SIN Newspaper Nuachtán SIN

SIN (Student Independent News) is the University of Galway Students’ Union only student newspaper with 12 issues, one per fortnight. SIN was published online via ISSUU this year, and a bonus printed ‘Time Capsule’ edition was circulated in April 2023. The paper is student and campus focused, celebrating the achievements of University of Galway’s students, athletes, artists, writers, and staff. Everyone can contribute to SIN, and we have a variety of volunteer writers from disciplines such as law, commerce, and journalism.

2022/2023 Team:

• Editor – Valerie McHugh

• Deputy Editor – Darragh Nolan

• News Editors – Rachel Foster and Laura Hannot

• Features – Rachel Garvey

• Opinion – Anne Marie Ní Bhraonáin and Steven Fox

• Arts and Fashion – Syakira Nazri

• Health and Lifestyle – Caoimhe Looney

• Sport – Joseph Murray and Ciarán Ó Flaitherata

• Cainte – Gearóid Ó Droighneáin

• Chief Photographer - Lisa Hamilton

This year, SIN published 12 40-page editions, 6 per semester, and an additional 16-page election special ahead of the FullTime Students’ Union Officer Elections. This issue contained in-depth, exclusive interviews with all candidates for the fulltime Students’ Union elections, as well as interviews with outgoing officers and a vox-pop of students from various disciplines and colleges in University of Galway. SIN also printed a bonus 50 page print ‘Time Capsule’ edition in April which featured interviews with Galway alumni, including a specially written piece by President Michael D. Higgins.

Shannon Reeves is our designer and has worked on SIN for a number of years. He helped SIN to adapt its layout, making it more accessible to an online audience and befitting of a modern newspaper.

2022/2023 Highlights:

• Under the direction of Shannon Reeves, SIN has continued to create new design ideas following the redesign of its layout and design in 2021.

• SIN covered and broke ground-breaking stories this year and kept the student body informed on issues happening in the University.

• The newspaper was shortlisted for several awards this year, including Newspaper of the year at the National Student Media Awards. Several SIN writers also picked up nominations including Valerie McHugh and Darragh Nolan (Collaborative Journalism of the Year) Chloe Richardson and Tom O’Connor (European Commission Award for journalism relating to European Affairs) Scott Stephens (Features Writer of the Year - ). Editor Valerie McHugh won one award at the 2023 Student Media Awards, Health/Lifestyle Editor Caoimhe Looney picked up an award, and contributor Tom O Connor won two.

• SIN added a new photography section this year which centred around local and campus events. Chief Photographer Lisa Hamilton was at the helm of this, and produced fantastic photos across each issue.

• SIN’s Time Capsule edition was the biggest highlight of the year, and allowed past writers to come back and write for the paper. It was widely circulated, with a feature interview with magician Keith Barry one of the biggest draws.

• SIN is published in association with University of Galway Students’ Union, but retains editorial independence.