The McGill Tribune is dedicated to delivering informative, up-to-date news to everyone at McGill. From Friday, November 7 to Thursday, November 13, the Tribune will be running 2 referendum questions to its membership, all SSMU and PGSS students. In order to stay in existence under McGill's eyes and to have the funds to publish our weekly newspaper, the Tribune needs to run these questions amongst you, the student body!
Since 1981, the Tribune has been striving to be fair and objective in all its reporting. We cover news, opinion, student living, science and technology, features, arts and entertainment, sports, and photography. All students are encouraged to contribute to the paper, and we run frequent workshops and events on reporting and journalism in order to increase the amount of journalistic opportunities at McGill. After achieving independence five years ago, the Tribune has proven to be responsible, both functionally and financially. We constantly hold ourselves accountable to the student body, and in our reporting, aim to keep the administration and other representative bodies accountable to the the students.
Vote YES on both Tribune referendum questions in order to keep the Tribune alive! #curiositydelivers
The first referendum question is an "existence" question, and McGill requires us to run it amongst our membership (all SSMU/PGSS students) to get your vote on whether you believe the Tribune should continue to exist as a newspaper and organization. The Tribune has a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with McGill that expires every 5 years, and can only be renewed if the students vote to keep it in existence.
The second question is a "fee renewal" question. Each student in our membership pays $3.00 each semester. As an entirely student-run, independent, not for profit newspaper, the Tribune creates annual budgets (last year's can be found here) in order to be financially responsible with the money that students provide with this fee. After 5 years of independence and receiving these fees, the Tribune has consistently been responsible in its expenses. With the majority of the student fees going towards our publishing expenses, we truly need the continued support from the students in order to operate as a student newspaper.
As a newspaper, the McGill Tribune offers a vital service to students on a campus far too often defined by its disengagement. Covering a broad range of campus issues, celebrating student achievements, and offering a space for students to be heard, the Tribune is an active force in bringing that many communities that comprise McGill closer together.
As an organization, it is a place of learning, of professionalism, and of community. Working with the Tribune was among my most rewarding experiences at McGill. Not only do I endorse a 'yes' vote in this referendum, I encourage you to take advantage of this remarkable resource on your campus and get involved personally.
The McGill Tribune changed my life. I've worked with four different campus media organizations at separate points throughout my undergrad and I'm most impressed by the depth, immediacy, and novelty of the Tribune's coverage. There isn't a publication quite like it at the University and I'm privileged to have been a member of the only editorial board that I have, and will continue to refer to, as my family.
Practicum experiences most effectively prepare new graduates to confront the realities of the Canadian labour market, and there is a dearth of these opportunities at McGill. The Tribune provides in the best way possible. It gave me the chance to blossom creatively, perfect my existing knowledge of data visualization, and boost my portfolio with both graphic design samples and writing samples. Publishing a full-length feature article was something I only dreamed about when I entered McGill, and the Tribune was so supportive in guiding me through the process.
You don't need to be a journalist to appreciate the value that the McGill Tribune adds to the University. As an information hub and as a talent incubator, the McGill simply the best learning experience that the University has to offer outside of the classroom.
When I went to my first news contributor meeting in 2011, I was excited to develop my writing hobby—little could I imagine that three years later I would decide to make journalism my career. The Tribune was one of the most rewarding and transformative parts of my McGill education, where I learned not just to report, edit, and fact-check sensitive issues on a deadline (for the Trib and also national outlets like the Globe and Mail) but also to challenge my assumptions and think critically about the world around me.
The Trib provides a huge campus service even for those students who aren’t interested in pursuing journalism. In an eclectic, varied campus media environment, the Tribune is unique in its student-centric coverage of our campus, its critical yet even-keeled treatment of varied issues, and its commitment to training community members, offering a slew of options from evening workshops to a full-fledged journalism MiniCourse.
The McGill Tribune plays a key role on campus, not just for individuals like me but also in promoting campus dialogue—this referendum season, vote ‘Yes’ to continue funding media innovation at McGill.
