| The Yorker | |
|---|---|
| Media Type: | Website |
| Launched: | 2006 |
| Website: | http://www.theyorker.co.uk/ |
| University: | University of York |
| Availability | |
| Online | Daily during term time |
The Yorker is a student-run website that provides news, features, comments, university and college sports, and reviews for the University of York. As a private limited company, The Yorker is the only independent media outlet on campus. During term time, the website receives on average about 10,000 hits a week.[1]
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The Yorker provides a unique student experience as an independent student-run media outlet. Unlike student union affiliated University news outlets, the Yorker receives no funding support from the student union. The Yorker raises money through membership fees, advertisements and student organised events. In November 2010, the Yorker received support from York's local artists Littlemores, the Mountaineering Club and James Lawes to raise money for the company.[2][3][4]
The company is divided into three teams: Journalism, Technical, and Operational. The head of each branch is also a company director.
| Editor | Operational Director | Technical Director |
|---|---|---|
| Aimee Howarth 2011-current | Ross Whiting 2011-current | |
| Stefanie Neylon 2011-current | Richard Crosby 2011 | |
| Chiifen Hiu 2010-2011 | Phil Mace 2010-2011 | |
| Fiona Lavelle 2010 | Anna Goodman 2009-2010 | |
| Claire Curtis 2009 | Nish Narendran 2009 | Richard Simpson 2009-2011 |
| Marie Thouaille & Amy Benziane 2008-2009 | Nick Connell 2008-2009 | Chris Travis 2008-2009 |
| Dominic Freeston & Ruth Mosalki 2007-2008 | Nadeem Kunwar 2008 | Richard Ingle 2007-2008 |
| Daniel Ashby 2006-2007 | Oliver Ward 2006-2008'’ | Nick Evans 2006-2007 |
In 2007, within four months of launching, The Yorker was nominated at the Guardian Student Media Awards for Best Website.
The Yorker has caused controversy due to its relationship with students' union YUSU. Rival publications Nouse and York Vision are societies and are funded by the Union, under the condition that the Union approves the printed version of the papers to avoid the Union being drawn into legal trouble by any libelous articles and to protect student welfare. Due to The Yorker's independence, it is not a signatory to this Charter, however previously enjoyed some of the privileges given by it (such as press passes to Union events).
Talks between YUSU and The Yorker regarding The Yorker entering the Media Charter broke down in October 2008, resulting in The Yorker being treated as external media by YUSU and losing some of the privileges it had previously enjoyed.[6][7]
The Yorker's editorial independence claims were brought into disrepute by commentators of news articles in 2008 after company director Nadeem Kunwar ran for students' union president, one of the most heavily reported events of the year. The Yorker's exit poll[8] placed Kunwar in the lead, whilst the final election results put Kunwar in last place.[9]
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