The Gown Student Newspaper at Queen's University Belfast

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Your student newspaper

The Gown is a free, fortnightly student newspaper at Queen’s University Belfast. The paper is funded independently through advertising and run entirely by students.

Founded in March 1955 by medical student Richard Herman, the paper’s aim was to hold the University and its Students’ Union accountable to the students of Queen’s.
Over its long history, The Gown has reported many hard-hitting and influential stories. During the Troubles, the newspaper covered the deaths of a local MP and the murder of Queen’s lecturer and Assembly member Edgar Graham. The paper also spoke to a then little known band called U2.

Throughout this time the paper has given its volunteers essential experience in journalism, media and business. Among its distinguished pasts contributors are former Irish Times foreign correspondent Conor O’Clery, the Irish Independent’s Brendan Keenan and Liam McAuley, and the BBC’s Nick Ross, Mark Carruthers and Maggie Taggart.

Today The Gown continues to report the major issues which students are interested in, and act as an independent outlet for student comment and debate.

Our Aim

To provide students with impartial, balanced news stories which are of interest to Queen’s, St. Mary’s and Stranmillis students. The Gown endeavour to holds Queen’s and its Union to account. Through this, The Gown will give its team of volunteers essential experience in journalism, media and business.

Current Structure

The Gown is lead by a management committee, made up of a varied group of dedicated and skilled students. The leadership responsibilities associated with completing a fortnightly newspaper are efficiently separated between the committee roles. Members of the committee (except the Editor- see next paragraph) are selected each year by the outgoing committee members, with the aim of establishing a devoted, enthusiastic and balanced core team who can best represent the interests of the student population.

The newspaper also has an advisory committee called ‘The Gown Trust’. This group, made up of successful past members of The Gown, meet at least twice during the academic year to give advice and support to the students running the newspaper. The Trust also decides, along with the outgoing Editor, who shall take over the Editorial post in the newspaper.

If you would like to know more about how the paper is run, please get in touch.

How do I get involved in The Gown?

There are many ways in which students can get involved in The Gown, from writing articles to photography and design. If you would like to become part the team, feel free to contact us for more information.

When is The Gown published?

The Gown is available for free every fortnight during the
academic term.

Where can I get The Gown?

The fortnightly newspaper is available at many points across the Queen’s campus during term time.

Have a look at the list below to find your nearest Gown distribution point:

• Queen’s Students’ Union
• New Library
• Student Guidance Centre
• Queen’s Welcome Centre
• QFT
• PFC
• DKB
• BCB
• Ashby
• PEC
• MBC
• Elms Village
• Church of Ireland Student Centre
• Edgehill Theological College

You can also download a PDF copy of each issue via our downloads section.

Who made The Gown website?

Martin Hughes made the website a former Multimedia Design student at University of Ulster. Follow Martin on Twitter or contact him via his web design portfolio.

To advertise online or in our print email us thegown@hotmail.com

Want to target students?

The Gown is a fortnightly free newspaper in Belfast, targeted specifically at Queen’s University students. For over half a century, The Gown has reported on the major issues which students are interested in. The publication is independent of Queen’s, and thus acts as the voice of students, holding the University and the Students’ Union accountable to the student population. The newspaper balances this with a fresh look at arts and entertainment in Belfast, unique features and insightful commentary on sport at Queen’s. The design reflects The Gown’s position as a serious, contemporary newspaper, driven by an enthusiastic team of dedicated Queen’s students.

Pay for advertising (contact us for prices)

Disribution

The Gown is distributed to the major areas of the Queen’s campus, and is continuously re-supplied to ensure its availability. Each issue is announced through our website, an email to all students and press releases to radio and other media.

The Gown website

The Gown website ensures up-to-date coverage of events at Queen’s University. Putting student social interaction at the forefront of its design, the website has been developed in conjunction with a presence on major social-networking forums, including Twitter and Facebook.

To find out more about advertising with The Gown or to receive a copy of our rates card, please email us: thegown@hotmail.com