The Saint (UK newspaper)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources:  –  ·  ·  · scholar · JSTOR (July 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The Saint

Type	Fortnightly newspaper
Format	Tabloid
Editor	Olivia Bybel and Linden Grigg
Founded	1984; Current name dates from 1997
Headquarters	Saint Office, St Mary's Place, St Andrews, Scotland
Circulation	2,000 (in print)
Website	http://www.thesaint.scot/

The Saint is a newspaper written by students at the University of St Andrews in Scotland. It is one of only a few student newspapers in the UK to enjoy complete financial and editorial independence, as it is not affiliated with the University or Students' Association in any way. It is published fortnightly during term time.

History[]

The Saint was preceded in the 1960s by Aien, a broadsheet named for the University's motto, Aien Aristeuein, Greek for 'Ever to Excel'. After the closure of that paper the current organisation, known as The Chronicle, was founded in 1984. The Chronicle won The Herald's Scottish Student Newspaper of the Year award in 1997.

In 1997 the paper - by now being published in tabloid format - was rebranded as The Saint.

Past editors[]

The first editor of The Saint was Tim Samuels, now a BBC journalist and documentary maker, best known for creating The Zimmers. The 2001-02 editor was Robbie Collin. The editor from 2006-2007, Andrew Keenan, went on to serve as President of the Students' Association from 2008-2010.

Organisation[]

The Saint is governed by a constitution.^[1]

The paper has no sabbatical officers or paid staff. Instead it is run entirely by student volunteers who are simultaneously studying full-time for their degrees. The senior editorial positions such as editor, production manager and section editors are filled by elections twice a year, in which the current editorial staff can vote. Other roles, such as the section sub-editors and members of the business team, are appointed following an interview process. There are currently around 15 elected members of staff and around 50 staff positions in total.

In addition to staff positions there are many regular and irregular writers, photographers and other contributors, meaning a considerable number of St Andrews students have at one time or another been involved in The Saint. Section editors hold regular meetings, which any student or staff member may attend, to commission articles.

Independence[]

The Saint is one of only a few UK student newspapers to boast full financial and editorial independence from both the University and their Student Union. The other UK newspapers with a similar financial and editorial position are the Cherwell of Oxford, and the Varsity of Cambridge. The newspaper's income does not come from a grant, but entirely from advertising. Financial difficulties arising from such an unusual situation have often threatened the future of the newspaper. The Saint therefore exercises considerable independence and prints stories regarding student elections and University matters that non-independent student newspapers would be unable to run. At times, this has led to tension between the newspaper and both the Union and University. Students have been known to question the level of independence The Saint has, since it rents space within the Students' Association Building. However, The Saint is not mentioned in any Association or Union rules and regulations and only works within the Union building as an unconnected tenant.

Many St Andrews students are unaware of The Saint's lack of connection with the Union and University. As a recent example, heads of a prominent University society approached Students' Association sabbaticals - who have no control over the newspaper - in an attempt to stop a controversial article from running in Issue 112.^[2] However, the paper has been mired in scandal in the past and the Association and the University have often come into heated conflict with the editorial staff of the newspaper, resulting in evictions and attempts at gaining a degree of editorial control.^{[citation needed]}

The Saint is well known for its criticism of many Union 'hacks' and their policies, resulting in a long-standing feud between the two groups of students that has seen the paper expelled from its offices in the past. With the graduation of both the editorial staff and Sabbatical staff of the time, the tensions have abated and a cordial relationship resumed.^{[citation needed]}

The Saint and its writers have received many honours and much critical praise from both The Herald and The Guardian.^[3]

References[]

• Evening Telegraph on eviction
• Telegraph coverage of eviction^{[dead link]}