Cheese Grater Magazine: Investigations Editor

Hi everyone! I’m Andrea and I’ve been part of our glorious paper and most specifically investigations for about two years now. During this time, I had the opportunity to work on a few cases, with sometimes a relative success but always with determination. But it is the very rarity of that “success” (the adrenalin rush from not being stood up for an interview, the sheer joy of finally doing a good transcript…) which makes me ask you today to elect me investigation editor.

The Cheese Grace is essential to protect UCL’s democratic structure. I thus wish to continue representing the students’ but also the teachers’ and uni staff’s voices by investigating any anomaly and injustice, and covering protests on campus. This is done with our usual in-depth articles but should also in some cases start with immediate reactions through Instagram informative posts (such as our beloved soc bitch’s recent emergency release). Likewise, I want to push our investigations deeper, be daring and keep putting pressure exactly where it hurts for UCL and the SU.

A firm believer in group debates, I would promote discussions to decide together what’s best for the different investigation and writing steps. Also, sending drafts should not be the end of a writer’s commitment: editing is a constructive debate, not a unilateral rewriting.

Our amazing pieces ought to be read even more! We should therefore carry on advertising them on social media but also physically on campus, hopefully with printed copies.

Next year will be more

Over the last term and a half, I’ve loved every moment of Cheese Grater investigations–the meetings, the interviews, the writing, the editing. 

In my opinion, the Cheese Grater investigations team represents a vital component of student journalism–students holding their institutions accountable, because they deserve to attend universities that value them and the people around them. 

I also find the specific approach of Cheese Grater investigations, i.e. finding an angle for every piece and consolidating information around this angle, particularly powerful, and I’d love the opportunity to continue and build on this approach. 

Lastly, I’d like to run because I’d love the opportunity to hold weekly meetings, meet new people, and watch them fall in love with student journalism just as I did. 

Having attended almost every Monday investigations meeting, I’ve experienced the strong sense of community within the Cheese Grater Magazine team. I felt welcomed from the very first meeting, and I’d love the opportunity to do the same for new members. 

Essentially, I want to run because I love the Cheese Grater, I love writing, and I love people.