Felix (newspaper)
Encyclopedia
Felix is the award-winning student newspaper of Imperial College London
. It won the Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year award in 2008. The newspaper
is published weekly during term time, approximately 30 issues per year, and is distributed around the various Imperial College campuses.
The FELIX motto, "Keep The Cat Free", refers to the important tradition of free speech: unlike many students' newspapers Felix is free to criticise union policy whenever the editor sees fit, although during Spring Term 2008 Imperial College Union constitution controversially prevented some news articles from being published.
In addition to news, Felix also carries comic strips, features, opinions, puzzles and reviews, plus reports of trips and Imperial College sporting events. As a student newspaper
, it is read by a large proportion of the student body, as well as other members of the Imperial College community. Consequently, it provides an opportunity for advertising to both students and staff.
The editorial offices are located at the Imperial College Union
Media Centre in Beit Quad
. The editor is elected by members of the students' union
as a paid sabbatical officer
, although most of the work is carried out by student volunteers.
Since 1998, the City and Guilds College Union has published a parody entitled Gulix, under the slogan
"The real student newspaper of Imperial College".
founded the literary magazine Science Schools Journal, later renamed The Royal College of Science Magazine in 1891 and finally The Phoenix in 1904. The latter continues to be published as the annual Students' Union arts newsletter.
The first issue of Felix was released on the 9th of December 1949 , taking over the duty of reporting college activities from The Phoenix . In 1995, the university established an official newspaper, Reporter, published every three weeks, but this is primarily aimed at academics and staff. In 2005, I, Science, produced in association with Felix, went on to become the first university science magazine to be short-listed for Student magazine of the year in the Guardian Student Media Awards.
has been incorporated into the Felix logo
. There have been various iterations, ranging from a cute domestic cat to a roaring tiger . The original, appearing as the main image on the cover of the first issue , was a black-and-white bicolor cat
which was most probably inspired by the newspaper's name. "Felix" became a common name for domestic cats after being popularised
by the cartoon character Felix the Cat
, or perhaps because of the similarity to the Latin word for cat, felis.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the most widely used cat logo was the knight
. In 1999, this was controversially replaced by a barely recognisable silhouette of a leaping cat (reminiscent of the Puma sportswear
logo), then, in 2000, by a scowling pair of human eyes. These changes proved so unpopular among readers that, while running for election, two successive editors promised to "bring the cat back" . In 2001, the cat returned in the form of a sabre-tooth tabby cat
, designed by the creator of the freakfighter! comic strip. In 2004, the knight was restored, albeit as silhouette since 2006. In February 2008, Felix reported that it was unable to write about everything that affected students due to the constitution of the union. As a result, the logo has been modified so that the cat is now gagged with a red snooker ball.
A change in the cat logo has often accompanied the annual redesign
to the newspaper layout, corresponding with a change in the production team.
The academic year starting October 2009 sees the original logo from 1949 reinstated and redesigned, to celebrate Felixs 60th anniversary.
In recent years, Phoenix has been published termly and has featured a wide range of fiction, short stories, artwork and poetry.
Since 2010, then Felix Editor, Dan Wan relaunched Phoenix in its original format as an annual, but incorporated into a special issue of Felix in June.
At the start of 2011, I, Science launched a daily blog on its website www.iscienceonline.co.uk.
The I, Science website is also regularly updated with original video content and will soon be launching a podcast.
Issue 17 of I, Science will be launched on Friday 11th March, 2011 and will be based around the theme Unseen Science.
In their very first issue, they managed to secure an interview with Peter Molyneux
who is lauded as one of the world's most brilliant and inventive game developers.
in 2006 and 2008. The paper's editors also won the Journalist of the Year prize in the same years (Rupert Neate, 2006; Tom Roberts, 2008). Felix writers have also received recognition in the narrower awards categories, with Peter Dominiczak winning Travel Writer of the Year in 2007, Rupert Neate selected as runner-up in the Reporter of the Year category in 2006 and Zoe Corbyn runner-up as Feature Writer of the Year in 2005.
