What is green and goldenrod and read all over?

Long-time readers of UC Davis campus publications would know the answer to this variation of an old riddle: the newspaper.

Green was the color of the Campus Record, a listing of seminars and colloquia, and some brief announcements. Goldenrod was the color of the original Staff News when it came into being in 1973; Staff News switched to white paper in 1980.

Both those publications went away on Nov. 6, 1987, replaced by Dateline UCD. With this issue, the publication now known as Dateline UC Davis begins its 20th year. While its appearance has changed over the years, its primary missions has remained the same: to foster campus community while informing, educating and entertaining staff and faculty.

Maril Revette Stratton, then-director of Public Communications, wrote a front-page article in which she introduced Dateline in November 1987. She said the publication "is our recognition … that good communication begins at home."

"This new weekly newspaper will bring you expanded coverage of campus issues, insight into the people who comprise the university's faculty and staff, and continued notification of seminars, events, employment and staff development opportunities, etc."

Featured on the first front page was a story about open enrollment month for employee benefits. The inside included "A Conversation with the Chancellor," Ted Hullar at the time; and a profile of Bill "Jimmy" Cobb, a senior laboratory glassblower.

Barbara Anderson, the first editor, described Dateline as the "campus voice." Dateline reported on university news, she said, whereas previous publications simply reprinted administrative directives and memos.

Stratton, who now serves as assistant chancellor, explained why she embarked on the process that led to Dateline's founding: "We owed it to our campus family to share information about the institution where they worked, of which they were integral parts."

That "campus family," Stratton said, includes faculty and staff. "Dateline united them," she said. Before Dateline, she said, faculty had Campus Record and other employees had Staff News.

Dateline goes to everyone, addressing issues of common concern, like the budget crisis of the early 1990s. For its coverage of that crisis, Dateline received a national award from the Council for Advancement and Support of Education, an international organization of people who work in university communications, development and alumni relations.

Stratton explained how then-Chancellor Ted Hullar had appointed a committee to advise him on budget cuts. Dateline presented the committee's proposals, solicited and subsequently published reaction from the campus community, and, finally, carried a report on the budget decisions. "Dateline served a very important role during that very difficult period," she said.

Today, as in the beginning, Stratton said, "Dateline helps inform us, it helps unite us, it helps us coalesce as a community."

Assistant Vice Chancellor Lisa Lapin, Stratton's successor at Public Communications, since renamed University Communications, said: "Dateline remains a consistent, well-read and credible source of campus news. We look forward to seeing Dateline have an even greater online presence in the future."

Dateline is published weekly during the academic year. Summer publication is scaled back, though less so in recent years due to Summer Sessions enrollment growth and greater campus activity in general in summer. The publication calendar for 2006-07 calls for 38 issues.

Dateline's circulation today is about 12,500, with copies going to all campus units for distribution to faculty and staff. Starting with this issue, Dateline is now available in six news racks around the main campus: Mrak Hall, Shields Library, Plant and Environmental Sciences, Memorial Union, Silo, and Activities and Recreation Center.

There is also other exciting news.

Clifton Parker, Dateline editor, said, "We're rolling out a redesign of Dateline in the next few weeks that will offer fresh, new design elements and two-color printing. Along with the racks on campus that give Dateline greater visibility, the new look puts an exclamation point on our 20th year."