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{{short description|Student newspaper of the University of Reading}}
{{short description|Student newspaper of the University of Reading}}
{{Underlinked|date=January 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox newspaper
{{Infobox newspaper
|name = The Spark
|name = The Spark
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}}
}}


'''''The Spark''''' is the [[student newspaper]] of the [[University of Reading]]. It is produced monthly during term time (previously fortnightly) and is available as a paper edition distributed across University halls of residence, academic, and administrative buildings. The paper follows a traditional newspaper layout: the front portion of the newspaper is devoted to news issues, particularly those concerning students at the University.
'''''The Spark''''' is the [[student newspaper]] of the [[University of Reading]] in the United Kingdom
''The Spark'' is produced monthly during term time (previously fortnightly) and is available as a paper edition distributed across University halls of residence, academic, and administrative buildings. The paper follows a traditional newspaper layout: the front portion of the newspaper is devoted to news issues, particularly those concerning students at the university.


==History==
==History==
''The Spark'' was established in 1934 as '''''The Shell''''', and varied considerably in design, style and quality with the change in the demographic of the University, the advancement in printing and editorial techniques, and the change in political orientation of the editorial team. In 1984, the newspaper changed format to a more magazine-style publication, rebranding itself as the short-lived '''''Splat''''', before changing again to ''Spark*'' in 1988. ''Spark*'' reverted to a newspaper format in 1990, under the title ''Spark''. At this point the newspaper was published weekly. In 2006, the then Reading University Students' Union ([[University of Reading#student life|RUSU]]) President Dave Lewis took the decision to have ''Spark*'' published fortnightly, to reduce costs and to give the volunteer staff more time between issues whilst completing their degrees. This move coincided with a move to printing in full colour and the rebranding as ''Spark*''.
''The Spark'' was established in 1934 as ''The Shell''. In 1984, the newspaper changed format to a more [[magazine]]-style publication, rebranding itself as the short-lived ''Splat,'' before changing again to ''Spark*'' in 1988. ''Spark*'' reverted to a newspaper format in 1990, under the title ''Spark''. At this point the newspaper was published weekly.
In 2006, the then Reading University Students' Union ([[University of Reading#student life|RUSU]]) President Dave Lewis decided to have ''Spark*'' published fortnightly, to reduce costs and to give the volunteer staff more time between issues whilst completing their degrees. This move coincided with a move to printing in full colour and the rebranding as ''Spark*''.


In recent years, ''The Spark'' has been aiming to increase the quality of the newspaper, particularly following a scathing ''[[The Independent|Independent]]'' article in 2005, where a former Varsity editor described ''The Spark'' as 'about as visually appealing as a punch in the retina'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/grant-chequebook-journalism-pays-off-530237.html |title=Grant chequebook journalism pays off - Media, News |publisher=The Independent |date=2005-03-28 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref> Since then, the newspaper has had a major redesign by University Typography and Graphic Communication students, and has upgraded its design software to [[Adobe InDesign|Adobe InDesign CS3]] thanks to a donation by the University's annual fund.
In a 2005 [[The Independent|Independent]] article, a former Varsity editor described ''The Spark'' as 'about as visually appealing as a punch in the retina'.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/grant-chequebook-journalism-pays-off-530237.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220524/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/grant-chequebook-journalism-pays-off-530237.html |archive-date=24 May 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Grant chequebook journalism pays off - Media, News |publisher=The Independent |date=2005-03-28 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref> Since then, the newspaper has had a major redesign by University Typography and Graphic Communication students, and has upgraded its design software to [[Adobe InDesign|Adobe InDesign CS3]] .


==Awards==
==Awards==
''The Spark'' is frequently nominated by its editorial team for the [[Guardian Student Media Awards|''Guardian'' Student Media Awards]] in a number of categories. 2010 was a particularly strong year for ''Spark*'', beginning with two writers, Georgina Mills and Marcus Greenslade, winning first and second prizes respectively in Up to Speed's student journalism competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2010/02/04/student-journalism-update-sky-names-bob-friend-scholar-up-to-speed-awards-announced/ |title=Student journalism update: Sky names Bob Friend Scholar, Up To Speed awards announced &#124; Journalism.co.uk Editors' Blog |publisher=Blogs.journalism.co.uk |date=2010-02-04 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2068101_students_have_the_spark_for_journalism |title=Students have the Spark for journalism - News - getreading - Reading Post |publisher=getreading |date=2010-03-24 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref>
''The Spark has been'' nominated by its editorial team for the [[Guardian Student Media Awards|''Guardian'' Student Media Awards]] in a number of categories. In 2010, two writers, Georgina Mills and Marcus Greenslade, won first and second prizes respectively in Up to Speed's student journalism competition.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://blogs.journalism.co.uk/editors/2010/02/04/student-journalism-update-sky-names-bob-friend-scholar-up-to-speed-awards-announced/ |title=Student journalism update: Sky names Bob Friend Scholar, Up To Speed awards announced &#124; Journalism.co.uk Editors' Blog |publisher=Blogs.journalism.co.uk |date=2010-02-04 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.getreading.co.uk/news/s/2068101_students_have_the_spark_for_journalism |title=Students have the Spark for journalism - News - getreading - Reading Post |publisher=getreading |date=2010-03-24 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref>


