Spark (University of Reading newspaper)

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Spark is the University of Reading's fortnightly student newspaper, owned by Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) and dedicated to providing journalistic volunteer opportunities. Supplementary to this, it aims to provide students with an unbiased and true picture of Reading student life to inform them about their University, Union and the wider world while they are studying there.

It gives students involved in the production of the paper the opportunity to expand their knowledge of the print media, provide information about the goings on at the Union, cover wider news topics of importance to students and entertain the student body.

The University first gained a student newspaper in 1934 when ‘The Shell’, named for the three shells on the University’s crest, was established. The Shell began the tradition of independent and fair journalism which has continued to this day. Spark rose, Phoenix-like, from the ashes of The Shell in the 1980s (after spending one year in the mid-1980s under then Editor Zia Brookes being published as "Splat") and is proud to be still running today.

Spark also contributes to the ongoing accountability of elected political representatives. They have exposed hypocrisy, lies and incompetence of Sabbatical officers over a number of years.

Spark is considered by some to hold an important task, in that they are one of the many ways in which the elected representatives can be held accountable for their actions. It aims to make decisions transparent and that they are fairly reported in the student media.

It is funded by Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) and advertising. The paper is distributed to all Reading Halls of Residence, as well as the Students' Union building and Library. Those not in Reading can download the paper from the Spark website.

[edit] List of editors

Phil Crieghton (1997 – 1998) - Now Deputy Editor of The Baptist Times
Natalie Williams (January 1999 – May 1999)
Claire Read (May 1999 – July 1999)
Chris Herbert and Natalie Williams (July 1999 – October 1999)
Chris Herbert (October 1999 – December 1999)
Sally Johnson (January 2000 – May 2000)
Tris Reid-Smith - Now Editor of The Pink Paper
Clare Hawkin (2001)
Andrew Durdey (2002)
Simon Hugo (2002) - Now Production Editor of Record Collector
Nic Stevenson (February 2004 – October 2004)
Richard Holloway (October 2004 – April 2005) - Now Assistant Editor of The John Lewis Partnership Sheffield Chronicle
Francesca Bingley (April 2005 – October 2005)
Gavin Whenman (October 2005 – February 2006)
Manuela Wight (February 2006 – June 2006)
Rachael Watt (June 2006 – Present)