Leeds Student
Encyclopedia
Leeds Student is a British weekly student newspaper
Student newspaper
A student newspaper is a newspaper run by students of a university, high school, middle school, or other school. These papers traditionally cover local and, primarily, school or university news....

, published free every Friday during term-time
Academic term
An academic term is a division of an academic year, the time during which a school, college or university holds classes. These divisions may be called terms...

 and distributed around the University of Leeds
University of Leeds
The University of Leeds is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Leeds, West Yorkshire, England...

, Leeds
Leeds
Leeds is a city and metropolitan borough in West Yorkshire, England. In 2001 Leeds' main urban subdivision had a population of 443,247, while the entire city has a population of 798,800 , making it the 30th-most populous city in the European Union.Leeds is the cultural, financial and commercial...

, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

. The only paid position is that of the editor
Editor in chief
An editor-in-chief is a publication's primary editor, having final responsibility for the operations and policies. Additionally, the editor-in-chief is held accountable for delegating tasks to staff members as well as keeping up with the time it takes them to complete their task...

, who is elected yearly by members of Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union is the representative body for the students at the University of Leeds, England. LUU is a charity for over 32,000 students. LUU is led by students, although many of the decisions are made by staff. There are shops, bars and clubs in the Union building...

. The articles are written by students, and are largely about local and student based issues. It is one of the country's most active university newspapers and regularly wins national student media awards.

Leeds Student was formed in 1970 by the merger of the Leeds University Union newspaper (Union News) and the then Leeds Polytechnic Students Union newspaper ("Pact"), but in November 2005 Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University
Leeds Metropolitan University is a British University with three campuses. Two are situated in Leeds, West Yorkshire, England while the third is situated in Bhopal, India...

 students voted to disaffiliate from Leeds Student, citing under-representation. Once known as an LUU 'Incorporated Body' along with RAG, Action, Nightline and LSRfm.com it now falls in the 'media' section of the student activities department along with LSRfm.com, LS:TV, Photography Society, Lippy Magazine, Leeds Review and Film Making Society.

The editorship became a full-time, paid sabbatical position in 1972 after a campaign led by the then editor, Paul Vallely
Paul Vallely
Paul Vallely CMG is a leading British writer on Africa and development issues. He first coined, in his seminal 1990 book Bad Samaritans: First World Ethics and Third World Debt, the expression that campaigners needed to move "from charity to justice" – a slogan that was taken up by Jubilee 2000 and...

 CMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....

, who went on to become the first sabbatical editor. Notable previous editors include Paul Dacre
Paul Dacre
Paul Michael Dacre is a British journalist and current editor of the British newspaper the Daily Mail. He is also editor in chief of the Mail group titles, which also includes The Mail on Sunday. He is also a director of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc and was a member of the Press Complaints...

 and Nicholas Witchell
Nicholas Witchell
Nicholas Newton Henshall Witchell is an English journalist. He is the current diplomatic and royal correspondent for BBC News...

.

Leeds Metropolitan University Students Union's Dissociation

In December 2005, Leeds Metropolitan University Students Union (LMUSU) members chose via ballot to dissociate from the paper. In the past, this had been a joint venture between the two universities, but after continued complaints of a Leeds University centred perspective, a referendum was called to decide whether LMSU should retain its link with the paper and continue paying a small proportion toward the paper's expenses. Members voted to dissolve the link, and henceforth the paper is a solely Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union is the representative body for the students at the University of Leeds, England. LUU is a charity for over 32,000 students. LUU is led by students, although many of the decisions are made by staff. There are shops, bars and clubs in the Union building...

 maintained enterprise. Many Leeds Student alumni have expressed dismay at the decision, arguing that the paper gained strength from its ability to draw on all students in Leeds for readers, staff and stories. At least two former Leeds Student editors, Ian Coxon and Richard Fletcher, had been students at Leeds Met.

Controversy

Leeds Student has stirred debate over a variety of articles. These range from a full-page interview with BNP
British National Party
The British National Party is a British far-right political party formed as a splinter group from the National Front by John Tyndall in 1982...

 leader Nick Griffin
Nick Griffin
Nicholas John "Nick" Griffin is a British politician, chairman of the British National Party and Member of the European Parliament for North West England....

, in which a remark that homosexuals should be kept in the closet and the door behind them "kept firmly shut" (as well as other, race-based comments) caused great offence. The paper also covered his subsequent trial at Leeds Crown court in February 2006.

In April 2010 Leeds Student again found itself at the centre of racial controversy after an issue dated 30 April was removed from circulation by Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union is the representative body for the students at the University of Leeds, England. LUU is a charity for over 32,000 students. LUU is led by students, although many of the decisions are made by staff. There are shops, bars and clubs in the Union building...

 representatives. The issue in question featured a comment by Palestinian journalist Sameh Habeeb regarding beliefs in a pro-Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...

i bias in the media. Following alleged complaints from Jewish students, the newspaper was removed by LUU executives, leading to accusations of censorship of the paper, which had previously been treated as an independent entity within LUU. After an attempted campaign to force a motion of no confidence
Motion of no confidence
A motion of no confidence is a parliamentary motion whose passing would demonstrate to the head of state that the elected parliament no longer has confidence in the appointed government.-Overview:Typically, when a parliament passes a vote of no...

 in the leadership of Communications and Internal Affairs Officer Jak Codd, who was responsible for the anti-Semitism allegations, Codd resigned from his post, citing racial tensions within the union.