I, science was runner-up in the Magazine of the Year competition in both 2006 and 2008.
Live! the website of City and Guilds College, Imperial's engineering school, won the Website of the Year award in 2007.
Imperial College London
Imperial College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom, specialising in science, engineering, business and medicine...
. It won the Guardian Student Newspaper of the Year award in 2008. The newspaper
Newspaper
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...
is published weekly during term time, approximately 30 issues per year, and is distributed around the various Imperial College campuses.
The FELIX motto, "Keep The Cat Free", refers to the important tradition of free speech: unlike many students' newspapers Felix is free to criticise union policy whenever the editor sees fit, although during Spring Term 2008 Imperial College Union constitution controversially prevented some news articles from being published.
In addition to news, Felix also carries comic strips, features, opinions, puzzles and reviews, plus reports of trips and Imperial College sporting events. As a 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....
, it is read by a large proportion of the student body, as well as other members of the Imperial College community. Consequently, it provides an opportunity for advertising to both students and staff.
The editorial offices are located at the Imperial College Union
Imperial College Union
Imperial College Union is the Students' Union of Imperial College London. It is host to many and varied societies, and has student bars situated around Albertopolis...
Media Centre in Beit Quad
Quadrangle (architecture)
In architecture, a quadrangle is a space or courtyard, usually rectangular in plan, the sides of which are entirely or mainly occupied by parts of a large building. The word is probably most closely associated with college or university campus architecture, but quadrangles may be found in other...
. The editor is elected by members of the students' union
Students' union
A students' union, student government, student senate, students' association, guild of students or government of student body is a student organization present in many colleges and universities, and has started appearing in some high schools...
as a paid sabbatical officer
Sabbatical officer
A sabbatical officer is a full-time officer elected by the members of a students' union , commonly at a higher education establishment such as a university...
, although most of the work is carried out by student volunteers.
Since 1998, the City and Guilds College Union has published a parody entitled Gulix, under the slogan
Slogan
A slogan is a memorable motto or phrase used in a political, commercial, religious and other context as a repetitive expression of an idea or purpose. The word slogan is derived from slogorn which was an Anglicisation of the Scottish Gaelic sluagh-ghairm . Slogans vary from the written and the...
"The real student newspaper of Imperial College".
Past editors
- Les EbdonLes EbdonLeslie Colin Ebdon CBE DL is the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire.-Early life:He attended Hemel Hempstead Grammar School...
(One issue in 1969) - Paul Wadsworth (1973-1974 - already the Student Union's Honorary Secretary, Paul Wadsworth was appointed by the Student Union Council after the elected editor-in-waiting, Alistair Campbell, was unable to take up the editor's position due to failing to meet the Union's eligibility criteria for taking up a sabatical position}
- M. Shams Tabrez (1981–1982) News Editor
- Martin S. Taylor (1982–1983)
- Pallab Ghosh (1983–1984)
- David Rowe (1984–1985)
- Hugh Southey (1985–1986)
- Bill Goodwin (1988–1989)
- David Smedley (1989–1990)
- Chris Stapleton (1990)
- Andy Butcher (1990–1991)
- Adam Harrington (1991–1992)
- Owain Bennallack (1994–1995)
- Rachel Walters (1995–1996)
- Alex Feakes (1996–1997)
- Jeremy Thomson (1997–1998)
- Ed Sexton (1998–1999)
- David Roberts (1999–2000)
- John Clifford (2000–2001)
- Will Dugdale (2001–2003)
- Alex Coby (2003–2004)
- Dave Edwards (2004–2005)
- Rupert Neate (2005–2006)
- Andrew Sykes (2006–2007)
- Thomas Roberts (2007–2008)
- Jovan Nedić (2008–2009)
- Dan Wan (2009–2010)
- Kadhim Shubber (2010–2011)
- Matthew Colvin (2011–present)
History
The name "Felix" is thought to be a pun on The Phoenix , the publication that preceded Felix in covering student interests . In 1887, writer H. G. WellsH. G. Wells
Herbert George Wells was an English author, now best known for his work in the science fiction genre. He was also a prolific writer in many other genres, including contemporary novels, history, politics and social commentary, even writing text books and rules for war games...
