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Critic Te Ārohi

Editor	Nina Brown
Categories	Student Magazine
Frequency	Weekly – 26 × yearly
Circulation	5,000 (20,000 readers)
Publisher	Planet Media Dunedin Ltd.
Founded	1925
Company	Otago University Students' Association (OUSA)
Country	New Zealand
Based in	Dunedin, Otago
Language	English
Website	www.critic.co.nz
ISSN	0111-0365
OCLC	173348156

Critic Te Ārohi is the official magazine of the Otago University Students' Association (OUSA) of the University of Otago. It is freely available around both the University's campus and selected sites in Dunedin city weekly during term time. Critic is New Zealand's longest-running student newspaper, having been established in 1925. Weekly circulation is 5,000 copies, with an estimated readership of approximately 20,000.

Content

Critic's content is primarily targeted towards its student demographic and is generally written through a student perspective. The magazine enjoys enduring popularity with its readership. The physical copies distributed on a weekly basis have a pick-up rate of 99% according to OUSA.

Critic's content includes recurring columns, news articles, long-form investigative journalism, profiles, reviews, puzzles and culture pieces that often examine or portray student life in Dunedin. The magazine is known for its humorous examination of provocative and taboo subject matter. Traditionally, Critic has had 'themed' issues including "The Sex Issue", "The Drugs Issue", "Te Reo Māori Issue", "The Food Issue", "The Census Issue" and more. However, recent years have seen a movement away from overtly stipulated themes. Roughly half of all Critic issues remain unthemed within the magazine's yearly cycle.

Although the scope of the content has varied year to year under different editorship, in recent years the magazine's coverage has remained local; focusing on stories of relevance to students and the surrounding Dunedin community. Since 2012, the magazine's mission statement has been to "reflect the reality of Otago University students back to themselves." In a 2018 profile of Critic, former Editor Joel MacManus told Stuff the magazine seeks to "cover stories other media can't or won't, in a way that they can't or won't When we write something I know couldn't be published in the Otago Daily Times or on Stuff – that's when I'm like, 'This is great!' That's when it's Critic."

High Profile Stories

In 2018, Critic Te Ārohi reported that University of Otago Proctor Dave Scott had illegally entered two students flats without permission and confiscated bongs/water pipes, which were estimated to be worth over $700 combined. Critic's reporting received national media attention, resulting in a scandal the magazine labelled "BongShell." In a subsequent press conference, Scott confirmed the bongs had been destroyed and apologised for his actions.

In 2019, Critic published a story about a landlord breaching tenancy laws. After receiving a threatening letter in response, Critic made headlines for publishing the email on the cover of the following issue.

That same year, Critic published a exposé on the culture of misogyny in Knox College that normalised sexual misconduct against female students. The article included the testimonies of several female residents who had been sexually harassed or assaulted at the residential college between 2015 and 2017, many of whom claimed that the college's leadership ignored or dismissed their claims when they were reported to them. The article received national media attention. Although the feature was lauded for its investigative merit, Critic later issued an apology for not contacting Head Master Caroline Hepburn-Doole for comment before publication. With regards to the article's claim that instances of sexual assault and rape went "undisciplined," the magazine later accepted there was evidence "all complaints were documented and reported to others as appropriate."

In 2021, Critic published a series of articles detailing the findings of a six-month undercover investigation by Critic journalist Elliot Weir into Action Zealandia, a white supremacist organisation in New Zealand.

In 2023, Critic published a series of news articles reporting on hazing activity in Dunedin's student community. Critic's coverage, including a story on the abuse of a live eel, garnered national attention and was awarded 'Best News Story' at the Aotearoa Student Press Awards, with Judge Glenn McConnell commending the reporting for being of "national significance." The magazine's coverage later developed into a three-part series published in The Spinoff, authored by former Editor Fox Meyer.

Design

Critic began as a newspaper in 1925, before becoming a magazine in 2001. The publication was tabloid in size until 2002, when it went quarterfold (around A4 size). The design of Critic is often significantly changed each year as new designers are employed; typically from the Otago Polytechnic Design School.

In 2011, Critic's covers (under the magazine's Art Director Andrew Jacombs) were selected in the 2012 Coverjunkie "Best Of" Publication and exhibited alongside some of the world's most leading titles, including TIME, Esquire, The New Yorker, Vogue, Sports Illustrated and lift-outs from The New York Times and The Sunday Times.

