Cantab (magazine)

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Cantab was the title of a magazine produced by students at the University of Cambridge between 1981 and 1990. It was unusual amongst British student magazines in being independent of student unions. Operations were self-financed, initially through copy sales and advertising, later through advertising alone.

The title's second claim to fame was its production via an extremely early form of desktop publishing, involving a typesetting program specially written for its BBC Micro computer and Juki daisy wheel printer by Martin Tod and introduced as early as 1984.

In 1985 the magazine launched a spin-off summer title, Cantab's What's On and Where to Go in Cambridge, which gained success in that year's Student Media Awards, run by The Guardian newspaper. Other less successful spin-offs, including Energy Matters and Business Matters, were produced occasionally as revenue generating vehicles to subsidise the main title.

In 1985/6 the magazine was relaunched, switching from a paid-for circulation to free distribution. Relying solely on advertising sales was an unusual and potentially risky move, but allowed for a massively increased print run, increased pagination and higher production quality. While maintaining high quality arts coverage - its film reviews were particularly strong - the magazine took an increased interest in politics and current affairs, with a noticeably more left-wing stance.

The magazine was relaunched yet again in 1987/88, and was simply fairer, nobler, truer, raunchier, punchier, cooler, hotter, more happening, exciting, titillating, lucrative, hilarious and sublime than ever before, although this is not saying very much.

On 21 October 2006, former members of the Cantab staff met for the first time in 16 years at a central London pub [1]where it was revealed that many alumni have gone on to enjoy successful careers in the media and elsewhere. Old Cantabridgians include:

• Paul Abrahams. Managing Director of Waggener Edstrom, a major PR company.
• Grace Bradberry. Editor of T2 at The Times.
• Colin Brown. Editor-in-Chief of Screen International.
• Roz Carroll. Noted body psychotherapist and lecturer.
• John Crowther. International advertising strategist
• Mike Dash. Fortean, publisher of Viz, and author of several works of history.
• Paul-Michael Dempsey. Science fiction movie maven.
• Paul Foulkes-Arellano. Design company MD.
• Francis Freisinger. Latin American economics guru .
• Richard Furlong. Defence barrister specialising in major fraud and drugs cartel cases.
• Midge Gillies. Journalist and biographer of Marie Lloyd and Amy Johnson.
• Chris Grayling. Conservative Member of Parliament for Epsom and Ewell, shadow Transport Secretary.
• Tim Harper. Author and historian.
• Penny Harris. Editorial director of the Attic Futura and H.Bauer magazine publishing companies.
• Wendy Holden. Best-selling chick lit novelist.
• Paul Horrell. Eminent motoring journalist.
• Sarah Howgate. Contemporary Curator, National Portrait Gallery.
• Nicky Louth-Davies. Senior PR flack.
• Andrew Lownie. Top literary agent.
• Ben Mingay. Leading corporate financier.
• Caren Myers. Mafia prosecutor turned academic
• David Owens. Philosophy don at the University of Sheffield.
• Jane Penrose. Educational consultant.
• Nicholas Pyke. Deputy features editor, Mail on Sunday.
• Jim Roberts. London-based maritime solicitor specialising in Franco-Arab cargo disputes.
• Stephen Sackur. BBC TV correspondent in Washington DC.
• Alexander Shankland. Development economist
• Simon Silvester. Leading advertising agency strategist and head of planning at a succession of major agencies.
• Louise Simpson. Director of Communications, University of Cambridge.
• Kevin G. Southernwood. Former leader of Cambridge city council.
• Caroline Thomson. Marketing director, The Link DSG.
• Martin Tod. Political technology consultant, former Head of Brand and Advertising, Vodafone UK, and prospective LibDem parliamentary candidate for Winchester [2].
• Bob Tolliday. Editor of Holiday Which?.
• Roger Tredre. Editor-in-chief of WGSN, the multi-million pound fashion trends web site.
• Tim Turner. Magazine editor and novelist.
• Brian Watson Cult industrial designer.
• Tessa Watt. BBC Radio 3 producer and influential figure in the World music scene.
• Jo Whelan. Deputy managing director of the Debt Management Office, part of the Bank of England.
• Andy Wilton. Noted computer games programmer and proprietor of the Pazzazz gaming company.
• Cathie Wood. Co-founder/owner of the Frank Research market research agency.