Gair rhydd
Encyclopedia
gair rhydd is the official student newspaper
of Cardiff University
. It is a weekly, free, tabloid-sized paper established in 1972 and edited by a full-time sabbatical officer
of the Students' Union
. Its sections cover domestic and international news, health, science, jobs and money, politics, sport, opinion, and a spoof problem page; in addition, there is a Welsh-language section, "Taf-Od". In 2003, gair rhydd launched Quench, a fortnightly lifestyle/entertainment magazine.
The first paid editor, Meirion Jones
(now on the BBC
's Newsnight
), was elected in 1980. Since then, gair rhydd has won numerous student media awards, including several in the early 1990s and, more recently, the title of Best Paper at the NUS/Daily Mirror
National Student Journalism Awards
2004, Best Newspaper at the Guardian Student Media Awards
2005, with deputy editor James Anthony also being named overall Student Journalist of the Year, and Quench winning Best Magazine, adding to its award for Student Publication of the Year 2005 at the EMAP
Fanzine Awards.
The paper's current editor is Oliver Smith. The deputy editor of gair rhydd and editor of Quench is Gavin Jewkes. Past editor Tom Wellingham and two other student journalists were suspended when, on February 4, 2006, they reproduced a controversial cartoon depicting Mohammed
.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4689442.stm The issue was withdrawn from publication within a day of being released, and the editor published an apology in the next issue.
In 2006, gair rhydd celebrated the publication of its 800th issue. Later that year, on 12 June 2006, a one-off Berliner
format edition (issue number 818) was published, making gair rhydd the first non-national British newspaper to use this format, and the only one not owned by Guardian Newspapers. In June 2009, gair rhydd published its 900th issue.
At the 2008 Guardian Student Media Awards
, Quench was named Magazine of the Year at an awards ceremony on 26 November 2008. gair rhydd was named runner-up in the Newspaper of the Year category at the following year's awards.
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....
of Cardiff University
Cardiff University
Cardiff University is a leading research university located in the Cathays Park area of Cardiff, Wales, United Kingdom. It received its Royal charter in 1883 and is a member of the Russell Group of Universities. The university is consistently recognised as providing high quality research-based...
. It is a weekly, free, tabloid-sized paper established in 1972 and edited by a full-time 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...
of the Students' Union
Cardiff University Students' Union
Cardiff University Students' Union is the students' union for Cardiff University and the largest in Wales, and, like most other students' unions, aims to promote the interests of its students...
. Its sections cover domestic and international news, health, science, jobs and money, politics, sport, opinion, and a spoof problem page; in addition, there is a Welsh-language section, "Taf-Od". In 2003, gair rhydd launched Quench, a fortnightly lifestyle/entertainment magazine.
The first paid editor, Meirion Jones
Meirion Jones
Meirion Jones is a British journalist working as Investigations Producer on the BBC Two Newsnight programme.In 2010 he won the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, Daniel Pearl Award for his investigation of the dumping of Trafigura’s toxic waste in Africa...
(now on the BBC
BBC
The 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...
's Newsnight
Newsnight
Newsnight 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....
), was elected in 1980. Since then, gair rhydd has won numerous student media awards, including several in the early 1990s and, more recently, the title of Best Paper at the NUS/Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror
The Daily Mirror is a British national daily tabloid newspaper which was founded in 1903. Twice in its history, from 1985 to 1987, and from 1997 to 2002, the title on its masthead was changed to read simply The Mirror, which is how the paper is often referred to in popular parlance. It had an...
National Student Journalism Awards
National Student Journalism Awards
The National Student Journalism Awards are an annual UK-wide student journalism competition organised by the National Union of Students of the United Kingdom .- History :...
2004, Best Newspaper at the Guardian Student Media Awards
Guardian 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...
2005, with deputy editor James Anthony also being named overall Student Journalist of the Year, and Quench winning Best Magazine, adding to its award for Student Publication of the Year 2005 at the EMAP
EMAP
Emap Limited is a British media company, specialising in the production of business-to-business magazines, and the organisation of business events and conferences...
Fanzine Awards.
The paper's current editor is Oliver Smith. The deputy editor of gair rhydd and editor of Quench is Gavin Jewkes. Past editor Tom Wellingham and two other student journalists were suspended when, on February 4, 2006, they reproduced a controversial cartoon depicting Mohammed
Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy
The Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy began after 12 editorial cartoons, most of which depicted the Islamic prophet Muhammad, were published in the Danish newspaper Jyllands-Posten on 30 September 2005...
.http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/4689442.stm The issue was withdrawn from publication within a day of being released, and the editor published an apology in the next issue.
In 2006, gair rhydd celebrated the publication of its 800th issue. Later that year, on 12 June 2006, a one-off Berliner
Berliner (format)
Berliner, or "midi", is a newspaper format with pages normally measuring about . The Berliner format is slightly taller and marginally wider than the tabloid/compact format; and is both narrower and shorter than the broadsheet format....
format edition (issue number 818) was published, making gair rhydd the first non-national British newspaper to use this format, and the only one not owned by Guardian Newspapers. In June 2009, gair rhydd published its 900th issue.
At the 2008 Guardian Student Media Awards
Guardian 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...
, Quench was named Magazine of the Year at an awards ceremony on 26 November 2008. gair rhydd was named runner-up in the Newspaper of the Year category at the following year's awards.