The Vidette

Historical front page from an early edition of The Vidette

The Vidette was first published in 1888 and operated as a subscription publication until 1915 when it began receiving support through student fees. Publication frequency increased from weekly to semiweekly in 1934 before reverting to weekly publication in 1943. Through the 1960s and 1970s publication frequency eventually increased to five days per week. In 2013 and 2014 the newspaper reduced publication frequency to four and then two days per week. Im August 2019, The Vidette became a weekly newspaper with a full-service website[1]

The Vidette covers international, national, state and local news as well as in-depth features and reviews.[1] In addition, the paper provides ISU students with professional work experience as journalists, graphic designers, web developers and media advertising sales representatives. It employs around 50 students each year[3] and runs on a budget driven primarily through advertising revenue.

The Vidette has a circulation of 5,000 issues a day on Tuesdays during the fall and spring semesters and a digital edition published four times during the summer.[1] In addition to the daily issue, the newspaper staff also produces four special magazine sections throughout the year on a range of topics. The Vidette has 55 drop spots around the Bloomington-Normal area.

The Vidette consistently produces award-winning editorial and advertising content. In 2018, The Vidette won First Place in General Excellence at the annual Illinois College Press Association convention, which recognizes student newspapers for outstanding work in all aspects of production. Recently, it won three national advertising awards among college newspapers with a circulation under 30,000:[4]

2007 – Carl Hulse, Jeff Kraft, Kristen McQueary and Janelle Pettit.

2009 – Jay Blunk, Bill Gaspard, Todd Heisler, Heidi Voorhees, Harry Thiel and Mike Shelly.

2011 – Ben Cordani, Tina Haisman, Marc Lebovitz and Bill Mulvihill.

2014 – Ed Pyne, John Abrams, Alex Reside and Rick Jones

2016 – Scott Gleeson, Jeff Knox, Jim Munz, Shannon Murphy and Chris Ruys

2018 – Tony Andracki, Bryan Bloodworth, Jim Kirk, Sally McKee and Mitch Pugh