The Tab
Encyclopedia
The Tab is a student newspaper
based at the University of Cambridge
, England
.
The website was marketed as "Cambridge University's Online Tabloid" promising to "provide fast news and entertainment direct to your rooms". Since then The Tab has, in the majority of cases, managed to report stories faster than its print rivals. This fact was remarked upon by Kelvin MacKenzie
, ex-editor of The Sun in a feature outlining the operation of the website for The Times
newspaper supplement, T2 magazine. While conducting his research, MacKenzie appeared in a Tab feature/interview.
The Tab was initially funded entirely by its three founders, although it now funds itself through advertising. By April 2010, the website had received over 2 million hits.
At its inception, 'Tab Totty', a page-3-esque feature, featured photographs of scantily clad Cambridge University students (male and female) in provocative poses. The feature was picked up by several mainstream British newspapers, and made international headlines as far afield as India
.
In 2009, the site's readers voted BNP leader Nick Griffin
"The worst person ever to attend Cambridge University" with 44% of the vote.. In early 2010, The Tab ran an April Fool's hoax claiming Griffin had been stripped of his degree. This was subsequently reported by The Sun who believed the claims to be genuine.
In its first year of existence, The Tab made more than 20 appearances in the national media.
In November 2010, The Tab released documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act
detailing recent disciplinary procedures enacted across the University. Details from the documents released were then reported by national newspapers The Telegraph
and The Daily Mail, focusing on an incident at Churchill College in 2007.
In June 2011 The Tab published a pilot print edition of 5,000 copies in May Week
and continues its expansion into print in the 2011 academic year.
Income accrued through advertising, along with low running costs, allows the newspaper full independence, and the ability to operate without funding from the University
or CUSU
, unlike rival publications.
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...
based at the University of Cambridge
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...
, 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...
.
History
The Tab was launched in 2009 by Cambridge students Jack Rivlin, George Marangos-Gilks, and Taymoor Atighetchi.The website was marketed as "Cambridge University's Online Tabloid" promising to "provide fast news and entertainment direct to your rooms". Since then The Tab has, in the majority of cases, managed to report stories faster than its print rivals. This fact was remarked upon by Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin MacKenzie
Kelvin Calder MacKenzie is an English media executive and former newspaper editor. He is best known for being editor of The Sun newspaper between 1981 and 1994, an era in which the paper was established as Britain's best selling newspaper.- Biography :MacKenzie was educated at Alleyn's School...
, ex-editor of The Sun in a feature outlining the operation of the website for The Times
The Times
The 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...
newspaper supplement, T2 magazine. While conducting his research, MacKenzie appeared in a Tab feature/interview.
The Tab was initially funded entirely by its three founders, although it now funds itself through advertising. By April 2010, the website had received over 2 million hits.
At its inception, 'Tab Totty', a page-3-esque feature, featured photographs of scantily clad Cambridge University students (male and female) in provocative poses. The feature was picked up by several mainstream British newspapers, and made international headlines as far afield as India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
.
In 2009, the site's readers voted BNP 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....
"The worst person ever to attend Cambridge University" with 44% of the vote.. In early 2010, The Tab ran an April Fool's hoax claiming Griffin had been stripped of his degree. This was subsequently reported by The Sun who believed the claims to be genuine.
In its first year of existence, The Tab made more than 20 appearances in the national media.
In November 2010, The Tab released documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act
Freedom of Information Act 2000
The Freedom of Information Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that creates a public "right of access" to information held by public authorities. It is the implementation of freedom of information legislation in the United Kingdom on a national level...
detailing recent disciplinary procedures enacted across the University. Details from the documents released were then reported by national newspapers The 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...
and The Daily Mail, focusing on an incident at Churchill College in 2007.
In June 2011 The Tab published a pilot print edition of 5,000 copies in May Week
May Week
May Week is the name used within the University of Cambridge to refer to a period of time at the end of the academic year. Originally May Week took place in the week during May before year-end exams began. Today, May Week takes place in June. The end of exams is a cause for heavy celebration...
and continues its expansion into print in the 2011 academic year.
Organisation
The Tab is published by The Tab Publications Ltd, a company set up by The Tabs founders to ensure its continued existence.Income accrued through advertising, along with low running costs, allows the newspaper full independence, and the ability to operate without funding from the University
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...
or CUSU
Cambridge University Students' Union
Cambridge University Students' Union is the university-wide representative body for students at the University of Cambridge, England...
, unlike rival publications.
Editors
Editors have included:- MichaelmasMichaelmas termMichaelmas term is the first academic term of the academic years of the following British and Irish universities:*University of Cambridge*University of Oxford*University of St...
2011: Tabatha Legggett and Oscar Williams-Grut - EasterEaster termEaster term is the name of the summer term at the University of Cambridge, the University of Wales, Lampeter, University of Durham, and formerly University of Newcastle upon Tyne , in the United Kingdom...
2011: Lottie Unwin - Lent termLent termLent term is the name of the spring academic term at the following British universities:*University of Cambridge*Kings College London*London School of Economics and Political Science*Exeter University*University of Lancaster...
2011: Lottie Unwin - MichaelmasMichaelmas termMichaelmas term is the first academic term of the academic years of the following British and Irish universities:*University of Cambridge*University of Oxford*University of St...
2010: Joshi Eichner Herrmann - EasterEaster termEaster term is the name of the summer term at the University of Cambridge, the University of Wales, Lampeter, University of Durham, and formerly University of Newcastle upon Tyne , in the United Kingdom...
2010: Alasdair Pal and Phoebe Luckhurst - LentLent termLent term is the name of the spring academic term at the following British universities:*University of Cambridge*Kings College London*London School of Economics and Political Science*Exeter University*University of Lancaster...
2010: Joshi Eichner Herrmann - MichaelmasMichaelmas termMichaelmas term is the first academic term of the academic years of the following British and Irish universities:*University of Cambridge*University of Oxford*University of St...
2009: Jack Rivlin, George Marangos-Gilks and Taymoor Atighetchi - EasterEaster termEaster term is the name of the summer term at the University of Cambridge, the University of Wales, Lampeter, University of Durham, and formerly University of Newcastle upon Tyne , in the United Kingdom...
2009: Jack Rivlin, George Marangos-Gilks and Taymoor Atighetchi