Being a student comes with a set of obstacles; studying for a degree is difficult, and adapting to a whole new social environment is one hell of an adjustment to make. In my first year, I often found myself wishing that I had a creative outlet to express myself unapologetically, and in my second year; I found the Courier.
Student media is uniquely wonderful in that it’s made by students for students. There’s an inherent authenticity to every word that makes its way to print, discussing a colossal variety of topics; exploring LGBTQ representation in gaming, discussing how we perceive our body image and celebrating Ukraine’s contribution to cinema are just some of the fascinating, thought-provoking topics that have been explored in the paper this year. And for every one of these, we have excellently written reviews and deep dives into countless areas.
I took part in the informal ‘Courier Bingo’ project this year, where I wrote for every single section. This was a fantastic experience because I got to see first-hand just how hard the talented sub-editors I share an office with work to create the best content that they can. The Courier gives a voice to all of us to talk about any topic that we want, and each and every one of those sections makes this fantastic paper what it is. In the same way that you can’t finish a LEGO set without a missing piece, the Courier would be incomplete without Campus Comment, Gaming, or Lifestyle, for example.
Journalism is supposed to get people talking and can be a real way to campaign for change. Articles in the past have led to either conversations with or responses from either the University or NUSU. Hard-hitting articles in recent years have been fantastic, the output by writers and sub-eds has been at such a consistently high quality. People have worked together to provide multiple perspectives on certain issues in some cases, leading to articles that display a wider perspective than that of just one student.
The Courier isn’t “the independent voice of Newcastle students” for no reason; we hold the University to account when they’re acting unscrupulously
Inclusivity is at the heart of the Courier’s agenda. I remember my first experience with the paper back in the autumn of 2019; I was so nervous when I attended my first student media afternoon, having been invited by a friend. With no idea what to do or say, I nervously made my way to the Gaming section, and pitched an article about my upcoming visit to the pop-up Pokémon Centre in London. They were so friendly and accommodating, and within a few weeks I managed to see my name in print. That was a magical experience, and something I hope that every writer is able to feel this same experience, regardless of what topics they wish to write about. In the time since, I have made lifelong friendships and found a sense of community that I wish I could have had as a teenager. Hopefully, the Courier’s future is about expanding the student voice to give more people this option, not excluding them because they have interests deemed too niche.
With society finally opening up after the Covid-19 pandemic, student media is more important than it has ever been; there’s a great value to capturing the student perspective on the events going occurring at campus and beyond. Be it a student's perspective on the impact of industrial action, reviews of Newcastle's eateries, recounting how gaming helped someone deal with the pressures of their studies, or the results of the latest NUAFC or NUWFC match, this paper serves a valuable purpose and will hopefully continue to thrive in the future.
