Palatinate (newspaper)

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Palatinate
Scribere historiam Dunelmensis
Front page from 5 December 2013
TypeFortnightly newspaper
FormatTabloid
PublisherDurham Students' Union
Editor-in-chiefEmily Doughty and Joe Harston
Founded17 March 1948 (1948-03-17)
HeadquartersDunelm House, Durham
Websitepalatinate.org.uk

Palatinate is the student newspaper of Durham University. One of Britain's oldest student publications, Palatinate is frequently ranked as one of the leading student outlets in the UK and Ireland, winning Best Publication in the Student Publication Association's 2018 and 2021 national awards.[1] In the same year Palatinate was Highly Commended in the Best Publication category of the BBC Radio 4 Today Programme's Student Journalism Awards. Several of its editors have gone on to gain national recognition in journalism.

The name of the newspaper derives from the colour Palatinate, a shade of purple closely associated with the university and derived from County Durham's political history as a County Palatine. It published its first edition on 17 March 1948 and celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018.

Palatinate is published on a fortnightly basis during term time, and its editors-in-chief are elected by the editorial board. The paper emphasises news and investigations about Durham University, and also includes sports, science, comment, satire, and a pull-out arts and lifestyle magazine, Indigo.

Durham Students’ Union previously paid for the publication of Palatinate, but the organisation now relies mostly on advertising and alumni donations to continue printing.[2]

In April 2020, Palatinate launched a video side, Palatinate TV.[3] Combined, over 150 student volunteers work for the newspaper and video outlet.

History

The first issue of the student newspaper was published on 17 March 1948. Although the paper was initially designed to "bridge the gap" between the Newcastle and Durham divisions of the university poor sales in the Newcastle college led to the paper refocussing as a Durham-only publication after just three issues.[4][5] Several of the Newcastle students involved in establishing Palatinate went on to set up their own paper for Newcastle students, King's Courier.

From 2001 until 2004, Palatinate was published in broadsheet format, before reverting to tabloid format.

In November 2008, Palatinate launched Indigo, an arts and features pull-out supplement, and celebrated its 700th edition.

In March 2013, a Science and Technology section was launched online and printed in the bumper 750th Celebratory Edition. In 2014, Palatinate launched a Profile section. Since December 2014, journalists from the newspaper have interviewed people such as Jess Phillips, Steph Houghton, David Blunkett, Edwina Currie, Moazzam Begg, Owen Jones, Esther Rantzen and Norman Baker.

In November 2015, issues began to be digitised on the Palatinate website. In 2017, the newspaper celebrated its 800th edition, with guest columns by former editors Sir Harold Evans,[6] Hunter Davies and Jeremy Vine, along with an interview with George Alagiah. Palatinate celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2018.

In September 2020, citing the impact of COVID-19, Durham Students' Union cut its funding for Palatinate's print edition. Editors-in-Chief Imogen Usherwood and Tash Mosheim launched a fundraising appeal which provided the means to fund print for Michaelmas term in full and Epiphany in part.[7][8][9][10] In November 2020, Palatinate's website was redesigned for the first time since its creation.

In March 2021, Palatinate announced the relaunch of PalatinateTV (or PalTV), which it described as "Durham's first student TV station". The trailer on YouTube featured former Palatinate Editor-in-Chief Jeremy Vine.[11][12]

In May 2021, Palatinate was declared the best student publication in the UK at the Student Publication Association Awards.[13] The paper also took home Best Reporter (Toby Donegan-Cross) and Best News Story, and was highly commended for the Billy Dowling-Reid Award for Outstanding Commitment (Imogen Usherwood and Tash Mosheim), Best Sports Coverage and Best Science Section. The paper had been nominated for 13 awards, including Best Website and Best Digital Media.

In November 2022, Palatinate's editorial board voted 97% in favour of becoming an independent newspaper, and leaving Durham Students Union.[14]

Structure

Palatinate is published by, but is editorially independent from, Durham Students’ Union. The newspaper has an editorial board of around 80 student volunteers, and its video side, Palatinate TV, has a separate team of a similar size. Students apply to volunteer for Palatinate, which does not charge membership fees. Both the newspaper and TV side train students for free in journalistic skills, including media law, video editing, camera operating, lighting and sound, and newspaper design software.