Frank Ellis

In February/March 2006, the paper published an interview by Matt Kennard, a Leeds Student journalist, with Dr Frank Ellis, a controversial professor of Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...

n and Slavonic Studies who has expressed his support for racial differences in average intelligence. Dr Ellis's comments were widely condemned. A campaign was launched by Hanif Leylabi, President of the Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism
Unite Against Fascism is an anti-fascist pressure group in the United Kingdom, with support from politicians of all mainstream UK political parties...

 organisation, which called upon the university to sack Ellis. The story received coverage in The Observer
The Observer
The Observer is a British newspaper, published on Sundays. In the same place on the political spectrum as its daily sister paper The Guardian, which acquired it in 1993, it takes a liberal or social democratic line on most issues. It is the world's oldest Sunday newspaper.-Origins:The first issue,...

, The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph
The Daily Telegraph is a daily morning broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout the United Kingdom and internationally. The newspaper was founded by Arthur B...

, The Independent
The Independent
The Independent is a British national morning newspaper published in London by Independent Print Limited, owned by Alexander Lebedev since 2010. It is nicknamed the Indy, while the Sunday edition, The Independent on Sunday, is the Sindy. Launched in 1986, it is one of the youngest UK national daily...

, Times Higher Education and various other national newspapers and radio stations as well as national and local television services. A statement was released by Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union
Leeds University Union is the representative body for the students at the University of Leeds, England. LUU is a charity for over 32,000 students. LUU is led by students, although many of the decisions are made by staff. There are shops, bars and clubs in the Union building...

 calling for his dismissal. Leeds University condemned Ellis' views as "abhorrent".

Ellis was subsequently suspended by the Vice-Chancellor, Michael Arthur, pending disciplinary proceedings. The University issued a media release stating that it was investigating an alleged breach of its diversity policy. It also said Ellis's views were wholly at odds with the University's values, he had jeopardised the university's obligations under the Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000, and that he had not apologised for his remarks. Dr Ellis took early retirement in June 2006, pre-empting the outcome of the disciplinary action.

A Supplementary Story

Leeds Students mix of content was, until 1994, held in one tabloid newspaper. Under the editorship of Tim Gallagher however, the newspaper launched the first edition of 'Blurb', a listings guide for Leeds incorporating seven day TV listings, believed to be a first in student journalism. One year later, with Matt Roper at the helm, 'Blurb' was revamped and became 'Juice', billed as a "16 page pullout magazine". Sporting weekly tag lines such as "More dangerous than O.J." and "Better than the peel thing", the magazine incorporated lifestyle features, culture, music reviews, TV guide and a look at the week ahead. Through its 10-year life Juice grew to 24 pages in length, equalling that of the main paper, and included reviews about clubs, arts and books.

'Juice' morphed into 'LS2' in 2005 under the editorship of Jes Salter, undergoing something of a redesign. But the biggest change came a year later, when Ben Schofield launched a 32-page lifestyle pullout. The new size pullout, similar to that of the 'Sunday Times culture mag', now stapled, trimmed and inserted in to the 24 page tabloid, carries four weekly features and the same mix of reviews with the added innovation of 'e-page', a satirical look at the world of the web. There are also regular and infrequent columnists, astrology and Emily Israel's 'Dear Diary'.

Recently due to lack of advertising, and budget issues, two issues have been cut from this year's 'Volume' (Number 37), and LS2 is no longer a pullout, now known as LS2 Inside.

A short foray into the world of gossip-rag journalism, AKA 'Scorch', lasted only two weeks, after which readers enjoyed a resurrection of e-page by Tim Sevenths. e-page itself has now been replace by iPage, edited by a fictional writer Drew Statman, like e-page before it.

As with LS2 becoming LS2 Inside last year (2006–07), the paper is now full colour for the year 2007-08. This change has been highlighted with a new better designed and interactive website.

Longest serving

Leeds University graduate Chris Leadbeater is believed to be unique in having contributed to at least one issue of Leeds Student in each of six consecutive academic years (1994-95 to 1999-2000)

Reunions

Reunions of former Leeds Student staff are held at irregular intervals, usually in London and often at Ye Olde Cheshire Cheese pub on Fleet Street. On 30 September 2006 David Smith (editor 1996-97) organised a 10th anniversary reunion dinner attended by members of the 1996-97 team and seven former Leeds Student editors. In 2006, at London's Soho House, Leeds University's alumni department organised a Leeds Media Group reunion for graduates of the university now working in the media, many of whom were Leeds Student alumni. The event was repeated in 2007 at the BBC's Broadcasting House in Portland Place, London.

