The centennial year of the University of Richmond’s student newspaper will be marked by its elimination.

The Collegian will be an online-only news source starting in March. The decision came after about a year of mulling over how to operate more efficiently, outgoing Editor in Chief Marina Askari says.

“This is the best way to move forward,” Askari says. “A lot of newsrooms are making this transition.”

Askari says the weekly paper had a circulation of 1,400, and that ceasing production will save about $15,000 annually.

New editor Clay Helms says going online-only also will help students hone
journalism skills needed in a largely post-print job market. “It’s the right thing for the
people who are working for us,” he says.

Helms says he’ll oversee the final print edition March 6. A revamped Collegian website will emerge after spring break, and he’s working with students from the business school to help re-brand the site.

“We’ve come up with things that we think are going to make this transition very
smooth and very powerful,” Helms says. “We’re going to re-establish our name on
campus.”