Robert Delaney is a Student Media Representative and has been the co-Editor-in-Chief of The Cheese Grater for the past year
We caught up with Rob to find out how student media can expand the ecosystem of student life. As someone who’s taken on a leadership role in one of UCL’s student media societies, Rob has seen first-hand how powerful student-led storytelling can be in bringing people together and shaping the university experience beyond the classroom.
Getting into student media
I'm a second year Historian, and this past year have been the Student Media Representative and the co-Editor-in-Chief of The Cheese Grater, a student publication.
I got into student media during my first year at university. I went along to a meeting, had a great time in terms of meeting people and forging these connections, and then got roped into the actual writing and editorial side of things - which I ended up absolutely loving. In the most immediate sense, joining The Cheese Grater was about making friends and meeting people with similar interests to me. But, as a commuter student, it also gave me another reason to come on to campus. I think what it really did for me was to connect me to the UCL community at large.
I think what it really did for me was to connect me to the UCL community at large
I went into student media sitting on the antagonistic side of things (and in some ways, I still am), but my opinion and perspectives shifted towards elevating student achievements and student voices - it was important to me to put students back at the centre of what student journalism is really about. To me, celebrating student achievement is incredibly important. It is a chance to really tie together the student community in everything from sports to arts to social impact.
I'm proud of the way that The Cheese Grater has reaffirmed celebrating student achievements as being central to our mission as a publication. In highlighting these sorts of achievements, it shows that you are part of something bigger.
I'm proud of the way that The Cheese Grater has reaffirmed celebrating student achievements as being central to our mission as a publication
Finding your feet
To anyone new thinking about getting involved in student media, I would say that you have really great support from editors. Taster memberships are there for a reason - try things out, go along to something you never thought you'd like. You never know - you could get really heavily involved with it, and it could end up being something that will help you develop skills that help you not just in employment, but in life in general.
I became friends with everyone quite quickly, and felt easily accepted. Then came my interest in doing the actual journalism - at first, it was definitely a secondary thing to meeting people. But quite quickly, I becamse the Investigations Editor. I was interested in investigations and serious news pieces, but it was also a real chance to promote good things happening in the student community.
I think student media holds a very special place within the wider ecosystem of student life and student experience purely because it takes on that responsibility of the dissemination of information about things that are relevant to the community. Student media really is a community - we all know each other, we all get along. It gives you a sense of purpose - it's something to do, and it's a place to meet great, great people.
I think student media holds a very special place within the wider ecosystem of student life and student experience