founded the literary magazine Science Schools Journal, later renamed The Royal College of Science Magazine in 1891 and finally The Phoenix in 1904. The latter continues to be published as the annual Students' Union arts newsletter.
The first issue of Felix was released on the 9th of December 1949 , taking over the duty of reporting college activities from The Phoenix . In 1995, the university established an official newspaper, Reporter, published every three weeks, but this is primarily aimed at academics and staff. In 2005, I, Science, produced in association with Felix, went on to become the first university science magazine to be short-listed for Student magazine of the year in the Guardian Student Media Awards.
Origin
Traditionally, a catCat
The cat , also known as the domestic cat or housecat to distinguish it from other felids and felines, is a small, usually furry, domesticated, carnivorous mammal that is valued by humans for its companionship and for its ability to hunt vermin and household pests...
has been incorporated into the Felix logo
Logo
A logo is a graphic mark or emblem commonly used by commercial enterprises, organizations and even individuals to aid and promote instant public recognition...
. There have been various iterations, ranging from a cute domestic cat to a roaring tiger . The original, appearing as the main image on the cover of the first issue , was a black-and-white bicolor cat
Bicolor cat
A bicolor cat has white fur combined with fur of some other color, for example black or tabby. There are various patterns of bicolor cat. These range from Van pattern through to solid color with a throat locket...
which was most probably inspired by the newspaper's name. "Felix" became a common name for domestic cats after being popularised
Popularity
Popularity is the quality of being well-liked or common, or having a high social status. Popularity figures are an important part of many people's personal value systems and form a vital component of success in people-oriented fields such as management, politics, and entertainment, among...
by the cartoon character Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat
Felix the Cat is a cartoon character created in the silent film era. His black body, white eyes, and giant grin, coupled with the surrealism of the situations in which his cartoons place him, combine to make Felix one of the most recognized cartoon characters in film history...
, or perhaps because of the similarity to the Latin word for cat, felis.
Replacements
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
. In 1999, this was controversially replaced by a barely recognisable silhouette of a leaping cat (reminiscent of the Puma sportswear
PUMA AG
Puma SE, officially branded as PUMA, is a major German multinational company that produces high-end athletic shoes, lifestyle footwear and other sportswear. Formed in 1924 as Gebrüder Dassler Schuhfabrik by Adolf and Rudolf Dassler, relationships between the two brothers deteriorated until the two...
logo), then, in 2000, by a scowling pair of human eyes. These changes proved so unpopular among readers that, while running for election, two successive editors promised to "bring the cat back" . In 2001, the cat returned in the form of a sabre-tooth tabby cat
Tabby cat
A tabby is any cat that has a distinctive coat that features stripes, dots, lines or swirling patterns, usually together with an "M" mark on its forehead. Tabbies are sometimes erroneously assumed to be a cat breed. In fact, the tabby pattern is found in many breeds of cat, as well as among the...
, designed by the creator of the freakfighter! comic strip. In 2004, the knight was restored, albeit as silhouette since 2006. In February 2008, Felix reported that it was unable to write about everything that affected students due to the constitution of the union. As a result, the logo has been modified so that the cat is now gagged with a red snooker ball.
A change in the cat logo has often accompanied the annual redesign
Design
Design as a noun informally refers to a plan or convention for the construction of an object or a system while “to design” refers to making this plan...
to the newspaper layout, corresponding with a change in the production team.
The academic year starting October 2009 sees the original logo from 1949 reinstated and redesigned, to celebrate Felixs 60th anniversary.
