How to Contact or Contribute to The Rice Thresher
Updated
The Rice Thresher is Rice University's student newspaper, published since 1916. If you want to reach the editorial staff, submit a news tip or letter, or get involved as a writer, editor, or photographer, the starting point is the publication's website at ricethresher.org, where contact and submission channels are typically listed. The exact email addresses, form links, and meeting details are not included in the source material provided here, so treat the steps below as a guide to what to look for rather than a confirmed directory.
What The Rice Thresher Is
The Rice Thresher is a student-run publication serving Rice University, with a stated history dating back to 1916. Its content is produced for and largely by the campus community, which means the pathways for contacting it and contributing to it run through the same student organization rather than a commercial newsroom.
That matters for how you approach it: responses may come from student editors working around class schedules, and contribution opportunities are generally aimed at Rice students rather than the general public.
Contacting the Editorial Staff
Because the site is the publication's own platform, its contact information is the most reliable route. When you visit ricethresher.org, look for:
- A contact or about page listing editorial email addresses
- A masthead or staff list identifying the current editor-in-chief and section editors
- Social media links, which student papers often monitor alongside email
If you are unsure who to write to, the editor-in-chief is normally the catch-all contact for general inquiries, while section editors handle specific desks such as news, arts, or sports.
Reaching the Right Person
| Your goal | Who to look for |
|---|---|
| General questions, corrections, permissions | Editor-in-chief |
| Story ideas or news tips | News editor |
| Letters to the editor or opinion responses | Opinion editor |
| Joining as a writer or photographer | Editor-in-chief or section editors |
Submitting News Tips and Letters
Student newspapers commonly accept two kinds of reader input: tips about something happening on campus, and letters or opinion pieces responding to coverage. Both usually go to an editorial email address rather than a generic inbox.
A useful tip includes what is happening, where and when, who is involved, and how you can be reached for follow-up. A letter typically needs your name and affiliation, and may be subject to length limits or editing for style. Confirm the current submission rules on the site before sending, since these policies change as editorial staff turn over.
Getting Involved as a Contributor
The Thresher is a student publication open to involvement from the Rice University community, and students can generally inquire about joining as writers, editors, or photographers. The practical path is:
- Check the site for a recruitment, join, or get-involved notice, often published at the start of a semester.
- Email the editor-in-chief or the relevant section editor expressing interest and naming the role you want.
- Expect to start with assignments — new contributors typically begin by covering smaller stories or events before taking on larger pieces.
- Ask about meetings, since student papers often hold open pitch meetings where you can walk in without prior contact.
If no recruitment notice is posted, emailing anyway is reasonable; student organizations frequently need contributors mid-semester.
Common Snags
- Contact details may be outdated. Student-run sites sometimes lag behind staff turnover, so if one address bounces, try another editor or a social media channel.
- Response times vary. During exams and breaks, replies can be slow.
- Not everything is open to the public. Some roles and submission channels may be limited to Rice students or affiliates; the site's own language is the authority on this.
- The source material here does not list specific emails, forms, or deadlines, so verify current details directly at ricethresher.org rather than relying on any single summary.