Chief Editor's Note: Student Journalism Matters
HYY (The Student Union of the University of Helsinki) is considering cutting the subsidies of student magazines. The news of this suggestion have been shocking for student magazines. The subsidies are particularly important for the magazines that are published as physical copies, and if the suggested cuts go through, it might mean the end to printed student magazines. BTSB is published completely online, but we, too, hope that this will not come to be.
Student magazines offer a great opportunity for people to try out journalism. It’s a chance to practice one’s writing in a semi-professional yet safe and playful environment. Student magazines are also a great place to learn work life skills, both concrete skills to list in your CV and then things such as being a part of a team and working under deadlines. For members, they are important communities and for many one of the best parts of their student experience. In the case of larger and older student magazines, they can also be a big part of the identity of the whole student organization.
Better Than Sliced Bread is a small webzine whose most avid readers are probably its editors. But for us, it’s very important and we work hard on getting our issues published and the community active. For me personally, BTSB has been the one and only student activity I’ve been regularly doing during my studies. My first year as the editor-in-chief is probably the biggest highlight of my time at the university. I know that I’ll always think fondly of this webzine and the people I’ve met during my years as a member. It’s very sad to think that for some students these opportunities could become limited because of financial problems.
Well, BTSB is still here and we’ll continue being here. For this last issue of 2021, we have a whole bunch of winter and holidays themed pieces for you to enjoy. Sandra makes her debut with a wintery short story while Robi gives practical tips for how to survive the holidays. If you’re in the mood for fiction, you’re in luck as we have several new short stories, thanks to Ilona, Sini and Robi! As for poetry, we have wonderful poems by Annika and Anceliga. Meanwhile I write about how I have fallen in with the television series Glee again while rewatching the show. And then we have seasonal greetings from the BTSB team, collected together by Daniélle.
Happy holidays!
