Wellington Polytechnic newspapers/magazines created by Journalism students

These newspapers and magazines were created by Journalism students of the Wellington Polytechnic as part of their course work.

The content of the publications varies and can include articles on issues relating to the polytechnic, the local community, New Zealand matters and international events. A small number of these publications were only produced as a single issue.

Our holdings for some of these publications are incomplete.

Writer’s Course publications:

Jigsaw (1973-1975)

Jigsaw was the magazine of the Wellington Polytechnic Writers’ Course from 1972 to 1975. This contains poetry, prose and essays on a variety of topics. The general rules for the magazine were issued by the tutors and all content was produced by the students. Issue one of 1972 is not held.

Magazine Journalism Course publications:

Single issue publications (1972-1975)

There are four single issue publications produced by the course in these years and titled, The Citizen (1972), Saturnalia (1973), Streak (1974), Festa’75 (1975).                                

Downtown (1972-1973)

This community newspaper was produced by the students on the Magazine Journalism Course for the Inner City Ministry. The content covers general local events and those relating to the ministry. Only three issues are held for 1972 to 1973. The National Library holds further issues for those years and  for 1975 to 1976.

Search (1972-1975)

Search was a magazine published by the Wellington Polytechnic Magazine Journalism students between 1972 and 1975. The content covers polytechnic and local events. Early issues were published as part of the Community Studies Course. The set held is incomplete and it is unknown if issues were produced after 1975. 

News Journalism Course publications:

Exercise (1968-1973)

The content of Exercise covers polytechnic, local and international events. The paper is a four page tabloid, paid for by the Newspaper Publishers Association, and provided students practical work in news-gathering, writing, sub-editing, photography, news and illustration selection, layout and makeup.

The set held is incomplete. After 1969 the volume number is usually just repeated as 1, but occasionally another number is substituted. This publication was replaced by Capital News in 1974.

Capital News (1974)

The content of Capital News covers polytechnic and local events and replaced the earlier newspaper, Exercise. The paper is a four page tabloid, paid for by the Newspaper Publishers Association and provided students practical work in news-gathering, writing, sub-editing, photography, news and illustration selection, layout and makeup.

The only issue held is from 1974. The Polytechnic's 1975 Prospectus makes mention of the paper, so it may also have been produced that year, but none are presently held. There is no mention of the paper in 1976.

The next newspaper produced after the Capital News was the Mount Cook Messenger that appeared in 1977. the latter had a different audience as it aimed to be a community newspaper.

Journalism course publications:

Mount Cook Messenger (1977-1987)

This was a community newspaper serving the Newtown area. It was produced by the students on the Journalism Course at the Wellington Polytechnic from 1977 to 1987. Unlike the previous Exercise and Capital News newspapers, Mount Cook Messenger was funded through advertising. The set we hold is incomplete, most notably no issues are held for 1981.

Font (1978-1985)

Font was the Wellington Polytechnic’s house magazine, produced by the students of the Journalism Course as part of their course work. First produced in 1978, the magazine aimed to inform the polytechnic staff and students of the happenings in their community. The last magazine was issued in November 1985 as the Journalism tutors had decided that the time spent producing Font could be better used in other areas.

Search the "Wellington Polytechnic Newspapers/Magazines created by Journalism Students" Collection