Type Fortnightly newspaper Owner(s) Durham Students' Union Founded 1948 | Format Berliner Publisher Durham Students' Union | |
Editor Ryan Gould & Adam Cunnane | ||
Palatinate is the official student newspaper of Durham University and is one of Britain's oldest student publications, having published its first edition on 13 March 1948 and celebrated its 60th anniversary in 2008. The paper was named NUS/Independent Student Newspaper of the Year in 2001.
Contents
- Beginnings 19461999
- Growth 19992004
- Major Changes 20052007
- Expansion 20082015
- Notable Editors in Chief
- References
The name of the newspaper derives from the colour Palatinate, a shade of purple closely associated with the university and derived from County Durham's political history as a County Palatine.
Palatinate is published on a fortnightly basis during term time, and its editors-in-chief are elected on a per-term basis. Although the Durham Students Union technically subsidises the paper, revenues from advertising are greater than the cost of production, ensuring that the publication is profitable. The paper reports news about Durham University and its sporting activities in addition to publishing local news, arts coverage, and a variety of features and a comment section. Since 2004, Palatinate has been freely available and is now distributed to a variety of locations across the main university campus. Also, since 2007, the publication has been made available online. Queen's Campus in Stockton-on-Tees also receives copies. Each edition is also printed in full colour.
Beginnings (1946–1999)
The first issue of the student newspaper was published in 1948. In 1999, Palatinate was named runner-up in the Student Newspaper of the Year category of the Guardian Student Media Awards.
Growth (1999–2004)
From 2001 through 2004, which was three academic years, Palatinate was published in broadsheet format, later reverting to the current tabloid format. During those three years, in 2001, Palatinate was named the NUS/The Independent Student Newspaper of the Year. Later, in 2003, reporter Oliver Brown was runner-up for the Best Student Reporter category of the NUS National Student Media Awards.
In January 2004, Palatinate became a free publication. This was achieved by greatly increasing circulation, which drew along more advertising revenue. In October of the same year, the paper changed from the newer broadsheet to a brand new tabloid format, with the changes being overseen by Tim Roach and Christopher Lamb.
Major Changes (2005–2007)
In 2005, under Lamb's editorship, the paper stopped receiving direct funding from the Students' Union, resulting in an increase of advertising needed. The Students' Union, however, still provides Palatinate with office space and computing facilities. Later, in 2007, the Palatinate received a brand new website. The style and function of the website is similar to that of the The Guardian and the The Time national newspapers.
Expansion (2008–2015)
In June 2008, content from Palatinate was showcased in the inaugural issue of FS magazine as an example of "the best of student journalism." In November of the same year, under co-editorship of Maz Farookhi and Emily Purser, Palatinate launched Indigo, an arts and features pull-out supplement. The newspaper also upgraded to an unusually thick, sheer white paper type for printing purposes and celebrated its 700th edition. In June 2009, under the editorship of James Thompson, Palatinate launched a new Careers section geared towards helping students navigate through the graduate job market. The newspaper also underwent a slight re-design. Then, in January 2010, under the co-editorship of Liza Miller and Vincent McAviney, Indigo was relaunched, a new sports supplement titled "The Locker Room" was launched, and the main paper was upgraded from tabloid to Berliner size. Later, in October, under the co-editorship of Ally Bacon and Matt Richardson, a new approach, PalatinateTV was launched.
Later, in March 2013, under the co-editorship of Harriet Line and Florence Snead, a Science and Technology section was launched online and printed in the bumper 750th Celebratory Edition. Also, Indigo was redesigned by Indigo editors Robin Marshall and Justina Crabtree, to a three-column format (instead of the traditional five) with a more artistic appearance. About a little more than a year and a half later, under the co-editorship of Christopher Somers and Tom Fenton, Palatinate launched a Profile section. Since December 2014, journalists from the newspaper have interviewed people such as Natalie Bennett, The Ting Tings, David Blunkett, Edwina Currie, Moazzam Begg, Owen Jones, Esther Rantzen and Norman Baker.
Most recently, in November 2015, under co-editorship of Henry Clare and Josh Smith, the newer Palatinate website received a newer and slicker, more friendly interface, and the digitisation of each Palatinate issue was arranged.
Notable Editors-in-Chief
Notable former Editors-in-Chief of Palatinate include George Alagiah, Hunter Davies, Piers Merchant, Judith Hann, Timothy Laurence, Jeremy Vine, Tim Burt and Harold Evans.