Morning, Trojan, a widely read student-run newsletter known for breaking news such as professor relations with Epstein at the University of Southern California, will shut down in May.
Tomo Chien, a senior journalism major who launched the newsletter four years ago, said the decision stems from the difficulty of continuing the publication after graduation. Built as a one-man operation, Morning,Trojan predominantly relied on his reporting, sourcing and editorial judgment.
Since its founding, the newsletter has grown from a small email list into a major campus news source. With nearly 12,000 subscribers, the newsletter reaches the inbox of students, faculty, alumni and university administrators.
The publication became known for its steady stream of scoops and daily roundup of campus and surrounding L.A. news, earning a reputation as a must-read among those closely following university developments.
In an interview with Annenberg Media, Chein said that he hopes the newsletter’s legacy encourages continued competition in campus journalism.
“If there’s one thing I hope people take away, it’s that the news media landscape should stay competitive,” Chien said. “I hope people keep reporting stories that matter and just don’t take yourself too seriously.”
Chien credited longtime proofreader Anna Hsu, a senior computer engineering and computer science student, for helping sustain the newsletter, highlighting her behind-the-scenes contributions to its production.
The final edition of Morning, Trojan will run May 1. Afterward, Chien plans to publish an archive website preserving past reporting and reader testimonials.
Following graduation, Chien said he will continue covering USC through L.A. Material, a Los Angeles-based startup news outlet focused on investigative reporting. He said he will be working alongside journalists who have reported on major scandals tied to the university.
“I’m just probably going to stop doing things that are only cute when you’re an undergraduate, like making fun of the student government,” Chien said.
As his newsletter evolved, Chien used AI-aided data analysis to produce unserious content popular with USC students.
“He’s really done a lot. He’s an example, just a very entrepreneurial and creative student who’s also an excellent journalist,” said Rebecca Haggerty, a professor of professional practice and the program lead for the undergraduate journalism program.
His passion projects have included a lay-off and budget cut tracker, data-based frat and sorority rankings and an analysis of the most popular Rate My Professor reviews.
“Over the years he really developed excellent sources at USC and was able to do a lot of original reporting, which the newsletter is now a mix of,” Haggerty said.
Unlike many student media organizations at USC, the newsletter operates independently and does not receive funding from the university, a point Chien emphasized in his announcement.
Similar to Chien’s encouragement of competitive journalism, Haggerty also sees the legacy of Morning, Trojan as an inspiration for journalism students to explore ways to connect with their community.
“If not a newsletter, maybe something else, right,” she said. “Maybe a TikTok account, maybe something just inspiring people to think about how they can be great journalists and also be on platforms, meeting people where they are.”