History

In 1925 Otago University medical student Francis Bennett, whom edited the annual student publication The Review, suggested a new student newspaper. OUSA approved. The Critic went on to replace the 4-page newsletter Te Korero, which Bennett later described as "a dismal rag which and I usually filled up with imaginative froth a few hours before it went to press." Editor Douglas Archibald Campbell outlined the newspaper's ethos in the publication's first-ever editorial, envisioning Critic to be a publication where "criticism may be brought into the open" and would "suffer no word or deed to go unquestioned within the four walls of Otago University."

Controversies

The Office of Film and Literature Classification in 2005 banned an issue of the magazine, due to it containing a satirical "how-to-guide" on drug rape. The article was published in magazine's since-discontinued "offensive" themed issue, which ran from 2002—2005. Possession or distribution of this issue was deemed illegal. Editor Holly Walker stood by the decision to publish the article, stating it was "defendable" in that it highlighted "a very important issue and hopefully make women more aware of what could happen to them." Walker later backtracked this statement in a comment to Critic in 2012, calling the article's publication a "mistake": "We were trying to be offensive for the sake of it, rather than with any greater purpose in mind I wasn't a very woke feminist back then."

In 2010 The New Zealand Media Council upheld a complaint against Critic over the article 'The Bum at the Bottom of the World', which depicted three people the publication deemed homeless and vagrant. Editor Ben Thomson later stated the magazine "completely misjudged where the line was" and apologised for the article. The Press Council accepted Critic's apology as "sincere."

In 2013 Critic's Editor Callum Fredric received a $35,000 payout after a series of personal disputes with OUSA General Manager Darel Hall. Fredric was suspended by Hall on Friday 3 May, and was trespassed from OUSA buildings by Hall after attending a meeting on Monday 6 May to explain the situation to staff, before being asked to leave by Police. After filing legal proceedings, Fredric accepted a $35,000 settlement package from OUSA on Friday 17 May, and resigned as Editor.

In 2018, the cover of "The Menstruation Issue" featured a cartoon image of a woman menstruating. University of Otago Proctor Dave Scott took offence to the image and unilaterally decided to destroy all copies of the magazine. An open-letter signed by 17 former Editors expressed "deep concern" over the decision, with prominent New Zealand media figures accusing the university of "censorship." The removal of the magazines was further accused of stigmatising menstruation. The university later apologised, calling the decision a "mistake".

In 2020 Critic criticised Otago University's response to the Covid-19 pandemic in an opinion piece, leading the university's refusal to answer media requests from Critic and threatening to pull advertising from the magazine. Following changes in University of Otago media staff, the University has resumed accepting media requests and running advertisements.

Awards and nominations

Critic Te Ārohi is a member of the Aotearoa Student Press Association (ASPA) and has been awarded Best Publication in the annual ASPA awards in 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021.

Editorship

The Critic Te Ārohi editor-in-chief is an employee of OUSA, operating under a charter that grants editorial independence. The Editor is appointed and employed under a fixed term contract that covers roughly the beginning to end of Otago University's academic year. Previous involvement with the magazine is not a prerequisite for applicants, although most have held a sub-editorial position at Critic prior to being appointed editor. Although Critic's editorship has been shared in previous years (particularly in the magazine's early history), in modern times the role of editor is typically fulfilled by one person. The typical tenure for Critic Editor is one year, though roughly 10% of editors in Critic's history have stayed on for two years as of 2024.

Notable past editors include journalist and Rhodes Scholar Sir Geoffrey Cox, Priest and human rights activist Paul Oestreicher (OBE), renowned obstetrician Diana Mason (OBE), TV broadcaster Jim Mora, political commentator Chris Trotter, New Zealand Alliance Party co-leader Victor Billot, Substack co-founder Hamish McKenzie and Rhodes Scholar and former Green Party MP Holly Walker.

List of Critic Te Ārohi Editors

Sub-Editorship

Critic's sub-editorial roles are Design Editor, Sub-Editor, News Editor, Features Editor and Culture Editor. Design Editor is the second most senior role within Critic as the only staff member (aside from Editor) that is employed full-time. In 2023 the role of Ētita Māori (Māori Editor) was made a permanent position. The role entails the production of Māori interest content and the magazine's annual te reo Māori themed issue.

