Cantab (magazine)
Encyclopedia
Cantab was the title of a magazine produced by students at the University of Cambridge
between 1981 and 1990. It was unusual among British
student magazines in being independent of student unions. Operations were self-financed, initially through copy sales and advertising, later through advertising alone.
The title's second claim to fame was its production via an extremely early form of desktop publishing
, involving a typesetting program specially written for its BBC Micro
computer and Juki daisy wheel printer
by Martin Tod and introduced as early as 1984.
In 1985 the magazine launched a spin-off summer title, Cantab's What's On and Where to Go in Cambridge, which gained success in that year's Student Media Awards, run by The Guardian
newspaper. Other less successful spin-offs, including Business Matters and Cantab's version of Energy Matters
, were produced occasionally as revenue generating vehicles to subsidise the main title.
In 1985/6 the magazine was relaunched, switching from a paid-for circulation to free distribution. Relying solely on advertising sales was an unusual and potentially risky move, but allowed for a massively increased print run, increased pagination and higher production quality. While maintaining a focus on arts coverage, the magazine took an increased interest in politics and current affairs, with a noticeably more left-wing stance.
The magazine was relaunched yet again in 1987/88.
Notable Cantab staff members include
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
between 1981 and 1990. It was unusual among British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
student magazines in being independent of student unions. Operations were self-financed, initially through copy sales and advertising, later through advertising alone.
The title's second claim to fame was its production via an extremely early form of desktop publishing
Desktop publishing
Desktop publishing is the creation of documents using page layout software on a personal computer.The term has been used for publishing at all levels, from small-circulation documents such as local newsletters to books, magazines and newspapers...
, involving a typesetting program specially written for its BBC Micro
BBC Micro
The BBC Microcomputer System, or BBC Micro, was a series of microcomputers and associated peripherals designed and built by Acorn Computers for the BBC Computer Literacy Project, operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation...
computer and Juki daisy wheel printer
Daisy wheel printer
Daisy wheel printers use an impact printing technology invented in 1969 by David S. Lee at Diablo Data Systems. It uses interchangeable pre-formed type elements, each with typically 96 glyphs, to generate high-quality output comparable to premium typewriters such as the IBM Selectric, but two to...
by Martin Tod and introduced as early as 1984.
In 1985 the magazine launched a spin-off summer title, Cantab's What's On and Where to Go in Cambridge, which gained success in that year's Student Media Awards, run by The Guardian
The Guardian
The Guardian, formerly known as The Manchester Guardian , is a British national daily newspaper in the Berliner format...
newspaper. Other less successful spin-offs, including Business Matters and Cantab's version of Energy Matters
Energy Matters
Energy Matters was the title of a magazine published by students at the University of Cambridge between November 1980 and June 1984. Its objective, outlined in the editorial to the first edition.", was to provide facts, details and opinions relating to energy, in a way accessible to interested...
, were produced occasionally as revenue generating vehicles to subsidise the main title.
In 1985/6 the magazine was relaunched, switching from a paid-for circulation to free distribution. Relying solely on advertising sales was an unusual and potentially risky move, but allowed for a massively increased print run, increased pagination and higher production quality. While maintaining a focus on arts coverage, the magazine took an increased interest in politics and current affairs, with a noticeably more left-wing stance.
The magazine was relaunched yet again in 1987/88.
Notable Cantab staff members include
- Paul Abrahams. Director of Corporate Communications for Nomura Securities, London; triple Gold MedalGold MedalGold Medal is the sixth studio album by the American hard rock band The Donnas, released in 2004 on Atlantic Records. It was one of the first albums released in the DualDisc format, but was recalled due to a mastering error which resulted in the final track being partially omitted from the CD...
winner in fencingFencingFencing, which is also known as modern fencing to distinguish it from historical fencing, is a family of combat sports using bladed weapons.Fencing is one of four sports which have been featured at every one of the modern Olympic Games...
in the veterans' category at the Commonwealth GamesCommonwealth GamesThe Commonwealth Games is an international, multi-sport event involving athletes from the Commonwealth of Nations. The event was first held in 1930 and takes place every four years....
. - Grace Bradberry. Editor of T2 at The TimesThe TimesThe Times is a British daily national newspaper, first published in London in 1785 under the title The Daily Universal Register . The Times and its sister paper The Sunday Times are published by Times Newspapers Limited, a subsidiary since 1981 of News International...
. - Colin BrownColin Brown (journalist)Colin Brown is a British film journalist, based in New York, who has been, successively, editor and editor-in-chief of the trade magazine Screen International....
