Keep the Torch Lit

The Torch is St. John’s University’s only award-winning independent student newspaper. It is a weekly newspaper with five sections, and has been around for 97 years. 

We print 500 copies of each issue, for about 9 issues a semester. This year, there will only be four issues. In Fall 2019, the 97th editorial board inherited a debt they were not prepared for. Each issue costs upwards of $500 to print, which can add up quickly.

The Torch is independent, meaning that it is funded only by donations and advertisements (not by the school or any single entity). This keeps us free from censorship. However, if people do not advertise in our newspaper or on our site, we print the paper at a deficit.

The print newspaper is in high demand from students, faculty and administration -- we need your help to keep it on the shelves and updated online. Any donation helps to remove the debt to our printing company and keep the Torch in print for 100 years or more. 

Keep the Torch free. Keep the Torch independent. #KeeptheTorchLit.
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Why is student press freedom important? 


Without a free student press, stories like these wouldn’t exist:

University says Hiring Pause ‘Effective Immediately’ and Budget Cuts 

‘Few Faculty Members of Color’ 

[UPDATED] Public Safety Apprehends Gunman Near Queens Campus 

Common Ground Hosts Dialogue on Cultural Appreciation 

President Gempesaw Addresses Student Athlete Legislation 

MSA Hosts Vigil to Honor Christchurch Victims 

Mysterious Vaping Illness: SJU Weighs In 

Coffee Conversations: Magdèlene Barjolo on Colorism, Self-Identity and Her Future Endeavors 

Letter To The Editor: On Discrimination Against Transgender Individuals 

What is the Torch doing to offset the rest of the debt?

We understand that ad revenue is lower than it's ever been, and that can't keep happening for future editorial boards. We don't want to have to do a Gofundme every year. This semester, on every other Thursday, we will hold a fundraising event to cover the cost of future issues, and our website fees.

In addition, we are looking into ways to make the Torch subscription-based on campus, but still available for free to the St. John's community

The Purpose of the Torch is to: 

To provide the community of St. John’s University with a news multimedia outlet.
To provide a forum for the expression of opinion for all members of the St. John’s University community.
Through news writing, analysis and editorials, to foster community consciousness over issues of importance and to take initiative in suggesting courses of action toward the continued improvement of the community.
To provide the community with a means of publicity, either through public service announcements or paid advertisements.
To provide the community with other material of potential interest.

The Torch’s Declaration of Journalistic Freedom

The Torch, as a communication medium, considers itself responsible for the tenets of journalism. As a member of the United States Student Press Association and the Associated Collegiate Press, the Torch subscribes to their strict code of ethics. 

Specifically, the Torch shall have and exercise freedom of operation. No non-staff students, faculty members, administrators or outside parties, acting alone or within a group, may exercise any form of control over the editorial operation contents of the Torch.

The Torch shall be free of all prior facto censorship of any form by any outside party. These stipulations are essential to the existence of a free and objective press.