About us!

The Ubyssey is the definitive source of news on campus. Published every Monday and Thursday during the school year, and every second Tuesday during the summer, it is the largest student paper in Western Canada. It is written and edited by students, and funded by a combination of student fees and advertising. All UBC students are welcome to join the staff of the paper. Absolutely no experience is necessary. Training is provided by editors, as well as many professional journalists who are Ubyssey alumni. Students can hone their written and verbal communication abilities, learn computer and technical skills, and develop their graphic design talents—all applied knowledge that will complement what they learn in the classroom. They will also gain the satisfaction that comes with seeing their hard work splashed across the front page.

We’re a founding member of Canadian University Press (CUP), an organization which links student papers across the country. CUP provides the paper news from campuses all over Canada, and Ubyssey staff members attend three CUP conferences per year to obtain additional training and discuss issues facing students and the student press. Parties have also been reported at some conferences.

Joining the Ubyssey is a wonderful way to get involved on campus. The newsroom always knows what’s happening at UBC, sometimes before it happens. It is also a place to meet interesting and motivated people; many long term friendships have started in the newsroom. Stop by SUB 24 any time and remember, you come in with no experience, but you won’t leave that way.

Students have done the journalism thing at UBC since 1918. For almost as long as there has been a UBC, there has been a UBC newspaper student newspaper. The Ubyssey got its start in 1918, supported by a $2 student fee. Considering inflation rates over the past century, The Ubyssey, with its current fee a mere $6, is doing quite well.

The Ubyssey has played host to a wide array of budding writers. Famed poet Earle Birney edited the paper in the 1920s. Canadian icon Pierre Berton held the reins during World War II and freely admits that he came to UBC to skip his classes and work on the paper. Future Prime Minister John “Chick” Turner was an associate sports editor. Following World War II, some of the finest journalists to grace our country began their careers here, including Allan Fotheringham, Peter Worthington and Michael Valpy.

Today, you can see our alumni in newspapers across the country. Vaughn Palmer and Katherine Monk of the Vancouver Sun got their start here, as did sports pundit Tony Gallagher of The Province. Among our more recent alumni are Bruce Arthur of The National Post, Jonathan Woodward and Sarah Galashan of CTV News, and Stephanie Findlay, currently on a year-long internship with the Toronto Star.

Who knows? You could be next…