Daily Bruin Company Profile

Background

The Daily Bruin is the student-run newspaper of the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), established in 1919, coinciding with the university's founding. It serves as a primary news source for UCLA students, faculty, staff, and the broader Westwood community. The publication offers comprehensive coverage of campus events, trends, and significant topics, maintaining a daily production schedule since the mid-1920s. In addition to its print edition, the Daily Bruin operates PRIME, a quarterly arts, culture, and lifestyle magazine, and Bruinwalk.com, a website where UCLA students post reviews of professors, courses, and apartments.

Key Strategic Focus

The Daily Bruin's strategic focus centers on delivering timely and relevant news to the UCLA community through both print and digital platforms. With a dedicated team of approximately 500 student staff members working across 18 editorial sections, the publication emphasizes student engagement and professional development in journalism. The Daily Bruin also prioritizes digital innovation, as evidenced by its 2020 website redesign aimed at providing a more digital-forward experience to its readers.

Financials and Funding

As a student-run organization, the Daily Bruin's funding primarily comes from student fees, advertising revenues, and other university allocations. In 2016, UCLA students voted in favor of the "Daily Bruin and Bruinwalk.com Referendum," which guaranteed student fees to support the Bruin as its print advertising revenues continued to decline. This funding structure ensures the publication's sustainability and independence, allowing it to focus on serving the UCLA community's informational needs.

Pipeline Development

As a student-run newspaper, the Daily Bruin does not have a traditional product development pipeline. Instead, it focuses on developing its editorial content and expanding its digital presence. The 2020 website redesign is a prime example of this initiative, aiming to enhance user experience and engagement.

Technological Platform and Innovation

The Daily Bruin has embraced technological advancements to enhance its digital presence. In 2020, the publication redesigned its website using Next.js, a lightweight framework for React.js, and a flexible API-powered backend. This redesign aimed to provide a more digital-forward experience to its readers, highlighting multimedia content and offering a cohesive design language across its platforms.

Leadership Team

The Daily Bruin is led by an Editorial Board composed of student staff members from various sections of the newspaper. The 2024-2025 Editorial Board includes:

Lex Wang: Editor in Chief

Nicolas Greamo: Opinion Editor

Tavian Williams: Assistant Opinion Editor

Russell Ahmed: Assistant Opinion Editor

Sierra Benayon-Abraham: Assistant Opinion Editor

Alicia Park: Staff Editor

Ava Abrishamchian: Staff Representative

Chiara Grasso: Staff Representative

Allison Bushong: Staff Representative

Maya Vibhakar: Staff Representative

Leah Snyderman: Staff Representative

These individuals oversee the publication's editorial direction and ensure its content aligns with the interests and needs of the UCLA community.

Competitor Profile

Market Insights and Dynamics

The Daily Bruin operates within the collegiate newspaper industry, focusing on serving the UCLA community with timely and relevant news. The market dynamics are influenced by factors such as student engagement, digital media consumption trends, and the evolving landscape of student media funding.

Competitor Analysis

As a student-run newspaper, the Daily Bruin's primary competitors are other student publications within the University of California system and local Los Angeles media outlets. Notable competitors include:

The Daily Californian: The student newspaper of the University of California, Berkeley.

The Stanford Daily: The student newspaper of Stanford University.

The Daily Nexus: The student newspaper of the University of California, Santa Barbara.

The Los Angeles Times: A major metropolitan newspaper serving the Los Angeles area.

These competitors offer similar news coverage and may attract the attention of the Daily Bruin's target audience.

Strategic Collaborations and Partnerships

The Daily Bruin collaborates with various university departments, student organizations, and local businesses to enhance its content and reach. These partnerships provide opportunities for content sharing, event coverage, and community engagement, strengthening the publication's presence within the UCLA community.

Operational Insights

The Daily Bruin's operational strategy focuses on maintaining a balance between print and digital content to cater to diverse reader preferences. The 2020 website redesign reflects a strategic move to enhance digital engagement, ensuring the publication remains relevant in an increasingly digital media landscape.

Strategic Opportunities and Future Directions

Looking ahead, the Daily Bruin aims to further integrate multimedia content, expand its digital presence, and explore innovative storytelling methods to engage its audience. Continued emphasis on professional development for student staff and fostering community connections will be key to the publication's growth and impact.