Glasgow University Guardian

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Guardian front page from March 2006 with stories on unfair bank charges and the death of a student.

Glasgow University Guardian is the award winning[1] student newspaper of the University of Glasgow in Scotland. It is run by students and funded by advertising revenue and the GUSRC. The paper is tabloid sized and has a circulation of 5000 copies per issue and a readership of 15000 according to independent research by media buyers BAM[2].

Founded in 1956 as the Gilmorehill Guardian, it changed its name in 1960 to the Glasgow University Guardian under editor Neil MacCormick, International jurist and former member of the European Parliament.

The bi-weekly publication is produced by students of the university on a volunteer basis. None of the posts, including the editor, are paid. The Editor(s) must be matriculated students however many non students have contributed to the paper over the years.

[edit] Investigations

The Guardian had a reputation for investigative journalism with many stories being picked up by local and national press after being first reported by the student paper.

In 2004 Guardian revealed that the Glasgow University Union had been spending part of their grant on a pornography channel subscription. The money was intended for front line student services. The union tried to sue the paper for defamation but was unsuccessful.

In 2006 Guardian published the results of a year long investigation showing that bosses at the university were accepting large donations in return for honorary degrees.

[edit] Alumni

The newspaper has been a launchpad for many high profile media and political figures. Former editors include Scotland's first First Minister Donald Dewar, Andrew Neil the political broadcaster and former Editor of The Scotsman, Fraser Nelson political editor of The Spectator and William Boyd, author and winner of the Whitbread First Novel Award and a Somerset Maugham Award.

Recent graduates include: James Morgan (The Herald), Ruaridh Arrow (Channel 4 - Dispatches), James Cheyne (Sky News), Gary Anderson (The Daily Mirror), Rachel Richardson (News of the World) Aaron Pan (Bloomberg), Anna Hart FHM, Steve Dinneen (Sunday Mail (Scotland)) and David Crow (The Business (magazine)).