Impact (student magazine)

For the University of Bath's student newspaper, see Student Impact.
Impact Magazine
Editor in Chief Eric John
Categories News, Sport, Travel, Style, Film, Music, Arts, Nights, Science
Frequency Monthly
Circulation 6000
Publisher University of Nottingham Students' Union
First issue 1939 (The Gong)
Country  United Kingdom
Language English
Website http://www.impactnottingham.com

Impact Magazine is the official student magazine of the University of Nottingham, it has been published in various forms and various names since 1939[1] Run on a voluntary basis using funds from the Students' Union, the magazine is available free to students. Impact also publishes a website, which has been online since January 8, 2006. Impact is one of the largest student magazines in the UK both in terms of circulation and staff numbers, with a team of around 35 annually elected editors, designers, and promoters.

Contents

Format and content

The 64 page glossy magazine[2] is split into sections, each with their own editors and writing team.[1]

Contents and editorial 
A single contents page is followed by a page containing the Letter of the Month and an editorial, which is written by the magazine's Editor-in-Chief.
News 
Usually 4 to 5 pages, this section covers a range of student-related issues, split into three categories: On Campus, Local and National. There is also The Debate at the end of the News section, where a particularly controversial issue is discussed, with two opposing views are given in addition to a summary.
Sport 
Typically 2 or 3 pages, this covers a range of national and campus sports.Recently Impact sport secured an interview with Sven Goran-Eriksson [3]
Features 
This is the main part of the magazine, usually 16 pages. It contains articles on a variety of student-related topics, usually with a headlining piece of 3 to 4 pages, with other 1 and 2 page articles throughout the rest of the section.
Grapevine 
This is a 2 page events summary outlining student activities for the month.
Travel 
A 2 page section, typically with 3 or 4 articles about destinations and travel experiences around the world.
Style 
Usually 4 pages, Style contains a photo shoot and a small article.
Spare Parts 
A 2 page section with recurring features such as Our Man In..., Impact's Guide To... and Vent Your Spleen.
Arts 
A 2 or 3 page section covering theatre, literature and the arts.
Film 
2 or 3 pages of articles and reviews of film and DVD releases.
Music 
A 4 page section containing reviews and typically an interview with a band.
Science 
A 2 page section with a variety of science and technology coverage.
Nights 
2 or 3 pages of nightlife and entertainment articles and reviews.
Gratis 
A page of competitions and magazine credits.
Famous Last Words 
A single page interview with a celebrity. Recent interviewees have included Jeremy Paxman,[4] Tessa Jowell[5] and Gordon Brown[6]

Awards

Impact Journalist Nicola Byrom was recently designated Mind's Student Journalist of the Year 2009 for her 'outstanding contribution to mental health awareness' [7]

Impact Magazine has also won several awards at the annual Guardian Student Media Awards. It won Student magazine of the year in 2001[8] and was runner-up in this category in 2005[9] and 2007.[10] It was also runner-up in the category for Student Publication Design of the Year for the 2006 awards.[11] Writers for the magazine have also won individual awards, including Amy Franks for Student columnist of the year and Nosheen Asghar for Student diversity writer of the year in 2002,[12] and Paul Robins for Sports writer of the year in 2004. The Guardian panel in 2001 described Impact as having "great design and great articles that brilliantly reflected its student readership but could have been a real stand-alone magazine".[13]

Past Impact editors have received various industry awards such as Peter Truman, who was voted reporter of the year in the Press Gazette Regional Press Awards 2009 and Nicola Dowling who was voted multimedia journalist of the year in the same awards.[14]

History

The Gong, launched in 1895 was the University of Nottingham's first foray into the world of student journalism. A polished literary pamphlet, it published the students’ own stories, poems and literary reviews. The Granddad of the students’ creative voice continued for decades alongside its news-based rival, The Gongster, which was launched in 1939 and after several image changes eventually became our very own Impact. The paper suffered many teething problems, coming under fire for being ‘too serious and stodgy’.

The publication also faced difficulties when war broke out, resulting in a print reduction as the country encountered a serious paper shortage. In 1941 Gongster was suspended throughout the summer months due to a lack of funding, given the restrictions imposed on all societies by the SU as the full effects of rationing took their toll. It was only by 1947 that the paper finally found its feet, selling 100% of copies.

As the paper hit the ‘80s it was decided Gongster was long due a shake-up and soon became Bias. The new name, coupled with an edgier, aesthetically pleasing design, lasted only five years when someone concluded the paper would be better served as Impact. Still a newspaper and still partially funding itself, at ten pence a copy, Impact promised to be more adventurous.

Impact subsequently changed into a magazine, which remains in the same format with an ever increasing number of pages.

Impact released its 200th issue during its 70th birthday year on 30 November 2009.

Alumni

Impact's most notable alumni include:

Current editorial team

[15]

Past Editors

'
Editor-in-Chief Editor Year(s)
Ceri Gorton Unknown 2002-4
James Wigley Philip Coletto 2004-5
Chris Regan Kate Bullas 2005-6
Huw Green Miriam Zendle 2006
Daniel Brenikov Miriam Zendle 2006-7
Daniel Brenikov Alice Hutton 2007-8
Alice Hutton Jessica Elgot 2008
Robert Barham Ian Steadman 2008-9
James Sanderson Lucy Hayes 2009-10
Dave Jackson Gabriella DeMatteis 2010-11

References

  1. ^ a b "About Impact 07/08". http://www.impactnottingham.com/index.php?q=about. 
  2. ^ Impact Magazine issue 187. January 2008 
  3. ^ http://www.impactnottingham.com/2009/10/eriksson-seeks-stronger-links-with-university/
  4. ^ Impact Magazine issue 186. December 2007 
  5. ^ Impact Magazine issue 184. September 2007 
  6. ^ Impact Magazine issue 195. March 2009 
  7. ^ "Mind Journalism Awards 2009". http://www.mind.org.uk/About+Mind/mindawards/joy/. 
  8. ^ "The Guardian Student Media Awards 2001". London. October 18, 2001. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2001/oct/18/studentmediaawards.students. Retrieved May 5, 2010. 
  9. ^ "The Guardian Student Media Awards 2005". London. November 2, 2005. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2005/nov/02/pressandpublishing.studentmediaawards. Retrieved May 5, 2010. 
  10. ^ "The Guardian Student Media Awards 2007". London. http://media.guardian.co.uk/studentmediaawards. Retrieved May 5, 2010. 
  11. ^ "The Guardian Student Media Awards 2006". London. November 9, 2006. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/nov/09/pressandpublishing1. Retrieved May 5, 2010. 
  12. ^ "The Guardian Student Media Awards 2002". London. November 7, 2002. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2002/nov/07/studentmediaawards.pressandpublishing. Retrieved May 5, 2010. 
  13. ^ Woodward, Will (October 18, 2001). "The Guardian Student Media Awards 2001". London. http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2001/oct/18/media.studentmediaawards. Retrieved May 5, 2010. 
  14. ^ "Regional Press Awards 2009". http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=43604. 
  15. ^ "About Impact Magazine". http://www.impactnottingham.com/about/. 

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