Why you should join The Tab Newcastle next term

The Tab Newcastle is expanding, and we’re looking for new writers and editors.

With three million monthly readers, we’re the first to break big stories on campus and we’re one of the only platforms left for genuine debate in university.

Our writing isn’t stuffy or worthy, we write about stuff in the Newcastle bubble like lecture drinking games or mad Jesmond house parties which reached 7.3 million people.

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As well as learning journalism skills, our writers have got work experience at national papers and have gone on to grad schemes at The Telegraph, and onto the most competitive Journalism course in the UK.

And it’s not all about the writing, our socials are pretty big too.

You don’t need any journalism experience to apply, as long as you want to be part of our team that’s all that matters to us.

We have weekly meetings at Jam Jar with loads of free burgers, come to our open meeting on Monday to get some food and find out more.

Testimonials

Bella Eckert – 2014-2015 Newcastle Editor, Head of Marketing at The Tab

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“I started in the summer before my first year. My first article took me forever but after that they just started coming with the help of my Assistant Editor, Grace. I became Features ed at Christmas time, after the big Tab social in the first term.

“Having been section editor for a couple of terms I became Newcastle Editor in my final year. I started to really enjoy writing more and more, and by my final year was finishing a news piece in 20 minutes. I now work in Tab HQ as Head of Marketing, helping Editors with socials, events partnerships and recruitment.

“I always loved the social aspect of The Tab and want everyone to get the same out of it that I felt I did. Our meetings didn’t feel like ‘meetings’, they were a catch up with friends over a burger and a few drinks. We’d often go on a bar crawl after it and end up at one of our houses until the early hours of the next morning. I also like the fact the editors will never explicitly tell you what you have to write in the way uni papers do. They help you shape your idea in a way they know will be widely read.

“The age range of The Tab is 18-26, it’s a fun, young group of people full of energy. People complain about Tab articles but do read it, and the satisfaction you get out of getting thousands of people reading your writing or getting a national scoop is unrivalled in blogging and student media.

“The key thing I have learnt is how to write a story for the enjoyment of the reader (as opposed to the writer and their mum). I know know how to use WordPress, find stories, how to lead a meeting, and even some weird stuff like bits of coding. I now work in the head office trying to ensure everyone gets the same things out of it that I did. I found the things I learnt through doing The Tab at uni more valuable than in my course.”

Elliot Lewis – Co-Editor of The Tab Newcastle

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“I starting writing a year ago in my first year. Maybe I started because of the free burgers in the meetings, but I’m really glad I went. Their socials were really fun and it was a great way to meet people. Getting my articles seen by thousands of people was really addictive, and by the end of my first year I was asked to be editor.

“I’m so proud to be part of something that’s growing so quickly, changing student journalism from something self-righteous and pompous into something fun and innovative. I’m part of a network of student editors, and a national team of reporters which is the only one of it’s kind in the UK and US. We report  features as they happen rather then once a week, and I love being the first to break big stories. I’ve learnt so much from working with and managing a team, and it’s really good for my CV.

“As well as learning a lot, I’ve had so much fun being part of The Tab. We’re a really close team, but we’re always growing and bringing new people in. The nights out are great, and our weekly meetings are actually really fun – we all just get together to have a few drinks and eat some burgers in Jesmond, and usually end up going out after.”

Ed Howe – News Editor

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“I started writing for the Tab recently in September 2015, my first article was about a Cat Cafe on Newcastle’s Quayside. I really enjoyed it and started writing more articles, and after a few weeks was rewarded by becoming Features Editor.

“I’d wanted the position but I didn’t think I’d get it because I’d only been writing for the Tab for two months. I really love being part of this tight-knit team, and it’s great being the people get to hear the gossip before anyone else.

“Writing for the Tab is a bit like an addiction. Whenever I publish a new article I check it every hour or so to see how many people have viewed it, you get a real buzz from thousands of people looking at the story you were responsible for. The rush you get when it goes viral gives me the journalistic adrenaline I need to get me through my overdraft miseries.

“I’ve met some really great people through it, and my dinners on Mondays are paid for which is always a bonus.”

Kate Ovens, Reporter

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“I started out with The Tab writing stories about me, I was constantly sending in content to Lad Bible over this year and thought, I’m actually really enjoying this. I thought it would be a good idea to get into writing articles to get all of the credit too.

“I always liked reading The Tab, it keeps me updated with what goes on at uni in much more student based terms and an easy style of reading on topics I’m usually interested in.

“I love hearing ‘oh yeah I read that!’ when it was my article. It gives me a little kick that what I wrote was interesting enough for them to read. I’ve always been passionate about social media and it’s influences and the amazement of how far something can reach.”

George Jeavons Fellows, Tab’s BNOC turned Reporter

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“I started Tabbing a month ago after an article was written about me on how I spent my poker winnings. I’ve been going to the meetings every Monday at Jam Jar since, and my first article went live on the 17th November.

“I’m now onto my eighth article, just finishing my seventh last week. I like doing it as it’s something different, a bit of fun to take your mind off uni and sport for a bit, and The Tab team are all a good laugh to be around.

“I definitely don’t do it for the free burgers, I’m keen to stick around with The Tab in the new year, and get some funny stories out there for people to read.”

Alex Mackwood, Co Editor

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“Well I got roped into Tabbing last year by Bella, the editor at the time. I was slightly hesitant at the start but genuinely haven’t looked back since. It’s been a great ride.

“It’s crazy to think how fast The Tab is growing. It’so it’s great to be part of something that’s heading in such an exciting direction.

“The social side of the Tab is cracking. We are constantly invited to dinners, parties and socials in Newcastle and London.  We get rewarded by Head Office for doing well with money, pizza or free booze sent to our door, and they treat us to nights out and dinners too. The guys running the show really know how to look after their reporters.

“I’ve completed a weeks work experience down in London at the Tab HQ, which gave me a great insight into how things are run. I’ve even been offered work experience with The Sun.

“I never thought I’d be co-editing the Tab Newcastle this year, but i’m over the moon to be doing so.

“It’s fun, easy going, fulfilling, a great place to meet people and something you can bang on your CV.”

Olly Clink – Features Editor

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“I started writing at the beginning of first year. I enjoyed writing news pieces and helped with some of the articles in August leading up to the start of second year. I was then asked if I would like to become News Editor by Daisy, our Assistant Editor at Tab HQ.

“My first piece was ‘How to get hammered in a lecture’ which got ​815,489 page views and over 2,000 shares on Facebook. I wasn’t expecting to get that many which was pretty amazing.

“I like the Tab because it gives you an opportunity to voice your opinion on things, research in to uni news, and write as if you were telling your mates a story. Most importantly though, it is guaranteed that your articles will be read widely which is the whole point of journalism. I also love how much the Tab cares about your future career, they are very helpful when it comes to gaining work experience or internship opportunities.

“It’s a fast growing paper which can only get bigger. It’s great reputation with other media outlets make it an unmissable opportunity for someone who is after this sort of career in the future. It’s also great for general experience if you’re not interested in journalism, and it’s a really fun thing to do.

“I have learnt so much, from writing technique to discovering who my audience is. It’s great that you can try out all kinds of writing, from funny, satirical stuff to breaking news.”

So if you fancy getting involved with the Tab, banging something up on the CV, eat some weekly burgers at Jam Jar, meeting some cracking people or just feel like you don’t do anything with your time at uni…simply click this link or email [email protected] to find out more.