In November 2010, ''The Spark''{{'}}s (then known as 'Spark*') music editor Kate Allen received the gong for best student writer at the Record of the Day Awards 2010, which recognise contributions to music journalism. Kate was heavily commended by [[The Guardian|''The Guardian'']]{{'}}s Film and Music editor, Michael Hann.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/article.php?contentID=1160 |title=Record of the Day |publisher=Record of the Day |date=2010-11-26 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recordoftheday.com/awards/index.php |title=Record of the Day |publisher=Record of the Day |date=2010-12-02 |accessdate=2010-12-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111021939/http://www.recordoftheday.com/awards/index.php |archivedate=2011-11-11 }}</ref>
In November 2010, ''The Spark''{{'}}s (then known as 'Spark*') music editor Kate Allen received the gong for best student writer at the Record of the Day Awards 2010, which recognise contributions to music journalism.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.recordoftheday.com/news-and-press/article.php?contentID=1160 |title=Record of the Day |publisher=Record of the Day |date=2010-11-26 |accessdate=2010-12-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.recordoftheday.com/awards/index.php |title=Record of the Day |publisher=Record of the Day |date=2010-12-02 |accessdate=2010-12-15 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111021939/http://www.recordoftheday.com/awards/index.php |archivedate=2011-11-11 }}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
* [http://sparknewspaper.co.uk/ ''The Spark'''s website]
* [http://sparknewspaper.co.uk/ ''The Spark''{{'s}} website]


{{University of Reading}}
{{University of Reading}}
{{Student newspapers in the United Kingdom}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Spark}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Spark}}
[[Category:Student newspapers published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:Student newspapers published in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:University of Reading]]
[[Category:University of Reading]]
[[Category:Publications established in 1934]]
[[Category:Newspapers established in 1934]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in the United Kingdom]]

Latest revision as of 06:52, 5 February 2024

The Spark
TypeMonthly newspaper
FormatCompact (Tabloid)
Owner(s)Reading University Students' Union
Founded1934
HeadquartersReading University Students' Union Media Centre
Circulation2,000
Websitesparknewspaper.co.uk

The Spark is the student newspaper of the University of Reading in the United Kingdom

The Spark is produced monthly during term time (previously fortnightly) and is available as a paper edition distributed across University halls of residence, academic, and administrative buildings. The paper follows a traditional newspaper layout: the front portion of the newspaper is devoted to news issues, particularly those concerning students at the university.

History

[edit]

The Spark was established in 1934 as The Shell. In 1984, the newspaper changed format to a more magazine-style publication, rebranding itself as the short-lived Splat, before changing again to Spark* in 1988. Spark* reverted to a newspaper format in 1990, under the title Spark. At this point the newspaper was published weekly.

In 2006, the then Reading University Students' Union (RUSU) President Dave Lewis decided to have Spark* published fortnightly, to reduce costs and to give the volunteer staff more time between issues whilst completing their degrees. This move coincided with a move to printing in full colour and the rebranding as Spark*.

In a 2005 Independent article, a former Varsity editor described The Spark as 'about as visually appealing as a punch in the retina'.[1] Since then, the newspaper has had a major redesign by University Typography and Graphic Communication students, and has upgraded its design software to Adobe InDesign CS3 .

Awards

[edit]

The Spark has been nominated by its editorial team for the Guardian Student Media Awards in a number of categories. In 2010, two writers, Georgina Mills and Marcus Greenslade, won first and second prizes respectively in Up to Speed's student journalism competition.[2][3]

In November 2010, The Spark's (then known as 'Spark*') music editor Kate Allen received the gong for best student writer at the Record of the Day Awards 2010, which recognise contributions to music journalism.[4][5]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Grant chequebook journalism pays off - Media, News". The Independent. 28 March 2005. Archived from the original on 24 May 2022. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  2. ^ "Student journalism update: Sky names Bob Friend Scholar, Up To Speed awards announced | Journalism.co.uk Editors' Blog". Blogs.journalism.co.uk. 4 February 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  3. ^ "Students have the Spark for journalism - News - getreading - Reading Post". getreading. 24 March 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  4. ^ "Record of the Day". Record of the Day. 26 November 2010. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
  5. ^ "Record of the Day". Record of the Day. 2 December 2010. Archived from the original on 11 November 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2010.
[edit]
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