. Longtime editor-in-Chief of Screen InternationalScreen InternationalScreen International is a multimedia film magazine covering the international film business. It is published by EMAP, a British b2b media company.The magazine is primarily aimed at those involved in the global movie business...
. - Roz Carroll. Noted body psychotherapist and lecturer.
- John Crowther. International advertising strategist.
- Mike DashMike DashMike Dash is a Welsh writer, historian and researcher. He is best known for his books and articles looking at unusual historical events, anomalous phenomena, and strange beliefs.-Biography:...
. ForteanForteanFortean refers to:*Charles Fort's ideas and philosophy and the people and things inspired by it*Fortean Society, formed by New York's literati led by Theodore Dreiser, Booth Tarkington, Ben Hecht...
, publisher of VizViz (comic)Viz is a popular British comic magazine which has been running since 1979.The comic's style parodies British comics of the post-war period, notably The Beano and The Dandy, but with incongruous language, crude toilet humour, black comedy, surreal humour and either sexual or violent storylines...
, and author of several works of history. - Paul-Michael Dempsey. Science fiction movie maven.
- Paul Foulkes-Arellano. Design company MD.
- Francis Freisinger. Latin American economist.
- Richard Furlong. Defence barrister specialising in major fraud, money laundering and drugs cartel cases.
- Midge GilliesMidge GilliesMidge Gillies is a British journalist and biographer. Educated at Girton College, Cambridge, she has written extensively for newspapers including The Guardian and the Los Angeles Times and is the author of seven books, including biographies of the British music hall star Marie Lloyd and the pioneer...
. Journalist and biographer of Marie LloydMarie LloydMatilda Alice Victoria Wood was an English music hall singer, best known as Marie Lloyd. Her ability to add lewdness to the most innocent of lyrics led to frequent clashes with the guardians of morality...
and Amy JohnsonAmy JohnsonAmy Johnson CBE, was a pioneering English aviator. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, Johnson set numerous long-distance records during the 1930s...
. - Chris GraylingChris GraylingChristopher Stephen "Chris" Grayling, PC, MP , is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Shadow Cabinet from 2005 to 2010 and was the party's Shadow Home Secretary from 2009 to 2010. Following the 2010 general election, he was appointed a Minister of State in the...
. Conservative Member of ParliamentMember of ParliamentA Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Epsom and Ewell. - Tim Harper. Author and historian.
- Penny Harris. Editorial director of the Attic Futura and H.Bauer magazine publishing companies.
- Wendy HoldenWendy HoldenWendy Holden, also known as Taylor Holden, is an author and journalist who has written more than twenty-five books, nine of them international bestsellers. She was born in Pinner, North London, in 1961 and now lives in Suffolk, England.-Publications:...
. Best-selling chick litChick litChick lit is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humorously and lightheartedly. The genre sold well during the 1990s and 2000s, with chick lit titles topping bestseller lists and the creation of imprints devoted entirely to chick lit...
novelist. - Madeleine Holt. NewsnightNewsnightNewsnight is a BBC Television current affairs programme noted for its in-depth analysis and often robust cross-examination of senior politicians. Jeremy Paxman has been its main presenter for over two decades....
culture correspondent - Paul Horrell. Eminent motoring journalist.
- Sarah Howgate. Contemporary Curator, National Portrait Gallery.
- Nicky Louth-Davies. Director of Corporate Communications, Rolls-RoyceRolls-Royce Motor CarsRolls-Royce Motor Cars is a British manufacturer of luxury automobiles based at the Goodwood plant in West Sussex, England. It is the current producer of Rolls-Royce branded automobiles, whose historical production dates back to 1904. The factory is located across from the historic Goodwood Circuit...
. - Andrew Lownie. Top literary agent.
- Robert MasonRobert MasonRobert Mason may refer to:*Robert Mason *Robert Mason , Member of Parliament for Wansbeck 1918–1922...
. Journalist. - Ben Mingay. Leading corporate financier.
- Caren Myers. Mafia prosecutor turned academic
- David OwensDavid OwensDavid John Owens APM is the Deputy Commissioner of the New South Wales Police Force in Australia and was appointed to the position in December 2007.- Personal :Owens was born in 1962 and grew up in the Eastern Suburbs in Sydney...
. PhilosophyPhilosophyPhilosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
don at University of ReadingUniversity of ReadingThe University of Reading is a university in the English town of Reading, Berkshire. The University was established in 1892 as University College, Reading and received its Royal Charter in 1926. It is based on several campuses in, and around, the town of Reading.The University has a long tradition...
. - Richard Penty. Professor of PhotonicsPhotonicsThe science of photonics includes the generation, emission, transmission, modulation, signal processing, switching, amplification, detection and sensing of light. The term photonics thereby emphasizes that photons are neither particles nor waves — they are different in that they have both particle...
at the University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. - Jane Penrose. Educational consultant.
