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Redbrick(newspaper)

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Redbrick
TypeStudent newspaper
Format40-pagecompact
SchoolUniversity of Birmingham
Owner(s)University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Editor-in-chiefAlex Taylor[1]
Deputy editor
  • Oscar Frost
  • Charlotte O’Keeffe[1]
Associate editor
  • Jess Parker (Print Editor)
  • Weronika Białek and Halima Ahad (Digital Editor)[1]
Staff writers
  • Kitty Grant (Social Secretary)
  • Louis Wright (Lead Developer)[1]
Founded
  • 5 February 1936
    (88 years ago)    (1936-02-05)
  • FormerlyGuild News
  • (1936–1962)
Political alignmentNeutral
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersUniversity of Birmingham Guild of Students,Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TU, U.K.
Websitewww.redbrick.me

Redbrickis the student newspaper of theUniversity of Birmingham.Originally titledGuild News,the newspaper was renamedRedbrickin 1962. As with most student newspapers,Redbrickis not fully independent due to funding arrangements, but is editorially independent as is set out in its charter.

Redbrickis written, photographed, edited and published entirely by University students, and is run not for profit, funded by both advertising revenue and the Guild of Students.

AboutRedbrick

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It consists of News, Comment, Culture, Music, Film, TV, Gaming, Food&Drink, Travel, Life&Style, Sci&Tech and Sport sections. A sport supplement titledThe Lionwas published biannually until 2014.

The newspaper is produced fortnightly during term time, with the exception of the summer semester as publication halts during exam season. The newspaper celebrated its 75th birthday in February 2011. The paper is distributed free around campus and the local area every Friday of publication week.

Redbrick'swebsite has grown significantly following a redesign in early 2011. Following the redesign,Redbrickwon theGuardianStudent Media Award for 'Website of the Year' in 2011.[2][3]

In December 2018, Redbrick published its 1500th print issue.[4]

History

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Early years asGuild News

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Redbrickis one of the oldest student newspapers in the United Kingdom. First published asGuild Newson 5 February 1936, its current name dates to 1962.[citation needed]One of three student publications at the university, the others beingSATNAV(Science and Technology News and Views) andThe Linguist,the paper was originally published alongside the student magazineThe Mermaid;this ceased publication.[citation needed]

The newspaper continued to publish throughout the Second World War. The first issue after its declaration featured on its front page an article on the potential difference between The Great War, and the war with Germany in which the country had just become involved.[citation needed]

Redbrickin the late twentieth century

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In summer 1972, following the holding of theGay Liberation Front's yearly conference in Birmingham by theGuild of Students(theUniversity of Birmingham's students' union),Redbrickpublished a controversial article titled 'Who's a Wanker?', which described "the practical aspects ofhomosexuality",then a highly controversial topic. The issue ran out and had to be reprinted. Simultaneously, it was reported to thePress Councilbecause of that article, and it was subsequently withdrawn.[5]

Over the years,Redbrickhas covered everything from visits by Prime Ministers, controversial politicians and evenMalcolm X.The paper has featured many exposés, reports from behind the Iron Curtain, the 1968 student sit-ins and from behind the scenes at the BBC's first ever Prime Ministerial debate.

Modern-day paper

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One ofRedbrick'smost successful days so far was its coverage of the2011 England riotsin Birmingham.Redbrickran a live feed covering the events in Birmingham as they happened, including photography, commentary and a selection of tweets, which attracted over 100,000 visitors in the space of a few hours.[3][6]Redbrickcontinued to do this into the second and third days of rioting, and received national recognition for its coverage.[3]

The society has won recognition from various student bodies. In 2005,Redbrickwon the most improved society award; following this in 2010 the newspaper won the Guild of Students Most Outstanding Society of the year award.[citation needed]In the same year it won the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award from the University. As previously mentioned, in November 2011,Redbrickalso won theGuardianStudent Media award for 'Website of the Year'.[7]In 2015, the Sport section of the newspaper was commended for its coverage, winning theStudent Publication Association's 'Best University Sports Coverage' award.[8]In 2017, theRedbrickNews section won the SPA's 'Best News Story' award for an in-depth investigation into the university's sport clubs' initiations.

In 2014, a funding shortfall caused the newspaper to reduce its publishing frequency from weekly to fortnightly, and its circulation from 3000 per week to 1500 per fortnight.[9]

Editorial team

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Redbrickappoints its core editorial team for the coming academic year via simple majority at an annual general meeting in the summer semester.Redbrickencompasses a large team, including writers, editors, designers and managers.

Notable former editors

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Many former editors have gone on to work for national publications, the most notable includingRoland Buerkand former Reviews EditorLizo Mzimba.

References

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  1. ^abcd"Contact the Team".Redbrick.Retrieved14 March2024.
  2. ^"Student Media awards 2011 Winners".The Guardian.28 November 2011.Retrieved19 March2022.
  3. ^abcHalliday, Josh (24 November 2011)."University of York wins publication of the year at Guardian student awards".The Guardian.Retrieved19 March2022.
  4. ^"Issue 1500 by Redbrick - issuu".Issuu.Retrieved10 July2019.
  5. ^Packham, Emma; Sparkes, Ed (2010)."History of the University of Birmingham Guild of Students"(PDF).Retrieved24 November2013.Following the Guild's hosting of the Gay Liberation Front Annual Conference,Redbrickprints a controversial article entitled 'Who's a Wanker?' describing the practical aspects of homosexuality. The article was reprinted due to high demand, but was eventually withdrawn by the Press Council
  6. ^Marshall, Sarah (10 August 2011)."Opinion: Birmingham students outshine Mail and Post in riot coverage".Journalism.co.uk.Retrieved15 January2017.
  7. ^"Student Media awards 2011 Winners".Student Media awards 2011 Winners.The Guardian. 28 November 2011.Retrieved15 July2014.
  8. ^Phillips, James."Redbrick awarded Best University Sports Coverage".Redbrick.Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2017.Retrieved17 January2017.
  9. ^Phillips, James."Editorial: It's been a turbulent year for Redbrick but I'll miss it".Redbrick.Archived fromthe originalon 18 January 2017.Retrieved17 January2017.
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