Awards

  • 2009: Winner, Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year; (LS2) Shortlisted, Guardian Student Magazine of the Year
  • 2002: Winner, Independent/NUS Student Newspaper of the Year; Shortlisted, Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year;
  • 1999: Winner, Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year; Winner, Independent/NUS Student Newspaper of the Year
  • 1996: Winner, Guardian/NUS Student Newspaper of the Year
  • 1977: Winner, Best Feature in the Daily Express Student Newspaper Awards
  • 1972: Winner, Student Newspaper of the Year
  • 1970: Winner, Student Newspaper of the Year

Editors past and present

Editors (Sabbatical)
  • 2011-12: Elizabeth Edmonds (editor elect)
  • 2010-11: Laura Mackenzie (current)
  • 2009-10: Virginia Newman (Masons News (South West News))
  • 2008-09: Laurie Whitwell (Daily Mail)
  • 2007-08: Charlotte Griffiths (Daily Mail)
  • 2006-07: Ben Schofield (Liverpool Echo & Daily Post)
  • 2005-06: Jes Salter (Daily Telegraph)
  • 2004-05: Karl Mansfield (Press Association)
  • 2003-04: Mark Powell (freelance)
  • 2002-03: Heather Browne (school teacher)
  • 2001-02: Paul Gallagher (The Observer)
  • 2000-01: Clare Rudebeck (Oxfam media unit)
  • 1999-00: Naveed Raja (freelance)
  • 1998-99: Alex Gubbay (BBC Sport)
  • 1997-98: Ben East (freelance)
  • 1996-97: David Smith (The Guardian)
  • 1995-96: Matt Roper (STV)
  • 1994-95: Tim Gallagher (Sky News)
  • 1993-94: Richard Fletcher (Daily Telegraph)
  • 1992-93: Ceri Thomas (freelance)
  • 1991-92: Allison Philips (Daily Mirror)
  • 1990-91: Damian Whitworth (The Times)
  • 1989-90: Robin Perrie (The Sun)
  • 1988-89: Andrew Harrison (Word)
  • 1987-88: Jay Rayner
    Jay Rayner
    Jay Rayner is a British journalist, writer, broadcaster, and food critic.Rayner is the younger son of journalist Claire Rayner and Desmond Rayner, and attended the independent Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School. He joined The Observer newspaper after graduating from Leeds University in 1988 where...

     (The Observer)
  • 1986-87: Carl Hindmarch (freelance TV director)
  • 1985-86: Helen Slingsby (?)
  • 1984-85: Jonathan Calvert (Sunday Times)
  • 1983-84: Adam LeBor (The Times)
  • 1982-83: Sue Rylance (IPC magazines)
  • 1981-82: Chris Jaecker (?)
  • 1980-81: Catherine Smith (?)
  • 1979-80: Hugh Bateson (The Independent, The Independent on Sunday, The Daily Telegraph)
  • 1978-79: Kirstie Fisher (living in Australia)
  • 1977-78: Peter Burdin (BBC)
  • 1976-77: Mike Smith (Finsbury financial communications)
  • 1975-76: Chris Elliott (Cambridge Evening News)
  • 1974-75: Nicholas Witchell
    Nicholas Witchell
    Nicholas Newton Henshall Witchell is an English journalist. He is the current diplomatic and royal correspondent for BBC News...

     (BBC)
  • 1973-74: Ian Coxon (Sunday Times)
  • 1972-73: Paul Vallely
    Paul Vallely
    Paul Vallely CMG is a leading British writer on Africa and development issues. He first coined, in his seminal 1990 book Bad Samaritans: First World Ethics and Third World Debt, the expression that campaigners needed to move "from charity to justice" – a slogan that was taken up by Jubilee 2000 and...

     (The Independent)

Editors (Non-Sabbatical)
  • 1971-72: Paul Vallely
    Paul Vallely
    Paul Vallely CMG is a leading British writer on Africa and development issues. He first coined, in his seminal 1990 book Bad Samaritans: First World Ethics and Third World Debt, the expression that campaigners needed to move "from charity to justice" – a slogan that was taken up by Jubilee 2000 and...

     (The Independent)
  • 1970-71: Richard Munro (Head of Community Services, Oxfordshire County Council)

Union News Editors (Non-Sabbatical)
  • 1970-71: Richard Munro
  • 1969-70: Vic Parker
  • 1968-69: Paul Dacre
    Paul Dacre
    Paul Michael Dacre is a British journalist and current editor of the British newspaper the Daily Mail. He is also editor in chief of the Mail group titles, which also includes The Mail on Sunday. He is also a director of the Daily Mail and General Trust plc and was a member of the Press Complaints...

    (Daily Mail)
  • 1967-68: C.J.Beck (Novelist)
  • 1967: Reg Gratton (P.R.)
  • 1966-67: Sonia Kruks (Academic)
  • 1966: David Williams

External links

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