This Editorial was originally published in the first print edition of the 2023-24 academic year. Callum Devereux is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief.
From the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, The Student’s immediate prosperity has fluctuated as much as the well-being of an Edinburgh student. As student satisfaction towards the university has continued to slide, so too had our existential future against the endlessly difficult battle of rising print costs. Yet, coming back to The Student after a year studying abroad, I am amazed by the passion and level of enthusiasm that we have attracted, both during Freshers Week, and in preparing this first print edition.
I like to imagine that this is all down to our wonderful marketing, our brand exposure during the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and our own editorial efforts over the last year in promoting the cause of student journalism far and wide. All of those things are somewhat true, but I also think student journalism can, for many, draw people in by itself.
Student journalism is a passion project, a volunteering exercise motivated by the interest in writing and covering events that matter both to you as a student of Edinburgh, and to the wider community we exist within. The romantic allure (heck, novelty) of a physical student newspaper perhaps also remains a pull-factor, one still undiluted by the intensity that regular publication demands.
Having been involved with The Student since the darker days of pandemic-enforced Teams meetings and lengthy spells of online-only publication, to have around 100 writers attend our first meeting last Monday was inspiring to me, a source of great comfort coming in to what is a very changed environment (personnel-wise) from the institution I briefly departed last year.
With such passion and enthusiasm comes money – your money, we hope, from the interest you share in reading these words and wishing to get involved, and the money of partners and advertisers who understand the value, both social and commercial, of a vocal mouthpiece for the Edinburgh student community. This is the cycle of our economic model, a relentlessly chaotic routine sustained by your passion. It is your continued support that makes it an honour to be in this position writing these words, a privilege to work with Joe and Rachel in leading The Student – on your behalf as much as ours.
Image via Liam Howie