Missouri Southern Student Paper Resumed Print

The Chart released a special physical homecoming edition, marking its first print run since 2020.

Updated on Oct. 9, 2026 in College Life

Missouri Southern Student Paper Resumed Print

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The Missouri Southern State University student newspaper, The Chart, has returned to physical print publication with a special homecoming issue. This edition represents the paper's first physical release in six years.

Why it matters

The print issue provided students with a hands-on learning experience regarding complex production deadlines and long-term planning. It also serves as a strategic bridge between the outlet's digital-first operations and its physical campus presence.

The publication team initiated planning for the homecoming issue in August 2026, marking a departure from the paper's standard online-only format used since 2020.

The players

The Chart

This is the official student newspaper of Missouri Southern State University located in Joplin, Missouri.

Missouri Southern State University

This is the public university in Joplin, Missouri, where The Chart is based.

The details

The production team spent over one month planning the homecoming issue to meet physical printing requirements. The student-led newspaper currently functions primarily as an online publication in Joplin.

The Chart suspended physical paper production in 2020.
Planning for the homecoming edition began in August 2026.
The homecoming print edition was published in October 2026.
The paper aims to add monthly print editions in the fall of 2027.

Culture Shift

This return to print highlights the tension between the modern digital-first university landscape and the enduring value of physical campus media. It reflects a broader cultural trend where student organizations leverage nostalgia and tangible artifacts to deepen engagement with their local community.

Students and faculty in Joplin can now access the physical edition of the newspaper on campus again. The return of print requires readers to engage with the publication as a tangible product rather than strictly through digital browser interfaces.

The takeaway

Reintroducing a print edition teaches students valuable skills in logistics and long-term project management that are absent in digital-only workflows. Future teams can use this successful homecoming pilot as a benchmark for re-establishing consistent campus print schedules.