose Rex Rexrode, a non-staffer, as feature (opinion) editor. Brower immediately submitted his resignation, and the entire non-sports editorial staff resigned.
In 1984, Katherine Jane Bleifer resigned under fire on Dec.
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Despite these challenges, the Daily Bruin has remained a vital platform for student voices and a training ground for aspiring journalists.
Adapting to the Digital Age: Continued Service to the UCLA Community
In recent years, the Daily Bruin has faced the challenges of declining advertising revenues, mirroring the struggles of the national newspaper industry. In 2013, the publisher laid off most of its full-time employees.
The Daily Bruin ceased all print operations for the rest of the school year after initially pausing it for the first two weeks of the spring quarter in March 2020, following COVID-19 lockdowns.
Despite these challenges, the Daily Bruin has adapted to the digital age, maintaining a strong online presence and utilizing multimedia platforms to reach its audience. The newspaper distributes approximately 6,000 copies across campus three times a week. As of the 2022-2023 school year, the Bruin is published three times a week during the school year on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.
The Daily Bruin created the "Stonewall" in 2013 as an online record of sources who "stonewalled," or refused to speak, with reporters. The "Stonewall" was created in effort to maintain transparency with readers about individuals in the community who thwarted Daily Bruin reporters' attempts at providing information.
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The Daily Bruin's Summer 2025 Community Survey is here. The survey will solicit feedback from the UCLA community to improve The Bruin’s written and multimedia coverage. Responses will be used to create an internal report for editorial staff. Our Summer 2025 Community Survey will close Aug. Please note that all responses to this survey are anonymous.
A Training Ground for Journalists and Leaders
The Daily Bruin is more than just a newspaper; it is a training ground for future journalists and leaders. With around 500 students working across 17 sections, the Daily Bruin is one of the largest student organizations on UCLA’s campus. The newspaper provides students with hands-on experience in reporting, writing, editing, photography, design, and management. Countless alumni from The Bruin have gone on to work for professional daily newspapers and news organizations around the world.
The Daily Bruin hires new interns in the Fall and Winter Quarters of each academic year.
The Daily Bruin will be tabling and holding office hours during week one. Come talk to our staff and learn more about the different sections of The Bruin at the Student Media Open House.
The Daily Bruin is for students from all majors and backgrounds. Whether you are exploring journalism, design, law, finance or tech, the Daily Bruin provides a unique environment for you to grow. We welcome anyone passionate, motivated and ready to learn.
The Daily Bruin and its staffers earn honors at local, state, regional and national levels on an annual basis. The Daily Bruin Editorial Board presents the opinions of veteran staff members of the Bruin about topics relating to UCLA. It is made up of five standing members in addition to staff representatives. The board operates separately from the newsroom, and the editorials represent the majority opinion of the board.
Notable Alumni
Many Daily Bruin alumni have achieved prominence in various fields, including journalism, entertainment, and politics. Some notable alumni include:
- William E. Forbes (1906-1999), class of 1927, president of the Southern California Music Co.
- Frank Mankiewicz (1924-2014), class of 1947, screenwriter, regional director of the Peace Corps, press attache for Sen. Robert F. Kennedy.
- Martin A. Gilbert A.
- Doug Chiang, class of 1986, Winner of the 1993 Academy Award for Best Visual Effects.
- Togo W. Tanaka, journalist who documented life at Manzanar internment camp.
- Carol Burnett, actress and comedian.
List of Editors
- 1910-1911 Clarence Hodges, Shirley D.
- 1915-1916 Albert T. Blanford, Gertrude C.
- 1919-1921 Dale Stoddard, Alice Lookabaugh, Fern Ashley, David K.
- 1921-1922 John A.
- 1922-1923 Irving C.
- 1923 (fall) Irving C.
- 1924 (spring) Fred M.
- 1924-1925 John F. Cohee, Robert W.
- 1925-1926 John F.
- 1926-1927 William E.
- 1927-1928 James F.
- 1928-1929 H.
- 1929-1930 Walter T.
- 1933-1934 Robert K.
- 1934-1935 F.
- 1938-1939 William T.
- 1939-1940 Sanford J. Mock, Richard K.
- 1941-1942 Malcolm Steinlauf, Robert M.
- 1947-1948 Paul Simqu, Elmer L.
- 1948-1949 Charles G.
- 1949-1950 James D. Garst, Harold E.
- 1950-1951 Eugene Frumkin, Jerry Schlapik (acting), Martin A.
- 1953-1954 Albert Greenstein, M. E.
- 1954-1955 Martin D.
- 1955-1956 Martin A. Sklar, Clyde E.
- 1956-1957 Joseph E.
- 1957-1958 Edward B.
- 1958-1959 Thomas A.
- 1959-1960 Martin A.
- 1960-1961 Morton L. Saltzman, Charles M.
- 1962-1963 Alan R.
- 1963-1964 Lester G.
- 1964-1965 Philip A.
- 1965-1966 Joel E.
- 1984 Katherine Jane Bleifer.
- Kenneth J. FANUCCHI
- UCLA Board Names New Bruin Editor
Awards and Recognition
The Daily Bruin has consistently been recognized for its excellence in student journalism, receiving numerous awards at the local, state, regional, and national levels. These awards include:
- Associated Collegiate Press (ACP) Pacemaker Award
- Society of Professional Journalists (SPJ) Mark of Excellence Award
- California College Media Association (CCMA) Awards
- California Newspaper Publishers Association (CNPA) Better Newspaper Contest (BNC) Awards
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