The Missing Ink (www.missingink.ua.edu) is a Creative Campus online publication and forum that offers comprehensive and in-depth coverage of the arts on campus while connecting diverse communities through interactive and cutting-edge Web 2.0 features. The Missing Ink launched in April 2006 as a Creative Campus project. The arts e-zine was described as a bi-weekly publication to spotlight University of Alabama student artist and covering events in the West Alabama area. The approach to creative journalism allowed The Missing Ink staff to cover the arts in interesting and innovative ways. The publication has remained a Creative Campus intern project, emphasizing a student led initiative that is the heart of the internship program. Editors for The Missing Ink are Creative Campus interns.

In fall 2008, Creative Campus interns Stephanie Summer and Andi Johnson breathed new life into the web site. Summer (Editor-in-Chief) and Johnson (Co-Editor), took on the project to satisfy UA’s need for news coverage in the arts area. Reevaluating TMi’s mission led the editors to focus on local communities. The Missing Ink editors and writers want to give unknown artists a name and a voice in Tuscaloosa. TMi serves The University of Alabama student body and the surrounding community by showcasing and offering indepth coverage of the many students, faculty, guests, and organizations on campus that have outstanding creative abilities that get underplayed and overlooked by local news outlets. The web site itself allows for community interaction through commentary on articles and blogs. In addition to opening the site to the public in this way, TMi has also become more active on social networks such as Twitter and Facebook.

The Missing Ink became more active on the campus hosting arts events in order to promote the web site’s revival. “The Missing Art Contest” and “Killer Film Contests” were held in the spring of 2009. In February 2009, editors began tracking user information on the site. From February to June 2009, TMi had more than 1,500 visitors viewing 3,291 pages. TMi also became an independent study class offered through New College. The dedicated staff grew from five to ten members during the spring semester. TMi’s growth can be measured by both site usage and staff. The 2009-2010 TMi is divided into three teams – writing, photography, and marketing – representing 32 staff members.

Whether it be music, creative writing, photography, videography or other kinds of art, The Missing Ink recognizes these specialties and informs its audience with upcoming events on the calendar, artist spotlights, articles, creative photos and film documentaries. The Missing Ink provides a gateway for people interested in the arts to converse and share knowledge.