The Collegiate Network (CN), a subsidiary of the Intercollegiate Studies Institute (ISI), recognized the Irish Rover as the 2012-2013 Publication of the Year at its annual Editors Conference held November 1-3 in Fort Worth, Texas.

The CN began annually honoring a single publication with the award 15 years ago.  Under the leadership of last year’s Editor-in-Chief Bob Burkett ’12 the Rover outperformed independent newspapers, magazines and journals from more than 100 schools across the country, including Stanford, University of Virginia, Harvard, Princeton and Boston College.

“I don’t even know where to begin with our Publication of the Year,” said Lillian Gerken, Managing Director of the CN, as she recognized the Rover at the conference.  “They…combine hard-hitting campus news items with thoughtful philosophical pieces.  They…have built up an enormous base of loyal fans and readers among their university’s students and alumni.   They do a fantastic and professional job impacting campus dialogue, and fill a crucial role at their university.”

Such factors as frequency of publication, caliber of professionalism, campus engagement of the staff, participation in ISI and CN events, financial responsibility and commitment to “true, thoughtful conservatism” influence the CN’s selection.

“The Rover presents a nuanced view that is thoughtfully conservative, and that maintains an ND-specific focus,” Gerken elaborated.  “Rover editors have been especially proactive about being very involved with ISI/CN beyond just writing for the paper…[and] are also very involved on campus in other ways, including helping out with the Edith Stein Project and other events.  [The] team demonstrates great engagement with the university community.”

Past winners include The Virginia Informer at William & Mary (2012), The Cornell Review (2011) and The Observer at Boston College (2010).