Austin Sun
| Type | Alternative |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Publisher | Jeff Nightbyrd |
| Founded | 1974 |
| Ceased publication | 1978 |
The Austin Sun was a bi-weekly counter-culture newspaper, similar in nature to Rolling Stone during the latter's formative years, that was published in Austin, Texas, between 1974 and 1978. It is notable for being the newspaper that started the careers of many persons who later became well known in journalism and other media. It was also a precursor to the L.A. Weekly, which commenced publication in 1978, and the Austin Chronicle, which commenced publication in 1981. Both the L.A. Weekly and the Austin Chronicle continue to publish. Both also remain associated with persons who were originally with the Austin Sun. The social and cultural impact of the Austin Sun is recognized through being indexed by the Library of Congress, as well as through ongoing reunion activities.
The paper was co-founded by Jeff Nightbyrd (formerly Jeff Shero), who had been the editor of The Rat in New York City and associated with The Rag underground newspaper in Austin. Nightbyrd established the paper with Michael Eakin, a former editor at the Daily Texan, the student newspaper of the University of Texas at Austin. They were later joined by J. David Moriarty as managing editor, and considered to be the only person at the paper with business expertise.
The paper's first issue was published on October 17, 1974. Its last issue was published on June 29, 1978. Unlike underground newspapers, which published much counter-culture social and political commentary by way of volunteer submissions, the Austin Sun was intended to be a commercially viable enterprise, with formal advertising programs and paid staff positions.
...
Wikipedia