"People like seeing their name in print," acknowledges University of Cincinnati journalism professor Jon Hughes, director of the new journalism program and former News Record adviser. "There is a little ego involved there, but there is a public-service thing, too.

The 1948 News Record staff was photographed for the yearbook, but no one was identified. If readers recognize any faces, we'd like to know. E-mail us with your clues.

"They feel that people need to know this stuff. We certainly reinforce that in the classroom. They understand the importance of accurate information in a democracy."

Current News Record editor-in-chief Julie Hollyday concurs, "There's a streak of idealism in us all. I like giving people what they need to know to make decisions in life. It's the best way I can be a productive member of society. I consider it a higher calling."

Although idealism may partially attract students to the News Record, the solidarity of being part of a like-minded group keeps them there. "The students really like the camaraderie of belonging to a publication," Hughes adds. "They live there. That is their social life, which is minimal, if nonexistent.

"Unfortunately, grades may suffer a bit because of that," he adds. Alumni say he's right. "I remember I didn't go to class much," confides Joe Conley, A&S '74, now a partner in a Northern Kentucky law firm.

"We used to have a saying, 'Don't let school get in the way.' The News Record was a full-time job, but it was also a place to hang out. It was the best."

Staying up past midnight to get the paper out is a common story among alumni, and working until 3 a.m. is not unusual. Because work is so time-consuming, 19 staff members now are paid to publish 10,000 copies three times a week, Hollyday says, including editors for sports, entertainment and opinion pages; a photo editor; news editors and copy editors. "Two ad reps are on commission, and reporters are paid $10 a story, unless they're interns," she adds.

The pay may be low, but it exists only because the News Record is an independent publication and has been for 10 years. That point not only sets it apart from most student newspapers, but it's a source of great pride for the staff.

"We're governed by the communications board, which mostly advises us on legal matters," Hollyday says. "But there's no prior view of content, no pressure from the administration, no threat of pulling funding.

"We need those standards to be real journalists. We report on the hard times and the good times of the university just like anyone else. It's closer to the real world."

"It needs that independence," Hughes says, "because it's a very important training ground. That's the way it should be." Faith in his students, of course, leads him to make such statements. "They are bright," he says. "They just love the game -- meeting interesting and outrageous people, having the license to ask personal questions."

"It was great," Newsday music critic Glenn Gamboa recalls. "There is nothing like that feeling of having an idea, then watching it go from an idea to a newspaper story that people read. I mean, it doesn't get any better than that."

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