What Topics and Regions Does The Northerner Report On?

Updated

The Northerner is the independent student newspaper of Northern Kentucky University (NKU), and its coverage centers on the NKU campus and the surrounding Northern Kentucky region, with regular reporting on Kentucky and Ohio politics and elections. It is a relevant read if you want student-life news, NKU Norse athletics, or local political coverage from a campus perspective; it is not a general national or international news outlet.

Coverage Areas

NKU Campus Events and Student Life

The paper reports on campus happenings and student traditions. Examples from its pages include Greek Week's Big Pink Volleyball fundraiser, now in its 13th year, and Live at the Loch, a campus amphitheater event run by Norse Code Radio. Arts and life coverage also goes behind the scenes of campus theater, such as the costume work for SOTA productions.

NKU Norse Athletics

Sports coverage follows NKU's teams, particularly in Horizon League play. Recent items include a 1-1 draw for men's soccer against Wright State, a 7-0 shutout win for women's soccer over Purdue Fort Wayne, and women's volleyball sweeps of Purdue Fort Wayne and wins over Milwaukee to open league play.

Kentucky and Ohio Politics

Political reporting is a substantial part of the paper's output, focused on state and regional races rather than Washington. Topics have included:

  • An Ohio constitutional amendment vote on ID requirements for voting
  • Absentee and mail-in voting rules and their impact on students
  • Ohio's governor's race, including debates over data centers and property taxes
  • Kentucky's U.S. Senate race, including a debate between Charles Booker and Rep. Andy Barr
  • Prediction markets such as Kalshi ahead of midterms

Campus and Community Happenings

The Northerner covers events that bring politics and community onto or near campus, such as a presidential rally at NKU's Truist Arena and counter-rallies held nearby.

What This Means for Readers

If you are… The Northerner is useful for…
An NKU student or employee Campus events, student life, and Norse athletics
A Northern Kentucky resident Local campus and community news
Following Kentucky or Ohio politics State races, election rules, and campus-area political events
Looking for national or world news Not a fit — coverage is regional and campus-focused

The paper identifies itself as independent and student-run, with content organized into News, Sports, and Arts & Life sections. If your interest is specifically in how state elections and voting rules affect students in the Kentucky–Ohio region, that is where its reporting is most concentrated.