Many students every year leave Palatinate to work directly for media organisations or pursue postgraduate qualifications in journalism. There are two Editors-in-Chief of Palatinate, elected by the editorial board for two terms each, following a recommendation by a board of directors. All other roles in the newspaper and video side are appointed by the Editors-in-Chief after a competitive application process. The design of the newspaper has changed subtly over the years, including the introduction of a crest, and several redesigns of the arts and lifestyle magazine.

Awards
  • In 2021, Palatinate received national commendation in the Houses of Parliament for "providing a high standard of journalism and a pathway for a career in the media for students at Durham University."[15]
  • In 2021, PalTV was nominated for the Bright Network Impact on Campus Award.[16]
  • In 2001, Palatinate was named the NUS/The Independent Student Newspaper of the Year.[17][18][19] In 2003, reporter Oliver Brown was runner-up for the Best Student Reporter category of the NUS National Student Media Awards.[20]
  • In 1999, Palatinate was named runner-up in the Student Newspaper of the Year category of the Guardian Student Media Awards.[21]
  • In 2022, PalTV won Broadcaster of the Year at the National Student Television Association awards.[22]

PalTV

The first launch of Palatinate TV happened in 2009, when the Palatinate YouTube channel was first created. After a few dormant years, including another attempted reboot 2014, it was rebooted in 2021 as PalTV by Station Manager James Tillotson. It was used to host interviews with candidates for the upcoming Student Union elections.[23] PalTV has since maintained content production throughout 2021, including interviews, "vox pop" interviews with students, and news coverage of local events.

PalTV runs a mentorship scheme for students looking to get involved in broadcast journalism.

In 2021, PalTV was nominated for the Bright Network Impact on Campus Award for "going above and beyond to support their members and the wider university to achieve success, in terms of careers and development of new skills and personal growth."[24]

Notable editors-in-chief

References
  1. sub.editors (10 May 2021). "Palatinate wins Best Publication at the SPA Awards 2021". Palatinate. Retrieved 28 November 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  2. "Durham student newspaper Palatinate has printing budget axed". BBC News. 10 September 2020. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  3. PalTV Recruitment AD, retrieved 28 November 2021
  4. "Editorial". Palatinate. 17 March 1948. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  5. "Editorial". Palatinate. 22 June 1948. Retrieved 4 June 2018.
  6. sub.editors (6 October 2016). "Harold Evans: the journey from Palatinate to The Sunday Times Editor". Palatinate. Retrieved 28 November 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  7. "Durham student newspaper Palatinate has printing budget axed". BBC News. 10 September 2020.
  8. Imogen Usherwood; Tash Mosheim (9 September 2020). "Editorial: Palatinate deserves SU funding for print newspapers". Palatinate.
  9. "Funding withdrawn for Durham University newspaper". The Northern Echo. 10 September 2020.
  10. Summer Goodkind (22 September 2020). "Student paper which launched Jeremy Vine and George Alagiah under threat". The Telegraph.
  11. "PalTV needs you!". Facebook. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
  12. PalTV Recruitment AD, retrieved 9 March 2021
  13. sub.editors (10 May 2021). "Palatinate wins Best Publication at the SPA Awards 2021". Palatinate. Retrieved 12 May 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  14. Joe Rossiter and Nicole Wu, https://www.palatinate.org.uk/palatinate-demands-independence/
  15. sub.editors (12 May 2021). "Palatinate receives national commendation from Houses of Parliament". Palatinate. Retrieved 28 November 2021. {{cite web}}: |last= has generic name (help)
  16. "Bright Network". Bright Network. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  17. Sargeson, Nikki (20 October 2001). "Student journalists honoured". Holdthefrontpage.co.uk. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  18. Hodges, Lucy (28 October 2001). "Durham wins award for best student paper". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  19. Hodges, Lucy (1 November 2001). "Education: Did they have some news for us?". The Independent. UK. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  20. "York Vision does the double". Holdthefrontpage.co.uk. 25 November 2003. Archived from the original on 7 August 2007. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  21. Carvel, John (26 October 1999). "Talent, flair and a new voice". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 28 August 2007.
  22. "Bright Network". PalTV Website.
  23. SU Election Coverage Trailer, archived from the original on 22 December 2021, retrieved 28 November 2021
  24. "Bright Network". Bright Network. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
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