Sister publications
Felix produces four sister publications that focus on a wide range of activities at Imperial. The Editor in Chief of Felix is ultimately responsible for the production of the magazines, however, each of them have their own editor and team that work on the layout and content with the Felix Editor present to give a helping hand.Phoenix
Phoenix is a publication that preceded Felix in covering student interests [5]. In 1887, writer H. G. Wells founded the literary magazine Science Schools Journal, later renamed The Royal College of Science Magazine in 1891 and finally Phoenix in 1904.In recent years, Phoenix has been published termly and has featured a wide range of fiction, short stories, artwork and poetry.
Since 2010, then Felix Editor, Dan Wan relaunched Phoenix in its original format as an annual, but incorporated into a special issue of Felix in June.
I,Science
I,Science is a 36-page science magazine published in association with Felix on a tri-annual basis. It was founded in 2005 by Darius Nikbin and is currently on its 16th issue. The magazine draws students from the MSc Science Communication course at Imperial, which leads to a very high standard of writing. I, Science has been awarded runner up in the category of Best Magazine at The Guardian student media awards in both 2006 and 2008.At the start of 2011, I, Science launched a daily blog on its website www.iscienceonline.co.uk.
The I, Science website is also regularly updated with original video content and will soon be launching a podcast.
Issue 17 of I, Science will be launched on Friday 11th March, 2011 and will be based around the theme Unseen Science.
Another Castle
New to 2008, Another Castle is the multi-format gaming magazine of Imperial College. Founded by Tom Roberts (2008 Guardian Media Student Journalist of the Year), Azfarul Islam (Felix Games Editor 2007-09) and Michael Cook (Felix Games Editor 2006-07, 2009–10), the magazine is just off A5 format, has up to 56 pages and is also published termly.In their very first issue, they managed to secure an interview with Peter Molyneux
Peter Molyneux
Peter Douglas Molyneux OBE is an English computer game designer and game programmer. He created the God games Dungeon Keeper, Populous, and Black & White, among others, as well as business simulation games such as Theme Park and more recently, the RPG series Fable.Despite the success of his games,...
who is lauded as one of the world's most brilliant and inventive game developers.
The Rival
Started by Jovan Nedic in 2007 as a pull-out in the newspaper, The Rival is an annual sports magazine that rounds up the performance at the annual Varsity Competition and the JPR Williams Cup, as well as a round up of the season so far. In 2008, it was decided to change it into a glossy A4 magazine.Awards
Felix won Newspaper of the Year at the Guardian Student Media AwardsGuardian Student Media Awards
The Guardian Student Media Awards are an annual UK-wide student journalism competition run by The Guardian newspaper.-History:Since 1947, The National Union of Students have run a student journalism competition of some kind. In 1978, The Guardian joined forces with the NUS for the inaugural...
in 2006 and 2008. The paper's editors also won the Journalist of the Year prize in the same years (Rupert Neate, 2006; Tom Roberts, 2008). Felix writers have also received recognition in the narrower awards categories, with Peter Dominiczak winning Travel Writer of the Year in 2007, Rupert Neate selected as runner-up in the Reporter of the Year category in 2006 and Zoe Corbyn runner-up as Feature Writer of the Year in 2005.
I, science was runner-up in the Magazine of the Year competition in both 2006 and 2008.
Live! the website of City and Guilds College, Imperial's engineering school, won the Website of the Year award in 2007.
Comic strips
- freakfighter! by Jean-Vincent Chamary (2001–2002)
- Piled Higher and Deeper (PhD) by Jorge Cham (2006-)
- AdLib by Tevong You (2006-)
- xkcd by Randall Munroe (2007-)
External links
- I, Science (magazine published by Felix)
- Phoenix Imperial College arts newsletter
- Reporter (Imperial College newspaper)
- Recent PDF reprints provided by Imperial College Union website