Ferrum, VA, September 9, 2025 – Ferrum College’s national award-winning, student-run newspaper, “The Iron Blade,” has transitioned to a fully digital format, moving away from its monthly print edition. The publication operates through its website, ironbladenews.com, where staff members publish stories as they are written. Readers can also keep up with the latest updates through the College News Source app.
The shift to digital was influenced in part by observations from Assistant Professor of English & Journalism David Campbell and Dean of Faculty and Associate Professor of Religion Eric Vanden Eykel, who noted that printed copies of “The Iron Blade” were often left untouched on campus newsstands.
“The Iron Blade” has earned multiple national honors, including first-place awards from the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA). Its web version, launched in 2022, also received a First-Place ASPA award in the online category. In addition, staff writers have been recognized multiple times by Best of SNO, a platform that highlights outstanding student journalism from the Student Newspapers Online network.
“My vision is for people to turn to it as a source of information, and I’d love to see more student involvement. Now that it’s fully online, we have the opportunity to share our work with a wider audience,” said Campbell, who serves as advisor to “The Iron Blade.”
“’The Iron Blade’ has long been a cornerstone of student voice and creativity at Ferrum College. Moving fully online not only reflects how today’s audiences consume news, but also empowers our students to hone their skills in real time and reach readers far beyond our campus. This is an exciting new chapter for student journalism at Ferrum College,” said Ferrum College President Mirta M. Martin.
Pictured left to right: David Campbell, advisor to “The Iron Blade,” with student staff members Sarah Hernandez-Rafael; Hannah Parks; Josiah D. Canales Maldonado, sports editor; Brandon Stump; Danielle Wilburn, assistant editor; Grace Weaver, editor; and Ayden Plautz.
