The Yorker is a student-run website which provides news, features, comment and reviews on everything that is going on in York.
With no political or campus affiliations, The Yorker's coverage comes with an independent and unique character.
The Yorker is also a private limited company. We are self-sufficient, and any profits we do make go to charity. Last year we raised £300 for the Guardian Angels Appeal.
The site was conceived in 2006 by two students: journalist Daniel Ashby and computer scientist Nick Evans.
From its beginnings as the pair's part-time project, The Yorker has blossomed into the University of York's largest student-run company, with over 120 members and contributing writers. Now in its second year there is still an aura of excitement about the project.
The company is divided into three teams: Journalism, Technical, and Operational, each headed by a director. These teams offer a wide range of opportunities for student involvement, consequently leading to our current diverse membership.
People who join the Yorker are not only attracted by the chance to experience the workings of a broadcaster, but also due to the approachable and friendly attitude of the team.
The team is run by four directors. To see their profiles click here.
To become a nationally recognised media outlet highlighted through regular nominations in student media awards for the website and our journalists.
To attain and maintain the highest standard of journalism through attracting and developing a diverse range of student journalists.
To be at the cutting edge of technological and media development, both locally and nationally.
To hold an independent attitude in all our coverage, reflected in our continued status as an independent company.
To become a Hub of student life in York, and in so doing become the first port-of-call for all students and staff at the University of York; in the future the website will provide information on every event, society, department, venue and service, both in town and on campus.
To raise at least £1000 for charity every three years, as well as remain financially self-sufficient.
The Yorker brings news to campus quicker and more comprehensively than all other media outlets. We brought York exclusives on the February bomb scare in the city centre (a national exclusive), the North Yorkshire earthquake (beating the BBC coverage), a breach of confidentiality by the University Counselling Services, and on the former Welfare officer hitting a student.
We are also the only student media group who are editorially independent of the Students' Union, which gives our coverage a unique character in York.
In 2007, within four months of launching, The Yorker was nominated for a Guardian Student Media Award for Best Website, showing that our innovation was recognised on a national level.
In line with our aspiration to be at the cutting edge of media and technology, The Yorker offers Videocasting and Podcasting coverage of the biggest news stories, interviews and the arts. Our videocasts are produced through a joint venture with YSTV, called York90. Below is a Videocast covering the referendum on NUS membership:
In April 2008 we added the ability for our reporters to contribute to a live blog using their mobile phones. This was first put into practice during our first coverage of the Roses tournament between York and Lancaster.
Over the spring term we reached up to 1000 visits a day, peaking at almost 3000 for our live coverage of the YUSU elections.
Our comment system encourages highly participated debates; unlike other York media outlets, comments go live immediately after being posted. The debate sparked by Welfare Officer admits hitting student and YUSU Officer speaks out against Fletcher-Hackwood is a good example of this.
If you have a news story you think our news team should be aware of you can email our News Editor on news@theyorker.co.uk.
