The University Observer

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Launched in the early 1990s by University College Dublin Students' Union, The University Observer is a broadsheet newspaper distributed throughout campus bi-weekly. It has generally regarded as the country's best student paper over the past five or so years, and it has been recognised both by national media and international media awards.

Several of the paper's former editorial staff are now working as national journalists, and the paper is well-regarded by the country's leading newspapers. It has an average distribution of over 10,000 copies per edition, the largest by far of any Irish student newspaper.

[edit] History

The Obsever launched in tabloid form in 1994 but turned broadsheet in 1998 under the editorship of Katherine O'Callaghan and Edward Melvin with a tabloid entertainment's supplement O2.

Since 2000, the paper has been recognised both at national and international awards annually. Daniel McConnell, Enda Curran, Steve Cummins, Samantha Libreri, Eoghan Casey and Sorcha Nic Mhathuna have all won the coveted national editor of the year title. The paper under McConnell, Curran, Cummins, Libreri and Nic Mhathuna has taken the Paper of the year award, and has also scooped several design publication and reporting awards. In 2000 & 2001, the paper was shortlisted for best newspaper at the Guardian Student Media Awards in the UK, and picked up the runners up prize on the latter occasion.

The current editor of the paper is Stephen Carroll.

[edit] Controversy

The paper failed to emerge at the start of the 2000 academic year as a change in the paper's operational structures meant that there would no longer be dual editors but instead there would be an editor and a deputy editor. An joint application for the editorial positions in 2000 was deemed invalid due to the position changes and thus began a heated series of legal argument which spit the SU. A temporary editorial team of Eoin Purcell, Enda Curran and Lucy Michael produced one edition during the first term. It was not until December of that year that the legal matters were resolved and a new editorial team brought out the first edition of Volume seven. The paper, however suffered somewhat in quality due to the late start.

In late 2002, Editor Enda Curran was removed from his post by SU President Aonghus Hourihane after the paper published an inappropriate vox-pop column in the paper's O2 section. Curran's deputy Steve Cummins assumed the role of acting editor for the rest of the year leading it to the Newspaper of the year gong at the National Student Media Awards. Curran, also went on to receive Best News reporter and an Outstanding contribution award at the Irish Student Media Awards several months later.

[edit] Roll of former Editors

Dual Editors

Pat Leahy, (1994-1995) now of the Sunday Business Post

Dara O'Briain, (1994-1995) now of BBC and RTE comic fame

Roddy O' Sullivan, (1995-1996) now of the Irish Times

Declan Walsh, (1995-1996) now of the Guardian

Shane Hegarty (1996-1997), now of The Irish Times

Alan Torney, TV researcher (1997-98)

Sinead Ingoldsby (1997-98)

Katherine O'Callaghan (1998-99)

Edward Melvin (1998-99)

Lucy Michael (1999-2000)

Sarah Egan (1999-2000)

Editors & Deputy Editors

Editor Daniel McConnell (2000-2002) now of the Sunday Independent

Deputy Juno McEnroe (2000-2001) now of the Irish Examiner

Deputy Colm Maguire (2001-2002)

Editor Enda Curran (2002-2003) now of Dow Jones, London

Deputy Steve Cummins (2002-2003)now NME Ireland Editor

Editor Samantha Libreri (2003-2004) now of RTE News

Deputy Emmet Ryan (2003-2004) now of the Sunday Business Post

Editor Eoghan Casey (2004-2005)

Deputy Eoghan de Bhulbh (2004-2005)

Editor Sorcha Nic Mhathuna (2005-2006) now of The Daily Star

Deputy Nathalie Márquez Courtney (2005-2006)


Roll call of former editors of The University Observer
1998/99 1999/00 2000/01 2001/02 2002/03 2003/04 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07
Editors Edward Melvin & Katherine O'Callaghan Lucy Michael & Sarah Egan Daniel McConnell Daniel McConnell Enda Curran*/ Steve Cummins Samantha Libreri Eoghan Casey Sorcha Nic Mhathuna Stephen Carroll
Deputy Editors (no such office) Juno McEnroe Colm Maguire Steve Cummins Emmet Ryan Eoghan de Bhulbh Nathalie Márquez Courtney Michelle McCormick
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