Gaudie

The Gaudie

Type	Fortnightly during Aberdeen University term time
Official website	www.thegaudie.co.uk

The Gaudie is an independent student run newspaper at the University of Aberdeen covering campus and local news. It has been in circulation since 1934 and is currently free-of-charge. The Gaudie is funded directly by Aberdeen University Students' Association, whose President holds the position of Editor-in-Chief for legal reasons. In 2009, it celebrated its diamond (75th) anniversary by holding a ceilidh.

History

The Gaudie was first released in 1934 as a weekly student paper. It is recognised as one of the oldest student newspapers in Scotland and the United Kingdom, and in 2003 was stated as the oldest by the Guardian. It has been produced by Aberdeen's student association by students since its inception in 1934. It suffered negative press in 2003 when the then editorial team resigned in protest over the Aberdeen University Students' Association attempts to enforce content and restrict the budget and print run. Since 2009, the paper has seen a revival around campus and has successfully re-established itself around the King's College Campus.

2003 Resignation Controversy

In 2003, there was outrage over the attempts by the Aberdeen University Students' Association to enforce content on the editorial team. AUSA believed that as the Students' Association paid for the paper, they were entitled to advertise the Association and its endeavours. Led by Mark Lindley-Highfield of Ballumbie Castle (The 14th Baron of Cartsburn), the entire editorial team of the paper resigned. The issue was taken to Parliament by the MP for Orkney, criticizing the Students' Association's "ill-advised move". During Lindley-Highfield of Ballumbie Castle's tenure, the paper doubled its number of pages and increased the proportion of the paper produced in colour while still performing better than budget on the back of increased circulation and greater advertising revenue, which he put down to the excellent team.

Post-2003

In the wake of the mass resignation, AUSA began to produce the paper themselves and its quality and readership declined. Over the next 5 years attempts were made to rekindle support for the paper amongst the student community.

2009-Today

The paper began to re-emerge and regain popularity in 2009, as new student editorial teams began to modernise the paper and increase circulation, contribution and presence around campus. As of 2012 the paper has seen widespread positive feedback and is continuing to spread its name around the campus in which it was once so popular.

Reputation

The Gaudie has an enormous history at the University of Aberdeen and continues to build on its reputation. Many Alumni recall their take on the paper and its progression since their time at AU. It has been an intrinsic part of the student community for nearly 80 years, and is held by a number of students as one of the bastions of truth and honesty at the University.

Editors of the Gaudie

• 1989-90 Gordon McKenzie (First term)
• 1989-90 Neil McKain & Phil McQueen (second term)
• 1990-91 Angela Madden & Timothy Morey (First term)
• 1994-95 Calum Ewing and Margaret Fielding
• 1995-96 -
• 1996-97 -
• 1997-98 -
• 1998-99 Juliet Fletcher, now Statehouse reporter for The Record (New Jersey)
• 1999-00 Robert Littlejohn (First Semester)
• 1999-00 Lesley Millar (Second Semester)
• 2000-01 Roy Carter
• 2001-02 Hugh CA Stewart
• 2002-03 Mark Lindley-Highfield of Ballumbie Castle, The 14th Baron of Cartsburn
• 2003-04 Marie Bailey
• 2004-05 -
• 2005-06 -
• 2006-07 -
• 2007-08 John Beattie
• 2008-09 Chris Reagan
• 2009-10 John Braid and Alex Lewis
• 2010-11 John Braid and Joseph Blythe (First Semester)
• 2010-11 Joseph Blythe (Second Semester)
• 2011-12 Stuart Hewitt (First Semester
• 2011-12 Anne-Claire Deseilligny and James Valentine (Second Semester)
• 2012-13 James Valentine and Claire Wheelans

External links

• [1]
• Facebook Group