Vertigo (UTS)

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Vertigo
Editor	Daniel Stone, Will Tan, Nick Gunn, Michelle Swainson, Anne Lin, Anna Wintour
Categories	Youth
Frequency	Fortnightly
Total Circulation ()	4000
First Issue	1980
Company	UTS Students' Association
Country	Australia
Language	English
Website	Vertigo Online
ISSN	unknown

Vertigo is a student magazine at the University of Technology, Sydney.^[1] Its name derives from the university's main building, which is a 28-storey brutal modernist tower block, and how the Vertigo Offices were originally at its summit; They now reside on Level 7. The magazine is published by the UTS Students' Association.^[2][3] The editors as of early 2007, are Daniel Stone, Wil Tan, Anne "ping tin" Lin, Michelle Swainson, and Nick Gunn.^[4]

The editorial leadership changes annually, the variety leading to a colourful and diverse history.

Contents 1 Content 2 Controversies 2.1 Office Bearer Reports 3 Tradition 4 External links 5 Notes

[edit] Content

Each edition contains an editorial, letters page, satire, serious feature articles, pseudo hard-hitting investigative journalism, music and movie reviews.

Many editions have a theme, albeit an informal one, for example an "O-Week" edition, a "Bring Home Monkey Sex" edition and a "Brian Burke Scandel" edition.

[edit] Controversies

In 2003, the left wing editorial team parodied a Defence Force ad immediately next to an official Defence Force advertisement, leading to all Defence Force advertising being taken out of student magazines. Then editor, Jano Gibson, at the time claimed that,

"We see it as a great victory that students are no longer being inundated with inaccurate representations of the Defence Force. Despite their noblest intentions, many recruits are ultimately going to be used as pawns in a gutless power play of politics. We want would-be recruits to critically evaluate the political reality of the Defence Force and to understand that by joining they may be forced to undertake deplorable, and internationally illegal actions on behalf of the Australian government."^[5].

This led to many advertising agencies blacklisting the publication for a time, sharpening the need for advertising to support the publication under VSU. It became a significant news item, with reports published on the second page of The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald. The notoriety and higher profile enhanced Vertigo's reputation within the university, leading to it remaining a desirable advertising location.^[6]

In 1998, the then right wing editorial team also fell into trouble when they sought to poke fun at the Womyns Edition of vertigo (developed by the Students Association Womyns collective). It featured a cover of a half naked woman from People Magazine with the slogans, "Welcome Back Men" and "Well, Buckle Up, Pedro, Because This Time It's Our Turn". This led to the only occasion in the publications history of the Students Association exercising its right to censor the publication. The controversy also gained substantial press coverage at the time.^[7]

[edit] Office Bearer Reports

Vertigo is constitutionally required to print Office Bearer Reports for the UTS Students Association Office Bearers if they would like to inform the Student Population about their role and activities.^{[citation needed]} This has often led to controversies as the editorial direction often attracts a readership which may be at political odds with some Office Bearers' beliefs.^[8]

[edit] Tradition

Vertigo, as most metropolitan university Student Newspapers do, has a long tradition as a breeding ground for future journalists, writers, comedians and others involved within the media and arts.^[9]

[edit] External links

• Vertigo Online Download every edition, and see exclusive blog posts
• Vertigo at the UTS Students' Association
• http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=3988
• Campuses Succumb to Corporate World
• Right Wing Editors strike controversy

[edit] Notes