Blow to student freesheet launch

Student authorities in Edinburgh have blocked the distribution of a cross-campus newspaper targeting five Scottish universities.

The Journal, a 32-page full-colour newspaper, has fallen foul of Edinburgh University's student association, which is refusing to allow the paper to be distributed in dump bins across the city.

The paper will print about 14,000 copies each fortnight and aims to reach 60,000 students on the campuses of five different universities - making it Scotland's largest university newspaper when it launches on November 5.

However, Edinburgh University Students' Association wants to support the university's own weekly newspaper, the Student, and its fortnightly magazine, Hype.

It will not allow the Journal to use the 40 drop bins in the university campus and halls of residence.

"If they are left anywhere they will be recycled," a spokesman from the Edinburgh University Students' Association said. "We have made it quite clear that they are quite similar to Student newspaper in approach and our goal to produce Student newspaper.

"We wish the Journal the best of luck with their project. To clarify, they have not been given any official notification to distribute on campus and that will be reviewed if appropriate at a later stage."

The spokesman said there was "no bad blood" between the papers and that EUSA would re-examine its decision in January.

Devon Walshe, a director at the Journal, said the paper was not relying on drop bins on campus sites for distribution but on hand-to-hand distribution.

"We are being very active with our distribution strategy - it won't make much difference to us."

Copying a distribution method used by London freesheets, the Journal will hire people to hand out copies to students at campuses of the University of Edinburgh, Napier University, Queen Margaret University, Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt University.

When it launches on November 5, the Journal will be the UK's first Berliner format student newspaper. It will be printed at Trafford Park Printers, part owned by the Guardian Media Group, owners of MediaGuardian.co.uk.

Five years ago the Student, which Robert Louis Stevenson helped to found in 1887, attempted to distribute across all the higher education institutions with separate front pages. It nearly bankrupted the newspaper.

Now the Student and Hype sell advertising on behalf of the Glasgow University paper the Glasgow Guardian. The Student advertising sales turnover is £250,000 a year.

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