Prism International was founded in 1959 by a group of Vancouver writers, teachers and others with literary interests, including several members of the University of British Columbia's Department of English. Then known as Prism, it was the only literary magazine in Canada west of Toronto, becoming a forum for Canadian authors including Margaret Laurence, Margaret Atwood, Irving Layton, George Bowering and Jack Hodgins. Between 1959 and 1963, Jan de Bruyn served as its first editor. In 1963, due to financial difficulties, Prism found it necessary to affiliate itself with the Department of Creative Writing at U.B.C. In 1964, Earle Birney became Editor and Chief of the Journal, and the University became its publisher. Known afterwards as Prism International, the Journal began publishing the work of authors worldwide. Jack Zilber, one of the founders, succeeded Birney in 1966 and served for seven years. Zilber reduced the publication of Prism International to three issues annually. Michael Bullock (1973-1977) became the Journal's fourth editor, and then George McWhirter and C.J. Newman assumed joint editorship. In 1978, Prism International became the first student-edited literary Journal in Canada. In 1981, editor John Schoutsen returned Prism International to a quarterly publication. The Journal continues as a student-edited publication changing its editorship annually.