100 Years of The Daily Aztec

The Daily Aztec, San Diego State University's student-run newspaper is celebrating 100 years of student journalism and achievement.

The Daily Aztec alumni, current staff and members of the SDSU community will come together at 6 p.m. on April 19 in Montezuma Hall at the new Conrad Prebys Aztec Student Union for the publication's centennial celebration.

Four outstanding Daily Aztec alumni will be recognized for their achievement and contributions to the paper throughout the years. The honorees include:

• Tom Blair, the spring 1969 Daily Aztec editor-in-chief, long time U-T San Diego columnist and San Diego Magazine editor-in-chief
• David Hasemyer, 1978-79 Daily Aztec editor-in-chief and Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter
• Bruce Wood, Daily Aztec 1973 staff writer and Champion Newspapers publisher
• Deanna Martin Mackey, 1987-88 Daily Aztec editor in chief and KPBS station manager.

Event details

The banquet will feature guest speakers from the SDSU and San Diego communities. Guest speakers will include SDSU President Elliot Hirshman, Interim Director for the School of Journalism and Media Studies Bey-Ling Sha, current Daily Aztec Editor in Chief Leonardo Castaneda and San Diego City Councilmember Marti Emerald, who will present the newspaper with a District 9 proclamation.

The centennial celebrates the paper’s success and its ability to adapt and thrive throughout the years, something The Daily Aztec staff are proud of.

“It's important to celebrate The Daily Aztec’s legacy and those who put their passion and dedication into continuing that legacy,” said  Kelly Hillock, Daily Aztec’s public relations' specialist. “It has been the voice of and for the SDSU community for a century, and that’s a pretty outstanding legacy to be part of.”

Back to campus

The Daily Aztec alumni will return to campus for the celebration, and will be able to look back and reflect on what their time at the paper prepared them for.

"The Daily Aztec was the highlight of my college career,” former Daily Aztec writer Pamela Henry said. “It made me a daring reporter. I know our Daily Aztec spirit of reporting is responsible for me winning a national journalism award in enterprise a year after graduation.”

Henry said she is most looking forward to reconnecting with staff members from 1985 to 1988, many of whom she hasn’t seen since graduation.

About The Daily Aztec

The Daily Aztec began in 1913 as the Normal News on what was then the San Diego Normal School campus. The newspaper has grown along with SDSU, taking on its current name in 1960 after stints as The Paper Lantern and The Aztec.

Today, The Daily Aztec is a multimedia news organization producing daily content for its website, mobile app and multiple social media platforms, along with its traditional twice-weekly print product.

More information and tickets can be found on the event website.