Support Independent Voices at The Torch

The Torch is St. John’s University’s only award-winning independent student newspaper, serving our community for over 100 years with five diverse sections of content. Our long-standing history and commitment to independent journalism have made us a vital part of campus life.

As an independent newspaper, The Torch operates solely through donations and advertisements. We do not receive funding from the University or any single entity, which protects our freedom from censorship. However, this independence comes with financial challenges. Without sufficient advertising support, we operate at a deficit while still publishing content digitally and producing twice-monthly full issues.

Since Fall 2019, The Torch has been fully digital, largely due to inherited debt and the impact of the pandemic. Before this, we printed approximately 500 copies of each issue, producing about nine issues per semester. Demand for our print newspaper remains high among students, faculty and administration alike.

Your support will not only help us eliminate existing debt but also allow us to modernize our technology to produce higher-quality full issues, both in print and digital form. We aim to return to print, ensuring that The Torch continues to serve the St. John’s community for the next century with cutting-edge tools and greater efficiency.

Help us keep The Torch free. Help us keep it independent.