Leeds Student
| Type | Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| Owner(s) | Leeds University Union |
| Editor | Jessica Murray |
| Founded | 1970 |
| Language | English |
| Headquarters | Leeds University Union, Leeds |
| Website | thegryphon.co.uk |
The Gryphon, formerly known as Leeds Student, is a British weekly student newspaper, published free every Friday during term-time and distributed around the University of Leeds, Leeds, England. The only paid position is that of the editor, who is elected yearly by members of Leeds University Union. The articles are written by students, and are largely about local and student based issues.
Leeds Student was formed in 1970 by the merger of the Leeds University Union newspaper (Union News) and the then Leeds Polytechnic Students Union newspaper (Pact), but in November 2005 Leeds Metropolitan University students voted to disaffiliate from Leeds Student, citing under-representation. In 2014, Leeds Student was renamed to The Gryphon in a return to the name of the first Leeds University newspaper from 1895.
The editorship became a full-time, paid sabbatical position in 1972 after a campaign led by the then editor, Paul Vallely, who went on to become the first sabbatical editor. Notable previous editors include Paul Dacre and Nicholas Witchell.
In 1970 the students unions of Leeds University and the then Leeds Polytechnic voted to amalgamate their newspapers into a single publication entitled Leeds Student. In its first year of existence (1970–71) and again two years later (1972–73) the paper was voted Student Newspaper of the Year in the Student Media Awards.
The paper has subsequently been awarded the accolade of Publication of the Year in the Guardian Student Media Awards in 1998, 1999 and 2009.
The Gryphon was also the winner of the Best Student Newspaper award in the inaugural National Student Journalism Awards in 1999 organised by the National Union of Students and The Independent newspaper.
In December 2005, Leeds Metropolitan University Students Union (LMUSU) members chose via ballot to dissociate from the paper. In the past, this had been a joint venture between the two universities, but after continued complaints of a Leeds University centred perspective, a referendum was called to decide whether LMUSU should retain its link with the paper and continue paying a small proportion toward the paper's expenses. Members voted to dissolve the link, and henceforth the paper is a solely Leeds University Union maintained enterprise.
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