The University of Warwick's student newspaper has hit its fundraising target which will keep the paper in print into 2022.

Like other forms of traditional journalism both before and during the pandemic, The Boar newspaper has struggled financially.

The printed paper was reduced from fortnightly to monthly at the start of the autumn term and the financial cost could mean printing stops altogether.

But The Boar team has now passed the £3,000 goal of a fundraising campaign launched to provide financial security for the remaining three papers of the current executive committee.

And it is in supporting the paper that the positive side of social media has been displayed.

The team launched the BoArchives where present and former members of The Boar would display their favourite edition of the paper to spread the message of its importance.

I chose the first edition with my name in - seeing your name in print really is a feeling like no other.

If you ever attended university, the sight of a student newspaper will be familiar. Often scattered around a campus, they are beacons for inspiring the next generation in the core journalistic values of scrutiny and holding power accountable.

The Boar has been the University of Warwick's student paper for nearly 50 years, performing that very task always without fear or favour.

You may have, as the number 11 bus passes through Kenilworth, seen students reading a copy or taken one yourself.

I have been heavily involved with the paper since starting at Warwick in September 2019. Writing for almost every section (I have nothing of any interest to say about sport), I've also served as deputy comment editor and am currently a deputy editor on the books section.

The opportunity to research a range of topics, improve my writing and meet fellow enthusiastic young journalists has been invaluable.

Rather, involvement with The Boar goes far beyond writing articles on my laptop, with distribution of the print paper requiring immense powers of persuasion to convince fellow students to take a copy.

During the pandemic, printing wasn't possible due to limited access to the office, meaning using the website, hosted by WordPress, became even more important.

Thankfully, the easing of restrictions over the summer meant print papers could return, allowing me to develop my skills using InDesign and PhotoShop.

While both of them are challenge at first, I know many national publications are likely to use similar programmes.

Despite The Boar having a range of exciting, vibrant culture sections - Books, Film, TV, Games, to name but a few - the paper also conducts immensely important investigations and can be agenda setting.

By retaining its financial independence from both the university and Students' Union, the paper has had the confidence to cover topics that make both institutions uncomfortable.

But that is journalism first and foremost.

Perhaps you think the paper has a minimal impact and don't see why you should contribute towards its funding. Well, over the decades, The Boar has shaped journalists that have gone off to media organisations including Sky News and the Sunday Times.

Writing for a student newspaper could have been that first spark of inspiration that journalism was not something inaccessible but a tool all of us have the potential to utilise.

Indeed, during the pandemic, we have seen that journalism is more important than ever.

So whilst The Boar has hit its target, the fundraising page remains open for donations.

Just £5 can help shape the next generation of journalists.

A contribution to The Boar's fundraiser can be made here.

(Header image by Kyrosho via wikimedia commons)

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