From Newsrooms to Newsletters
For decades, the campus newspaper was more than just a publication; it was the soul of student life. It captured the pulse of a generation, from breaking stories about tuition hikes to lighthearted features on dorm pranks. If you wanted to know what mattered to students, you flipped open the campus paper. For aspiring journalists, those columns often marked their first bylines and the spark of future careers.
But here in 2025, the familiar sight of ink-stained hands and stacks of papers in dining halls is fading. A growing number of students aren’t rushing to join the newsroom; instead, they’re logging into Substack. Once known for fueling the rise of independent journalists, Substack has become a surprising hub for undergraduates. From critiques of university leadership to deep dives into niche cultural trends, students are turning newsletters into their own mini media empires.
This begs a critical question: Is this the end of the traditional student newspaper? Or is Substack just the next natural step in the evolution of student media?
Let’s explore why students are flocking to Substack, the advantages and pitfalls of this shift, and what it means for the future of campus discourse.
Why Students Are Choosing Substack Over Campus Newspapers
The transition from print newspapers to online editions isn’t new. Most campus publications have long since gone digital, posting stories on websites or distributing via email. But Substack isn’t just another publishing platform; it represents something fundamentally different: independence.
1. The Power of Direct-to-Reader Connection
At a student newspaper, every story passes through layers of editors before publication. That editorial rigor ensures accuracy but can feel slow, bureaucratic, and, at times, stifling. Substack cuts out those middle steps. Students write, hit “publish,” and their words instantly land in subscribers’ inboxes.
For students frustrated by newsroom politics or delays, this immediacy is liberating. Suddenly, their voice isn’t filtered or delayed, it’s heard.
2. Authenticity Over Polished Journalism
Campus papers often try to emulate professional outlets, with carefully edited stories, structured layouts, and cautious language. Substack thrives on something different: raw authenticity. A newsletter might blend investigative reporting with diary-like reflections. Students can be candid, opinionated, even messy and that’s part of the appeal.
Readers, especially Gen Z, often prefer voices that feel real over those that sound overly polished. Newsletters allow for storytelling that feels personal and relatable in ways traditional papers sometimes struggle to capture.
3. Freedom From Institutional Gatekeepers
Many student newspapers are directly tied to their universities. That means administrators subtly or overtly can influence what gets published. Certain critiques may be softened or stories delayed. With Substack, students bypass those gatekeepers entirely.
A newsletter can critique leadership, expose flaws in policy, or spotlight campus issues without fear of editorial censorship or administrative pressure. That sense of independence makes Substack especially appealing to those who feel their campus newspaper is too “safe.”
4. A Tool for Personal Branding and Careers
Beyond campus life, Substack doubles as a portfolio and personal brand platform. Students can showcase their writing, experiment with different formats, and build a subscriber base that goes beyond the university. Some even monetize through paid subscriptions.
In a competitive job market, a thriving Substack newsletter can demonstrate initiative, creativity, and audience-building skills, often more effectively than a handful of student newspaper clippings.
5. Building Interactive Communities
Traditional newspapers are often consumed passively. Newsletters, by contrast, invite conversation. Comment sections, reply-to-email threads, and subscriber-driven discussions transform newsletters into dynamic communities.
For Gen Z, who value interaction and dialogue, this two-way communication feels natural. Substack is less about broadcasting news and more about sparking conversation.
The New Campus Voice: Substack in Action
To illustrate the shift, imagine two students covering the same issue.
Maya, a political science major, pitches an op-ed about rising tuition fees to her campus newspaper. The editors, wary of sparking controversy, water down the sharpest critiques and publish a toned-down version two weeks later.
Jordan, a junior journalism student, writes about the same tuition hikes—but this time on Substack. Within hours, the piece is live, unfiltered, and already circulating on social media. Comments flood in, sparking debate among peers, alumni, and even local reporters. The post spreads beyond campus, attracting attention that a student newspaper might never have achieved.
This example captures the allure of Substack: speed, independence, and amplification.
The Double-Edged Sword: Freedom vs. Credibility
But with freedom comes new challenges. The very qualities that make Substack exciting also introduce potential pitfalls.
The Credibility Question
Student newspapers often train their writers in fact-checking, sourcing, and journalistic ethics. Substack lacks those guardrails. While newsletters can be bold and unfiltered, they can also slip into misinformation, half-baked arguments, or poorly researched claims.
