About Us

The Hornet Tribune is the official student newspaper for Alabama State University.  The newspaper’s roots began in 1879 by the second president of Alabama State University, William Burns Paterson, who had founded Journal Reporter in Marion, Alabama in 1879.

After becoming the president of State Normal (former name of Alabama State University) in 1878, Paterson renamed the newspaper during the 1880s to the Normal Reporter.  The paper has operated for 144 years under Alabama State University. I

Today, we operate with dual missions: giving students hands-on training in the news industry and providing our community with reliable, independent news and information.

The Hornet Tribune student-run newsroom covers Alabama State University and the Metro-Montgomery area, with weekly reporting on news, sports, arts, culture and more at asuhornettribune.com and a weekly newspaper that is the largest college paper in Alabama. In 2022, The Hornet Tribune won several regional awards for its presentation and design, graphics and illustrations as well as its feature stories.

Up to 30 students a year are involved in The Hornet Tribune, mastering skills such as journalism, photography, digital production, videography, editing, graphic design and social media management. Outside of the newsroom, students also work on advertising sales, merchandise programs, ad design and other aspects.

The Hornet Tribune is dedicated to serving the Alabama State University community, past, present, and future through transparent, accurate, and empathetic reporting. In this spirit, we aim to forge connections among those invested in the university community, no matter who they are and where they are.