Redbrick
TypeStudent newspaper
Format40-page compact
SchoolUniversity of Birmingham
Owner(s)University of Birmingham Guild of Students
Editor-in-chiefAlex Taylor [1]
Deputy editor
  • Oscar Frost
  • Charlotte O’Keeffe [1]
Associate editor
  • Jess Parker (Print Editor)
  • Weronika Białek and Halima Ahad (Digital Editor) [1]
Staff writers
  • Kitty Grant (Social Secretary)
  • Louis Wright (Lead Developer)[1]
Founded
  • 5 February 1936 (1936-02-05)
  • Formerly Guild News
  • (1936–1962)
Political alignmentNeutral
LanguageEnglish
HeadquartersUniversity of Birmingham Guild of Students, Edgbaston Park Road, Birmingham, B15 2TU, U.K.
Circulation1000 fortnightly during term-time
Websitewww.redbrick.me

Redbrick is the student newspaper of the University of Birmingham. Originally titled Guild News, the newspaper was renamed Redbrick in 1962. As with most student newspapers, Redbrick is not fully independent due to funding arrangements, but is editorially independent as is set out in its charter.

Redbrick is written, photographed, edited and published entirely by University students, and is run not for profit, funded by both advertising revenue and the Guild of Students.

About Redbrick

It consists of News, Comment, Culture, Music, Film, TV, Gaming, Food&Drink, Travel, Life&Style, Sci&Tech and Sport sections. A sport supplement titled The Lion was published biannually until 2014.

The newspaper is produced fortnightly during term time, with the exception of the summer semester as publication halts during exam season. The newspaper celebrated its 75th birthday in February 2011. The paper is distributed free around campus and the local area every Friday of publication week.

Redbrick's website has grown significantly following a redesign in early 2011. Following the redesign, Redbrick won the Guardian Student Media Award for 'Website of the Year' in 2011.[2][3]

In December 2018, Redbrick published its 1500th print issue.[4]

History

Early years as Guild News

Redbrick is one of the oldest student newspapers in the United Kingdom. First published as Guild News on 5 February 1936, its current name dates to 1962. One of three student publications at the university, the others being SATNAV (Science and Technology News and Views) and The Linguist, the paper was originally published alongside the student magazine The Mermaid; this ceased publication.

The newspaper continued to publish throughout the Second World War. The first issue after its declaration featured on its front page an article on the potential difference between The Great War, and the war with Germany in which the country had just become involved.

Redbrick in the late twentieth century

In summer 1972, following the holding of the Gay Liberation Front's yearly conference in Birmingham by the Guild of Students (the University of Birmingham's students' union), Redbrick published a controversial article titled 'Who's a Wanker?', which described "the practical aspects of homosexuality", then a highly controversial topic. The issue ran out and had to be reprinted. Simultaneously, it was reported to the Press Council because of that article, and it was subsequently withdrawn.[5]

Over the years, Redbrick has covered everything from visits by Prime Ministers, controversial politicians and even Malcolm X. The paper has featured many exposés, reports from behind the Iron Curtain, the 1968 student sit-ins and from behind the scenes at the BBC's first ever Prime Ministerial debate.

Modern-day paper

One of Redbrick's most successful days so far was its coverage of the 2011 England riots in Birmingham. Redbrick ran a live feed covering the events in Birmingham as they happened, including photography, commentary and a selection of tweets, which attracted over 100,000 visitors in the space of a few hours.[3][6] Redbrick continued to do this into the second and third days of rioting, and received national recognition for its coverage.[3]

The society has won recognition from various student bodies. In 2005, Redbrick won the most improved society award; following this in 2010 the newspaper won the Guild of Students Most Outstanding Society of the year award. In the same year it won the Outstanding Contribution to Sport award from the University. As previously mentioned, in November 2011, Redbrick also won the Guardian Student Media award for 'Website of the Year'.[7] In 2015, the Sport section of the newspaper was commended for its coverage, winning the Student Publication Association's 'Best University Sports Coverage' award.[8] In 2017, the Redbrick News section won the SPA's 'Best News Story' award for an in-depth investigation into the university's sport clubs' initiations.

In 2014, a funding shortfall caused the newspaper to reduce its publishing frequency from weekly to fortnightly, and its circulation from 3000 per week to 1500 per fortnight.[9]

Editorial team

Redbrick appoints its core editorial team for the coming academic year via simple majority at an annual general meeting in the summer semester. Redbrick encompasses a large team, including writers, editors, designers and managers.

Notable former editors

Many former editors have gone on to work for national publications, the most notable including Roland Buerk and former Reviews Editor Lizo Mzimba.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Contact the Team". Redbrick. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  2. ↑ "Student Media awards 2011 Winners". The Guardian. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 Halliday, Josh (24 November 2011). "University of York wins publication of the year at Guardian student awards". The Guardian. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  4. ↑ "Issue 1500 by Redbrick - issuu". Issuu. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
  5. ↑ Packham, Emma; Sparkes, Ed (2010). "History of the University of Birmingham Guild of Students" (PDF). Retrieved 24 November 2013. Following the Guild's hosting of the Gay Liberation Front Annual Conference, Redbrick prints a controversial article entitled 'Who's a Wanker?' describing the practical aspects of homosexuality. The article was reprinted due to high demand, but was eventually withdrawn by the Press Council
  6. ↑ Marshall, Sarah (10 August 2011). "Opinion: Birmingham students outshine Mail and Post in riot coverage". Journalism.co.uk. Retrieved 15 January 2017.
  7. ↑ "Student Media awards 2011 Winners". Student Media awards 2011 Winners. The Guardian. 28 November 2011. Retrieved 15 July 2014.
  8. ↑ Phillips, James. "Redbrick awarded Best University Sports Coverage". Redbrick. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
  9. ↑ Phillips, James. "Editorial: It's been a turbulent year for Redbrick but I'll miss it". Redbrick. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 17 January 2017.
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