Critic (magazine)


Critic is the official magazine of the Otago University Students' Association of the University of Otago. It is freely available around both the university's campus and selected sites in Dunedin city weekly during term time. Critic is New Zealand's longest-running student newspaper, having been established in 1925. Weekly circulation is 5,000 copies, with an estimated readership of approximately 20,000.

Content

Critic's content is primarily targeted to cater for its student demographic and often examines provocative, controversial, taboo and arguably offensive subject matter. Traditionally, critic has had 'themed' issues such as "The Sex Issue" or "The Drugs Issue", however, recent years have seen a movement away from overtly stipulated themes. Although content varies year to year, generally the publication covers a wide variety of local, national and international news, sport and politics; as well as weekly features, columns, poetry, letters and photography.

Controversy

The Office of Film and Literature Classification in 2006 banned an issue of the magazine, due to it containing a "how-to-guide" on drug rape. Possession or distribution of this issue was deemed illegal.
In 2010 The Press Council upheld a complaint against Critic over the article 'The Bum at the Bottom of the World', which depicted three people the publication deemed homeless and vagrant.
In 2013 Critic's Editor Callum Fredric received a $35,000 payout after a series of personal disputes with OUSA General Manager Darel Hall. Fredric was suspended by Hall on Friday 3 May, and was trespassed from OUSA buildings by Hall after attending a meeting on Monday 6 May to explain the situation to staff, before being asked to leave by Police. After filing legal proceedings, Fredric accepted a $35,000 settlement package from OUSA on Friday 17 May, and resigned as Editor.
In 2018 Issue 12 featured a cartoon image of a woman menstruating. The University of Otago Proctor Dave Scott took offence to the image and unilaterally decided to destroy all copies of the magazine.

Design

The publication was tabloid in size until 2002, when it went quarterfold. The design of critic is often significantly changed each year as new designers are employed. In 2011 Critic's Art Director, Andrew Jacombs, had the covers of Critic displayed in the 2012 Coverjunkie "Best Of" Publication, alongside some of the world's most leading titles, such as TIME, Esquire, The New Yorker, Vogue, Sports Illustrated and lift-outs from the New York Times and United Kingdom weekly The Sunday Times.

Awards and nominations

Critic is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association, and was awarded Best Publication in the annual ASPA awards in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012 and 2013, 2017 and 2017.
In 2010 Critic won Best Publication, Best Editorial Writer, Best Paid News Reporter, Best Illustrator, and Best Series. The unanimous winner for 2010, Critic received the highest possible score from all judges and was praised for being "The only magazine this year that didn’t just ask the audience to notice how smart it was; instead, it went out and proved it by doing smart, creative, interesting things."
In 2011 Critic won Best Education Series, Best News Writer, Best Feature Writer and Best Feature.
In 2012 Critic won best publication, best editorial, best series and best website.
In 2013 Critic won best publication, best design, best cover, best reviewer, best columnist and best sports writer.
In 2014 Critic won Best Publication, Best Design, Best Feature Illustration and Best Feature Writer.
In 2017 Critic won Best Publication, Best Feature Writer, Best News Writer, Best Sports Writer, and Best Headline.

List of Critic Editors

1925 - Archibald Campbell
1926 - co. W. G. McClymont and C. A. Sharp
1927 - co. J. A. Stallworthy and M. W. Wilson
1928 - co. A. M. Douglas and G. L. McLeod
1929 - co. I. G. Gordon and J. C. Dakin
1930 - co. G. S. Cox and G. C. Macdiarmid
1931 - co. G. C. Macdiarmid and E. Stephenson
1932 - H. A. Small and G. L. McLeod
1933 - F. W. Guest
1934 - F. W. Guest and Ralph G. Park
1935 - E. M. Elder
1936 - C. P. Powles and P. M. Lusk
1937 - Lloyd Woods
1938 - W. R. Geddles and co. W. R. Geddles and P. M. Lusk
1939 - N. V. Farrell
1940 - B. H. R. Hill
1941 - D. L. Matheson and N. F. Gilkison
1942 - Diana M. Shaw
1943 - Ronald Taylor and J. C. D. Sutherland
1944 - W. D. Trotter
1945 - co. Stephanie Wylie and Sheila Wilding and Stephanie Wylie
1946 - co. Joyce Richards and Valarie Seymour
1947 - co. Guy Hawley and Suzette Hawley
1948 - Eric Hill
1949 - Deirdre Airey
1950 - C. I. Patterson
1951 - M. E. D. Webster and co. Colin Newbury and Nigel Eastgate
1952 - Paul Oestreicher
1953 - John Irwin
1954 - co. Howard Clay and Geoff Adams and co. Howard Clay and John Stewart
1955 - Paul Thompson
1956 - Earle Wilson
1957 - Dennis Lenihan
1958 - Fraser Harbutt
1959 - Fraser Harbutt and Allan Bruce
1960 - Allan Bruce and Peter Matheson
1961 - John Harris
1962 - Andrew Brown
1963 - co. Mel Dickson and Al Forrest
1964 - Don F. Gray
1965 - co. Roger Strong and Warren Mayne
1966 - Don F. Gray
1967 - Charles Draper
1968 - Charles Draper and Bob Dey
1969 - Mike Meek
1970 - Peter Dickson
1971 - John Robson
1972 - Hugh Maclean
1973 - co. David Peyton and John Keir
1974 - Jim Mora
1975 - Andrew Webb
1976 - Bronwyn Evans
1977 - Al Duncan
1978 - Belinda Carter
1979 - Belinda Carter
1980 - Simon Kilroy
1981 - Chris Trotter
1982 - Reid Perkins
1983 - Ray Ward
1984 - Andrew Johnstone
1985 - alternating Niels Reinsborg and Lydia Mabbett
1986 - co. for first half and then alternating Alexandra Tylee, Sam Elworthy, Grant Ramsey, Shelley Cooper, Andrew Vincent
1987 - co. Gill Plimmer, Hannah Zwartz, and Fiona Morris
1988 - Michael Tull
1989 - co. Nickee Charteris and Astrid Smeele
1990 - Emma Reid
1991 - Colin Peacock
1992 - Caroline McCaw
1993 - Collin Williscroft
1994 - Louise Johnstone
1995 - co. Victor Billot and Paul Dagarin
1996 - co. Leah McFall and Tracy Huirama-Osbourne and Tracy Huirama-Osbourne
1997 - co. Logan Sisley and Gavin Bertram
1998 - co. Brent McIntyre and Gavin Bertram
1999 - Brent McIntyre
2000-2001 - Fiona Bowker
2002-2003 - Patrick Crewdson
2004 - Hamish McKenzie
2005 - Holly Walker
2006 - John Ong
2007-2008 - David Large
2009 - Amy Joseph
2010 - Ben Thomson
2011 - Julia Hollingsworth
2012 - Joe Stockman
2013 - Callum Fredric and Sam McChesney
2014 - Zane Pocock
2015 - Josie Cochrane
2016 - Hugh Baird
2017 - Lucy Hunter
2018 - Joel MacManus
2019 - Charlie O’Mannin
2020 - Sinead Gill