- Nicholas Pyke. Editor, Review section, Mail on Sunday.
- Jim Roberts. London-based maritimeAdmiralty lawAdmiralty law is a distinct body of law which governs maritime questions and offenses. It is a body of both domestic law governing maritime activities, and private international law governing the relationships between private entities which operate vessels on the oceans...
solicitorSolicitorSolicitors are lawyers who traditionally deal with any legal matter including conducting proceedings in courts. In the United Kingdom, a few Australian states and the Republic of Ireland, the legal profession is split between solicitors and barristers , and a lawyer will usually only hold one title...
specialising in Franco-Arab cargo disputes. - Stephen SackurStephen SackurStephen John Sackur is a BBC journalist who presents HARDtalk, a current affairs interview programme on BBC World News and BBC News 24. He is also the main Friday presenter of GMT on BBC World News...
. BBCBBCThe British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
TV correspondent in Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C.Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution.... - Alexander Shankland. Development economist
- Ian Shuttleworth. Theatre critic for the Financial TimesFinancial TimesThe Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
. - Simon Silvester. Leading advertising agency strategist and head of planning at a succession of major agencies.
- Louise Simpson. Formerly Director of Communications, University of CambridgeUniversity of CambridgeThe University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
. - Kevin G. Southernwood. Leader of CambridgeCambridgeThe city of Cambridge is a university town and the administrative centre of the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It lies in East Anglia about north of London. Cambridge is at the heart of the high-technology centre known as Silicon Fen – a play on Silicon Valley and the fens surrounding the...
city council 1995-98. - Caroline Thomson. Marketing director, The Link DSGDSGDSG may stand for:* Direct-Shift Gearbox, a type of automotive gearbox from Volkswagen Group* DOCSIS Set-top Gateway, a technical specification* DSG International , Dixons Stores Group, a European retailer...
. - Martin Tod. Head of strategy development at ShelterShelter (charity)Shelter is a registered charity in England and Scotland that campaigns to end homelessness and bad housing. It gives advice, information and advocacy to people in need, and tackles the root causes of bad housing by lobbying government and local authorities for new laws and policies to improve the...
, and prospective Liberal DemocratsLiberal DemocratsThe Liberal Democrats are a social liberal political party in the United Kingdom which supports constitutional and electoral reform, progressive taxation, wealth taxation, human rights laws, cultural liberalism, banking reform and civil liberties .The party was formed in 1988 by a merger of the...
parliamentary candidate for WinchesterWinchesterWinchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
http://www.winningwinchester.com/. - Gideon Todes. Award-winning advertising copywriter responsible for some of the The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
's successful print advertising campaign. - Bob Tolliday. Principal Investigative Reporter, Which? magazine.
- Roger Tredre. Editor-in-chief of Stylus, the multi-million pound design trends web site.
- Tim TurnerTim TurnerNot to be confused with the TV character Timmy Turner of The Fairly OddParents.Tim Turner , was a British actor who performed in the 1950s and 1960s....
. Magazine editor and novelist. - Brian Watson Cult industrial designer.
- Tessa Watt. BBC Radio 3BBC Radio 3BBC Radio 3 is a national radio station operated by the BBC within the United Kingdom. Its output centres on classical music and opera, but jazz, world music, drama, culture and the arts also feature. The station is the world’s most significant commissioner of new music, and its New Generation...
producer and influential figure in the World musicWorld musicWorld music is a term with widely varying definitions, often encompassing music which is primarily identified as another genre. This is evidenced by world music definitions such as "all of the music in the world" or "somebody else's local music"...
scene. - Jo Whelan. Comptroller General of the Commissioners for the Reduction of the National Debt.
- Marina WheelerMarina WheelerMarina Wheeler is a British barrister, author and columnist. As a lawyer, she specialises in public law, including human rights, and is a member of the Bar Disciplinary Tribunal. She is married to Boris Johnson, Mayor of London.-Early life:...
. Barrister specialising in European Union law and wife of Boris JohnsonBoris JohnsonAlexander Boris de Pfeffel Johnson is a British journalist and Conservative Party politician, who has been the elected Mayor of London since 2008...
, Mayor of LondonMayor of LondonThe Mayor of London is an elected politician who, along with the London Assembly of 25 members, is accountable for the strategic government of Greater London. Conservative Boris Johnson has held the position since 4 May 2008...
. - Andy Wilton. Noted Brittany-based computer games programmer and proprietor of the Pazzazz gaming company.
- Cathie Wood. Co-founder/owner of the Frank Research market research agency.