For readers, this raises the question: how much can you trust a student-run Substack compared to a vetted campus paper?
The Risk of Echo Chambers
Unlike campus newspapers, which aim for broad readership, newsletters often cater to niche communities, political groups, activist circles, or cultural subgroups. This tight-knit audience can foster community but may also create echo chambers, where critical debate is limited, and opposing perspectives are drowned out.
Oversaturation of Voices
When every student can launch a newsletter, the campus media landscape can quickly become crowded. In this environment, the voices that rise aren’t always the most credible; they’re often the most entertaining, controversial, or click-worthy. That dynamic can reward sensationalism over substance.
Institutional Backlash
As independent newsletters gain traction, universities may push back. Some administrations have already begun monitoring outspoken student writers, sparking debates about free speech, institutional control, and academic freedom. For students, this can create real tension between independence and security.
What This Means for the Future of Campus Journalism
So, where does this leave the future of student media? The rise of Substack suggests several big shifts.
Journalism Is Decentralizing
Instead of one official “voice of the campus,” the media is fracturing into dozens or hundreds of smaller, independent voices. This mirrors a broader societal trend, where traditional institutions compete with independent creators for attention and trust.
The Next Generation of Journalists Will Train Differently
In the past, aspiring reporters honed their craft in the campus newsroom. Increasingly, they may grow as independent creators instead learning how to build audiences, experiment with voice, and engage readers directly. That shift could reshape how tomorrow’s journalists are trained and hired.
Independence Is Becoming a Skill
Running a successful Substack requires more than writing skill. Students learn entrepreneurship, branding, and digital strategy skills that carry value far beyond campus life. In an era where institutional trust is low, independence itself is becoming a form of credibility.
But Traditional Outlets Still Matter
Despite the buzz around newsletters, campus newspapers remain important. They provide structure, accountability, and training in journalistic standards that newsletters often lack. The future may not be about replacement, but coexistence: campus papers and student Substacks occupying different but complementary roles.
A Glimpse Into 2030: Where Student Media Might Be Headed
If the Substack trend continues, here’s what campuses might look like by 2030:
- Hybrid Models: Campus newspapers could launch their own Substacks, publishing official stories while encouraging students to run independent columns.
- Student Creator Networks: Groups of independent newsletter writers may form collectives, collaborating on cross-campus issues like climate action, tuition reforms, or student rights.
- Policy Clashes: Universities may grapple with how to respond to outspoken student newsletters, sparking debates about free expression versus institutional reputation.
- Professional Pipelines: Media companies may increasingly scout talent from Substack rather than campus newsrooms, favoring students who’ve built engaged audiences on their own.
In other words, the student press of tomorrow may look more like a mosaic of independent voices than a single unified newspaper.
Conclusion: The New Campus Megaphone
The rise of Substack newsletters reflects a larger shift in how students want to communicate: directly, authentically, and independently. Campus newspapers still have a role to play, but they no longer hold a monopoly on the student voice.
This decentralization brings both opportunities and challenges. On one hand, students have more freedom to shape conversations and build communities. On the other, questions of credibility, oversight, and sustainability loom large.
What’s clear is this: student voices aren’t waiting for permission anymore. Whether it’s through newspapers, social media, or newsletters, they’re finding ways to be heard. Substack is simply the latest and perhaps most powerful megaphone in that evolution.
FAQs: Student Substack Newsletters
1. Are Substack newsletters replacing campus newspapers?
Not entirely. Newsletters provide independence and immediacy, but newspapers still offer structure, training, and institutional credibility. The two are more likely to coexist than directly compete.
2. Do students make money from Substack newsletters?
Some do. Substack allows for paid subscriptions, though most student newsletters focus on influence and reach rather than revenue.
3. Are Substack newsletters credible sources of information?
It depends. Without editorial oversight, credibility varies widely. Some newsletters are well-researched and reliable, while others may lean more toward opinion or personal commentary.
4. How do universities view student-run Substacks?
Reactions are mixed. Some administrations see them as healthy outlets for student expression, while others monitor or push back against criticism.
5. What skills do students gain from running a newsletter?
Beyond writing, students learn audience engagement, branding, and digital entrepreneurship skills increasingly valuable in modern media careers.
