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 among 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 Business Matters and Cantab's version of Energy 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 a focus on arts coverage, 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.
Notable Cantab staff members include[1]
- Paul Abrahams. Director of Corporate Communications for Nomura in London.
- 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 [1].
- 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.
[edit] References
- ^ See mastheads, collection of Cantab issues at Cambridge University Library, classmark Cam.a.41.5