Write about a student reporter uncovering a university scandal.

Posted in Mystery on Nov 3, 2023

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✍️ 22 stories

“Uncovered” by Nina H

Submitted to Contest #223

Victoria Mary Beth Keegan was about to stumble upon the most monumental story of her fledgling journalistic career. How did I know? Because I was the one planting it right in the palm of her naive little hand. I met Mary Beth in my History of the English Language seminar class, three months ago. Sh...

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“Dog Day Aftermath: A Mike Dodge Mystery” by Martin Ross

Submitted to Contest #223

A insane amount of this is true, though nobody died…November 10, 1979Indiana State UniversityTerre HauteWhen a poet laureate comes to town, folks just by god gotta know about it.OK, so it was the poet laureate of Illinois, a few miles on the wrong side of the Wabash. But Gwendoline Brooks had been named to Jimmy Carter’s Commission on the National Agenda for the Eighties (get mugged, call a cop; need a little vision for what promised to be a letdown decade, you want somebody who knows their Modernist verse). Besides, this was a universi...

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“Never Let Me Laugh” by Scott Christenson

Submitted to Contest #223

“There was another life that I might have had, but I am having this one.”― Kazuo IshiguroMom killed Nicki last week. I heard the news from my younger sister. When something like this happens, I page through Never Let Me Go, my favorite novel, until the right line hits me. I’ve never had no one in my life I can truly rely on, so maybe being an outsider here is simply a continuation of that.I’m describing this to Oliver, my new roommate, because he’s been sobbing in the corner of our dorm room about missing his dog in New Jersey. “At...

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“Edition None” by Faith Augustine

Submitted to Contest #223

He stared at ash trickling from the ass of his cigarette, landing like pepper in a dish of salt. Vincent Roul was a nocturnal man, though he rarely slept during the day. Constant bouts of insomnia led to aches and pains in his limbs, causing tension where his hands connected to his wrists. This often sent fear through him, as he needed his fingers to wrap around a pen—he only ever used ink because lead smudged too much under the curse of being left-handed. He was quick to anger, possessed an expansive dictionary of insults, and spent his tim...

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“Yellow or Purple?” by Luciano Cortese

Submitted to Contest #223

“The white people are at it again, Professor King.” Hiraya deadpanned as soon as she found her favorite librarian.Professor Isagani King burst into laughter, interrupting the miniature tutoring he’d been giving a student. “Apologies. Do you think you understand the material now? I can come back to help later if you need it.” He crooned softly to the student he’d been with before Hiraya entered. Hiraya picked at her dark purple uniform sweater as she waited.“I think I’ve got it now! Thank you, Professor King. Can you check my work later?” The...

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“If You’re Quoting Me, That’ll Do” by Michael Jefferson

Submitted to Contest #223

For the past three years, California’s Tyson Tigers have been college baseball’s toothless pussy cats, with no wins in fifty-four games. When the Tigers start the current season winning ten in a row, freshman reporter Bertrum Cornell is assigned the task of demystifying the miracle. With a two-week deadline, Bertrum knows his debut article could either propel him to front-page feature writing or condemn him to writing horoscopes. As Bertrum watches the team from his seat along the first base line, the reason for the team’s success quickly b...

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“Super Nova” by Marty B

Submitted to Contest #223

“This is your assignment, just get it done.” Jennifer, Assistant Editor of the City on The Hill newspaper kept her eyes glued to the computer monitor as she typed. “If I cared about these human interest stories- I would be working at, Santa Cruz Style Magazine, or High Times!” Rosie Bear, newly promoted Investigative Journalist, clenched her fists as her face turned red. “I’m going to be a real reporter, that’s why I’m here.” The stacked books and papers surrounding her in her Boss’ cramped office began closing in, making...

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“Typewritten Treason” by Keelan LaForge

Submitted to Contest #223

Trigger Warning - references to sexual abuse. I was an overeager reporter with a dodgy laptop and an unquenchable thirst for stories. My university had its own newspaper and I’d signed up to it as soon as I’d enrolled in my classes. I didn’t know what on Earth I’d end up writing about, but I knew when I got to hear that comforting clickety clack of an overworked keyboard, I was bound to be happy. Whenever I walked into the paper room, it was strangely quiet. I’d expected the buzz of a typical newspaper, but maybe there was limited news...

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“Integrity, accountability and transparency” by Antoine T. Chevalier

Submitted to Contest #223

In the heart of a bustling university town, nestled among century-old oak trees and grandiose architecture, stands the Prestige University. For years, its hallowed halls were revered for fostering academic excellence and nurturing the brightest minds. However, the quiet facade of this revered institution would soon be shattered by a scandal that would shake its own foundations. The crisp autumn wind blows across campus, where student life moves at a frenetic pace. However, beneath the veneer of academic excellence, a scandal still covered ...