Until 2018, there were rotating 'Section Editors' (now described as staff writers) covering books, art, film, games, poetry food, music, politics and sport. In some years, "Deputy Editor" "Technical Editor" and "Art Director" have been listed as sub-editorial roles. Notable staff members and contributors to Critic have included poet James K Baxter and cricketer and caricaturist Murray Webb.

List of Critic Te Ārohi Sub-Editors

References

1. "Joel MacManus is the Critic - Te Arohi magazine editor reviving student media". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
2. "Joel MacManus is the Critic - Te Arohi magazine editor reviving student media". www.stuff.co.nz. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
3. "Proctor Enters Flat Without Permission, Steals Bongs". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
4. "Second Flat Claims Proctor Entered Home Without Permission, Took Bongs". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
5. "The Proctor BongShell: The Complete Chronic-les". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
6. McPhee, Elena; Morris, Chris (25 September 2018). "'I was wrong' - Proctor". Otago Daily Times Online News. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
7. "Students v landlord: Mag cover displays abusive email". NZ Herald. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
8. "Sexual Assault and Rape Went Undisciplined at Knox College". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
9. "Sexual assault 'normalised' at prestigious Otago Uni hall". NZ Herald. 5 April 2024. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
10. "Undercover Critic Te Arohi journalist gives insight into how they joined neo-Nazi group Action Zealandia". Newshub. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
11. "Animal Abuse at Leith Street Initiation". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
12. "Otago uni investigating claims mistreated eel was part of flat initiation". RNZ. 6 October 2023. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
13. Meyer, Fox (19 February 2024). "The painful history of student flat hazing". The Spinoff. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
14. "Critic: The End". 3 November 2011. Archived from the original on 12 May 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
15. "Covers attention-grabbers". 16 January 2012. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
16. "Student drug-rape magazine banned". New Zealand Herald. 1 February 2006. Retrieved 10 February 2009.
17. "Critic Scandals Through The Ages: An Inexhaustive Account". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
18. "Editor stands by drug rape article". NZ Herald. 7 April 2024. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
19. "Student magazine defends 'date rape 101' article". ABC News. 22 September 2005. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
20. "Turning Back the Pages of Time: Critic Through the Ages". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 7 April 2024.
21. "Case Number: 2144 OTAGO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TRUST AGAINST CRITIC-TE AROHI". New Zealand Press Council. October 2010. Archived from the original on 5 February 2013. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
22. "Complaint over vagrant article in 'Critic' upheld". Otago Daily Times. 9 November 2010. Retrieved 2 March 2012.
23. "ADJUDCIATION BY THE NEW ZEALAND PRESS COUNCIL ON THE COMPLAINT OF THE OTAGO MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT TRUST AGAINST CRITIC TE-AROHI". Critic - Te Ārohi. Retrieved 5 April 2024.
24. "'Critic' Editor Steps Down". Otago Daily Times. Tue, 21 May 2013. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
25. "Critic Editor Receives Payout" Archived 11 August 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Salient. Retrieved 11 July 2013.
26. "The Critic Payout". Kiwiblog. Retrieved 4 August 2013.
27. "Otago Uni: Destroying magazines 'was a mistake'". 23 May 2018.
28. "Otago University seizes and destroys copies of student magazine depicting menstruation". the Guardian. 23 May 2018. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
29. "Otago University will not answer Critics' queries after scathing Covid-19 opinion piece". RNZ. 4 April 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
30. "Excellence in student media recognised". Retrieved 6 October 2013.
31. "Aotearoa Student Press Association". Facebook. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
32. "'Critic' bags prizes at awards". Otago Daily Times. 29 September 2012. Retrieved 1 October 2012.
33. "Aotearoa Student Press Association Awards Results". Salient. Archived from the original on 25 February 2012. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
34. "Critic Magazine Wins Student Media AwardsCritic Magazine Wins Student Media Awards". Scoop. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
35. Purser, Philip (4 April 2008). "Sir Geoffrey Cox". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 7 April 2024.

External links

• Critic's Official Site

• 1925 establishments in New Zealand
• Free magazines
• Magazines established in 1925
• Mass media in Dunedin
• Magazines published in New Zealand
• Weekly magazines published in New Zealand
• Student magazines
• Student newspapers published in New Zealand
• University of Otago