University of Southern California student-run newspaper staff to go unpaid, printing schedule to be reduced 

The staff of the Daily Trojan, the student-run newspaper for the University of Southern California, will not be paid and will have the printing schedule reduced next year, according to a letter from the publication’s editors. 

In the letter, which was posted on social media by the publication's Spring 2025 Managing Team, editors stated they met with representatives from USC Student Life last week who “delivered some disheartening news.” 

USC Student Life is the division that oversees Student Publications, which the Daily Trojan falls under. 

“Due to a large budget deficit within Student Publications and other cuts across the university, Student Life said they will not be able to pay anyone on staff for their work during the Spring 2025 semester,” the editors’ letter read. “Additionally, our print schedule in Spring 2025 has been cut from five days a week to three days a week.” 

“This decision was made without consulting the Daily Trojan’s student leadership in any capacity,” the letter continued. “We are disappointed in Student Life’s lack of investment in independent student journalism.” 

The newspaper said that they are working with USC administrators, professors and leaders at other college newspapers to develop fundraising proposals and thanked readers for their support and continued trust. 

In a letter from the Fall 2024 Managing Team published on Dec. 5, they alleged that the university was slashing the Daily Trojan’s budget without them being able to “do anything about it.” 

“We deserve the financial agency not just to maintain a daily print schedule, but also to ensure that we can continue to be a uniquely valuable voice for the USC community,” the Dec. 5 letter said. “We ask that Student Life address our concerns in a manner that demonstrates a commitment to student journalism, to its students and to the Daily Trojan’s 112-year legacy.” 

A link to donate to the Daily Trojan can be found here.