Druid, the University of Alabama’s new student magazine, unveiled its first edition at a launch party Thursday. Students, editors and administrators gathered at The Sanctuary on 25th to celebrate the occasion.
Hannah Grace Mayfield, the editor-in-chief of Druid and a senior majoring in news media, spoke first and gave a multitude of shoutouts to the staff of Druid, the Office of Student Media and the Tuscaloosa community.
“Our staff has been working on this first edition of Druid and also just building through it from the ground up since January of this year,” Mayfield said. “We’ve all spent countless hours in the [Office of Student Media] writing, photographing, designing — honestly, just making this masterpiece that is Druid.”
The magazine was developed by students over the spring and summer to replace the Nineteen Fifty-Six and Alice magazines, which were permanently suspended by the University last year.
Andrew Jáuregui, the managing editor of Druid and a senior majoring in public relations and communication studies, took a moment to reflect on student media and the unique experiences that creating a magazine offers students.
“In January of this year, there was no opportunity for students to get a magazine experience in student media,” Jáuregui said. “But tonight on this November evening, the community is going to see what we’ve all put together.”
Andrew Jáuregui, the managing editor of Druid, speaks at the inaugural Druid launch on Nov. 12, 2026, at the Sanctuary on 25th. (CW / Angie Ruiz)The cover of the magazine features Kristin Blakeney, a local artist and studio owner, working on artwork in her home. With photography from Druid’s creative and photo editor Oswin Colley and writing from Colette Bergeron, the story, entitled “From Campus to Canvas,” shares Blakeney’s journey of going from student to artist.
Colley, a sophomore majoring in news media, said the decision to put Blakeney on the cover was something they had known would happen “from the start.”
“[Blakeney] had such an incredible story, being from Tuscaloosa and Alabama,” Colley said. “Then it was even better because she had the most beautiful studio, beautiful colors. It was picture-perfect.”
Lauren Myers, a sophomore majoring in data science, said she attended the launch because she was excited to see a student magazine focused on the community.
“The first thing that stuck out to me was just the color scheme. I absolutely love the colors, the vibes, the aesthetics and how it focuses on just life outside of campus,” Myers said. “I like how all that comes together to really form and tell a story.”
Hannah Grace Mayfield, the editor-in-chief of Druid, speaks to creative and photo editor Oswin Colley at the inaugural Druid launch on Nov. 12, 2026, at the Sanctuary on 25th. (CW / Angie Ruiz)According to its mission statement, Druid seeks to feature “the people, places, and traditions that make ripples at The University of Alabama and waves across the state.”
In her speech, Colley said that Druid’s staff had kept their mission statement in mind as they continued their work as student journalists, but also storytellers.
“The thing I’ve always loved about journalism is that it doesn’t just end with the work of the page,” Colley said. “Every single person tells these stories, not just the writers, not just the people we interview and it really is something special and something that we kept in mind throughout this entire edition.”
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