History of The TCU Magazine

The TCU Magazine first published in October 1958 as This is TCU. More than a half-century later, it remains the university's signature vehicle for communicating with alumni and other supporters and keeping them connected to TCU and each other. The magazine is also an important historical record for the university.

The magazine does not contain editorial content focused on fund-raising or donor relations. It is a free gift to the TCU community. As such, The TCU Magazine does not accept advertising.

Over the years, the magazine has grown from 30 pages, to 40, then 56. In 1984, two-color covers became four-color. In 1991, the magazine officially changed its name to what everyone was already calling it: The TCU Magazine.

Then in 1997, departments with TCU-centric names like Riff Ram, Comrades True and Mem'ries Sweet were introduced. The Horned Frog logo was first hidden on the cover in 1999, an inspired move by then-editor David Van Meter that has become a reader favorite.

Under current editor Nancy Bartosek, the magazine has grown to 80 pages in 2005 and has continued to evolve into the publication you read today. The magazine introduced a new Frog Blog in 2008, and the magazine's Web site was redesigned over 2009-10. Also in 2010, we added a weblog of reader-generated content called Comrades True. In 2011, we began an athletics-related blog called Extra Points by John Denton '84, written by the former Frog kicker who serves as color commentator and Director for Major Gifts for TCU Athletics.

With a circulation of approximately 84,000, The TCU Magazine (ISSN 076-7214) is published quarterly by the Division of Marketing and Communication. Opinions expressed in the magazine are not necessarily the position of TCU. Reproduction of content from the magazine or its website without consent is prohibited.


CASE District IV Awards
received by The TCU Magazine staff

2013
Grand/Gold: General Writing Collection (Dead-Solid Perfect, Making His Own Legend, Last of Old Stadium Knocked Down)
Silver: Design - Illustration (Coach Patterson by Bart Forbes)
Silver: Medical/Scientific Feature Writing (Virus Hunter)
Bronze: Medical/Scientific Writing Collection (Thirst For Knowledge, Virus Hunter, Secrets of the Night Sky, Lip Service)
Bronze: Medical/Scientific News Writing (Thirst For Knowledge)
Honorable Mention: Feature Writing - More than 1,000 words (Dead-Solid Perfect)

2012
Bronze: General Feature Writing -  More than 1,000 words (Face Value)
Bronze: Medical/Scientific Writing Collection (Wind Blown, Rocks at the Bottom of the World, Land of Oz")

2011
Silver: General Writing Collection (Fateful Fire Hwaaaaa!, The Secret Life of a Would-Be Writer)
Bronze: Magazine Design Single Editorial Spread (The Secret Life of a Would-Be Writer)
Bronze: Creative Use of Social Media (Walking the Purple Carpet)
Bronze: Web magazine (www.magazine.tcu.edu)
Honorable Mention: Magazine Design Single Editorial Spread (SuperFrog's Fortune Teller)

2010
Grand/Gold Award: General Writing Collections (Amazon Cowboy, Greatest I Ever Saw, A Midsummer’s Dream)
Grand/Gold: General Feature Writing – more than 1,000 words (Amazon Cowboy)
Grand/Gold Award: General Feature Writing – less than 1,000 words (Garbage Guru)
Silver Award: Athletics Annual Report
Visual Design, poster (Urinetown)
Visual Design, poster (Talking With)
General Feature Writing – less than 1,000 words (Lending an Ear)
Medical/Scientific Feature Writing (Amazon Cowboy)
Medical/Scientific Writing Collections (Coordinated Care, Lending an Ear, Amazon Cowboy)

2009
Grand/Gold Award:  Medical/Scientific Writing Collection (Ropin’ the Wind, Power Hungry, Green Roofs)
Grand/Gold Award, Medical/Scientific News Writing (Ropin’ the Wind)
Award of Excellence: Medical/scientific feature writing (Power Hungry)
Achievement Award: General Writing Collection (Power Hungry, Mighty Moseley, Cooking up a Final Exam)
Achievement Award, Magazine Design, single spread (Clean and Green)

2008
Silver Award, Publications Design Series (Study Abroad Poster Series)
Bronze, General Feature Writing – more than 1,000 words (Street Smarts)

2007
Grand/Gold Award General Writing Collection (Finding the Real Child; The “Yes” Man; Social Security)
Special Award, General Feature Writing (The “Yes” Man)

2006
Grand/Gold Award, General Writing Collection (Safe to Eat; Icky Twerp; Brush with Fate)
Grand/Gold Award, Print Advertising Projects (Go Frogs!)
Grand /Gold Award, Medical/Scientific News Writing (Safe to Eat)
Grand /Gold Award, General Feature Writing (More than 1,000 words) (Brush with Fate)
Award of Excellence/Silver, General Feature Writing (1,000 words or less) (CSI: Fort Worth)
Achievement Award/Bronze, Print Advertising Projects (Texas Monthly Ad Series)

2005
Award of Excellence/Silver, Color Photography – Candid (Pick Axe)
Special Award/Bronze, Visual Design – Magazine Design (War Torn)

2004
Grand/Gold Award, Publications (Areas of Study at TCU)
Grand/Gold Award, Print Advertising Projects (Think Tank)
Award of Excellence/Silver, General Feature Writing, (More than 1,000 words) (Humane Borders)
Award of Excellence/Silver, Audiovisual Communications/Radio Spots (It’s Horned Frog Football, Y’all)
Award of Excellence/Silver, General Writing Collection (Far From Normal; Humane Borders; Voice of the Frogs)
Award of Excellence/Silver, Medical/Scientific Feature Writing (Lost Empires, Forgotten Kings)
Achievement Award/Bronze, General News Writing (A TCU Coup)

2003
Grand/Gold Award, Single Editorial Spread  (Capt. Filth)
Achievement Award/Bronze, Radio Spots (TCU Football promotion)

2002
Grand/Gold Award, General Feature Writing, more than 1,000 words (Valley of the Shadow)
Grand/Gold Award, General Writing Collection
Grand/Gold Award, Publications Writing (Areas of Study)

2001
Grand/Gold Award, General Writing Collection
Achievement Award/Bronze, Print Advertising Projects
Special Award, Publications Writing, (Majors and Minors)

2000
Special Award, General Feature Writing, more than 1,000 words

1997
Special Award, General Writing Collection