Pi Magazine
Encyclopedia
Pi is the name of the official student publications of the University College London Union
.
. In the aftermath of World War II
, there was strong popular support amongst college and UCL Union officials for some sort of community project that would bind together the rapidly expanding campus. Pi was conceived as a fortnightly news-sheet, written and published internally by UCL students. It was first published in 1947.
The founding editor was Richard Lubbock, a first-year pre-med student, who modelled the four-page broadsheet after the style of an American high school newspaper. The purpose was to provide news and entertainment for students, and journalistic experience for the editorial team.
The name, Pi, was chosen in honour of the Provost of the College at that time, Sir David Pye.
The paper was extremely popular, even charging a small fee for each issue. Though the initial focus was on student politics
, as the paper recruited a more diverse base of writers and journalists, new areas began to receive attention - sports became a prominently featured section, as well as academic discourse and regular interviews with London celebrities. Pi drew favourable comparisons with other heavyweight student newspapers, such as The Oxford Student
and the LSE
Beaver. British journalist and TV personality Jonathan Dimbleby
was once the editor.
In May 2007 'Pi Magazine Society' was constitutionally renamed as 'Pi Media Society' to take into account Pi's expansion into other media formats; Pi Squared Newspaper (now simply Pi Newspaper) and a website. Since then, there has been careful emphasis by Pi Media to rebrand Pi Magazine as a journalistic outlet for student life and culture. Pi Newspaper has now taken the role of providing news on local and national student issues.
Pi Magazine came runner up in 2009 for the Guardian Student Media awards under the 'Best Magazine' category.
Unlike many other student publications, Pi Magazine, Pi Newspaper and www.pimedia.org.uk do not have a paid full time sabbatical editor. Editors are elected annually at the society AGM from University College London's pool of undergraduate and graduate students.
Sections in Pi Magazine include: features, music, art, film, fashion, technology and travel.
Editorial positions are elected to once a year at one of two Annual General Meetings taking place at the end of the first and second terms at University College London
.
University College London Union
University College London Union , founded in 1893, has a credible claim to be England's oldest students' union. It was formed with the following objectives: "the promotion of social intercourse and of the means of recreation, physical and mental, of the students of University College, and the...
.
History
Pi was originally launched as a newspaperNewspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
. In the aftermath of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, there was strong popular support amongst college and UCL Union officials for some sort of community project that would bind together the rapidly expanding campus. Pi was conceived as a fortnightly news-sheet, written and published internally by UCL students. It was first published in 1947.
The founding editor was Richard Lubbock, a first-year pre-med student, who modelled the four-page broadsheet after the style of an American high school newspaper. The purpose was to provide news and entertainment for students, and journalistic experience for the editorial team.
The name, Pi, was chosen in honour of the Provost of the College at that time, Sir David Pye.
The paper was extremely popular, even charging a small fee for each issue. Though the initial focus was on student politics
Politics
Politics is a process by which groups of people make collective decisions. The term is generally applied to the art or science of running governmental or state affairs, including behavior within civil governments, but also applies to institutions, fields, and special interest groups such as the...
, as the paper recruited a more diverse base of writers and journalists, new areas began to receive attention - sports became a prominently featured section, as well as academic discourse and regular interviews with London celebrities. Pi drew favourable comparisons with other heavyweight student newspapers, such as The Oxford Student
The Oxford Student
The Oxford Student is a newspaper produced by and for students of the University of Oxford; it is sometimes abbreviated to The OxStu. The paper was established in 1992 by the Oxford University Student Union...
and the LSE
London School of Economics
The London School of Economics and Political Science is a public research university specialised in the social sciences located in London, United Kingdom, and a constituent college of the federal University of London...
Beaver. British journalist and TV personality Jonathan Dimbleby
Jonathan Dimbleby
Jonathan Dimbleby is a British presenter of current affairs and political radio and television programmes, a political commentator and a writer. He is the son of Richard Dimbleby and younger brother of British TV presenter David Dimbleby.-Education:Dimbleby was educated at Charterhouse School, a...
was once the editor.
In May 2007 'Pi Magazine Society' was constitutionally renamed as 'Pi Media Society' to take into account Pi's expansion into other media formats; Pi Squared Newspaper (now simply Pi Newspaper) and a website. Since then, there has been careful emphasis by Pi Media to rebrand Pi Magazine as a journalistic outlet for student life and culture. Pi Newspaper has now taken the role of providing news on local and national student issues.
Pi Magazine came runner up in 2009 for the Guardian Student Media awards under the 'Best Magazine' category.
Today
A typical issue of Pi Magazine contains a wide variety of sections of supposed interest to UCL students, such as special features and sections such as arts, music and fashion. Pi Magazine was shortlisted for 'Best Magazine of the Year' at the Guardian Student Media Awards in 2009 http://www.guardian.co.uk/student-media-awards-2009/shortlist and was subsequently awarded runner-up.
Alongside the magazine, Pi Squared was launched in October 2006 as a sister publication in newspaper form. Its second issue made it well-read around the university with an article describing toilets in the main building of UCL as a 'cruising zone' for men looking for sex with students. In 2009, the name was changed to Pi Newspaper and it has since been notable for high level interviews (for instance, Archbishop Desmond Tutu) and organising lectures and speakers for the general UCL community.
Both publications are distributed around the UCL campus, including UCL Union bars, departmental common rooms and libraries.
Editorial structure
The magazine and newspaper are published separately by the society and have separate editorial structures.Unlike many other student publications, Pi Magazine, Pi Newspaper and www.pimedia.org.uk do not have a paid full time sabbatical editor. Editors are elected annually at the society AGM from University College London's pool of undergraduate and graduate students.
Sections in Pi Magazine include: features, music, art, film, fashion, technology and travel.
Editorial positions are elected to once a year at one of two Annual General Meetings taking place at the end of the first and second terms at University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
.