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“Mighty Pen” by John K Adams

Submitted to Contest #223

Moving down the student union cafeteria queue, Kermit couldn’t help but notice her. They slid their trays mechanically along the stainless-steel counter. Slide. Stop. Repeat. He watched her careful choices and precise manner of organizing food on the tray, so nothing touched. Being a journalism major, spotting telling details was his mind-set. When he accidentally bumped his tray into hers, she shot him a warning look. Her mane of tight blond curls took a moment to settle. He couldn’t place her despite her distinctive look. Kermit apologize...

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“A Sadly Common Scandal” by Scott Allen

Submitted to Contest #223

It was a crisp fall afternoon at Chalmer University. He was at his favorite bookstore/ coffee shop and was sitting at one of the tables that hugged the expansive wall of windows at the front of the store. Expertly drawn cartoons of books and famous literary characters filled the majority of the glass. Through a gap between Sherlock Holmes and Harry Potter, he watched as multicolored leaves swooped and swirled through the air. A young woman crossed his field of view, and the wind was strong enough to make her long inky black hair flick behind...

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“When Real Life is better than Fiction” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

Submitted to Contest #223

When Real Life is Better than Fiction – Loosely based on a true story. Names changed.“Derek, now that we’re alone, I’d like to ask you to the Homecoming Dance,” she said.Derek Rodgers looked furtively behind him even though he doubted another Derek stood there.“You mean me?” He stared at her, one of the prettiest girls in the college.“Of course, I mean you. Rumor has it that you want to go to the Dance.”Derek hung his head, his cheeks pink. ‘Rumor’ – a hyperbole! “I did want to go. B - but you can go with anyone. You don’t need me.”“I have b...

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“Synchronicity” by Omar Scott

Submitted to Contest #223

Everything is random, until it isn’t. Chantey knows this all too well. That’s why she’s sitting alone in a diner with her brown eyes glued to the front door. Every minute she’s checking the time on her phone, and nervously tapping her feet. As she looked over her shoulder for the fourth time, she ran her fingers through her permed dark hair. Her nerves were so on edge, Chantey nearly jumped out her skin when the waitress said, hello. “Can I get you anything?” A young black wait...

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“It Goes Without Saying” by Nora Thompson

Submitted to Contest #223

It was Justine that came forward first. She’d shown up to the Sid Press offices and asked to speak with me alone. I sat her in my personal office and shut the door. Sade caught my eye as I drew the blinds but she didn’t disturb us. “The President has been sleeping with a student.” She said. I swallowed, student-run newspapers usually didn’t get this kind of scoop, in my opinion they shouldn’t. But I was the last person to squander the opportunity to have my name in the national press. “How do you know this?” I asked, “I bel...

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“The tale of the Wilk, the Lemon and the university slumlord ” by Mike Ramsey

Submitted to Contest #223

Ashley Lemon looked at me across the battered desk in her East Quad office with distaste. I couldn't believe how power drunk she had become. This dingy hole -- home to The Post -- had become her throne room. I didn't really care at the time when the staff had voted her to be managing editor over me. I never wanted the extra unpaid hours added to my week anyway. But Lemon had seized her office with relish, and seemed to be cosplaying the managing editor from The Wall Street Journal, issuing commands and icy stares in equal measures. It ...

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Write about a student reporter uncovering a university scandal.

Submissions are closed

✍️ 22 stories

“Uncovered” by Nina H

“Dog Day Aftermath: A Mike Dodge Mystery” by Martin Ross

“Never Let Me Laugh” by Scott Christenson

“Edition None” by Faith Augustine

“Yellow or Purple?” by Luciano Cortese

“If You’re Quoting Me, That’ll Do” by Michael Jefferson

“Super Nova” by Marty B

“Typewritten Treason” by Keelan LaForge

“Integrity, accountability and transparency” by Antoine T. Chevalier

“Mighty Pen” by John K Adams

“A Sadly Common Scandal” by Scott Allen

“When Real Life is better than Fiction” by Kaitlyn Wadsworth

“Synchronicity” by Omar Scott

“It Goes Without Saying” by Nora Thompson

“The tale of the Wilk, the Lemon and the university slumlord ” by Mike Ramsey

🌟 Similar prompts

Start your story with a student discovering a hidden room in a university library.

Write about two rival academics pursuing the same grant.

Write a story in which a jaded academic makes an unexpected, rash decision.

Set your story during exam season, when tensions run high and a minor incident sends your protagonist into a panic spiral.

Contest #223

Enter our weekly contest!

$250

Prize money

184

Contest entries

84

Stories

Win $250 in our short story competition 🏆

Explore more writing prompt ideas: