By Daisy Yates, Senior Digital Editor, and Reuben Kerbes, Features Sub Editor 24/25
From landmark interviews to award-winning campaigns, 2024/25 has been a year to remember for Epigram. We’ve hosted renowned journalists on campus, handed out over 800 papers in a single day, and even uncovered the story behind Bristol’s most iconic kebab van. With so many highlights to choose from, there’s no way we could possibly rank them. So instead, here are ten of our proudest moments from the year: in no particular order, but all equally brilliant.
Getting behind the counter at Jason Donervan:
Every student has their Jason Donervan story. Whether it’s a post-club pilgrimage or an emotional reunion with cheesy-chips after a deadline, the iconic Clifton Triangle van has become a rite of passage for Bristol students. This year, our Sports Sub Editor (24/25) Mihai Roșca sat down with JJ, son of the eponymous Jason, to uncover the story behind the establishment.
Mihai discovered how ‘Jason Donervan’ came to be, tracing the path of Mustafa Durdu (who we all know as Jason), who moved to the UK as a young migrant with a dream of lifting his family out of poverty. Through relentless hard work and determination, Mustafa built his business from the ground up, creating a legacy that would not only provide for his family but also set an example for his son, about the importance of perseverance and giving back.
Our Break the Mould campaign:
This year, Epigram launched ‘Break the Mould’, a campaign spotlighting the unacceptable standard of student housing. With first-hand student testimonies, investigative reporting, and a dedicated print edition, the campaign called on the SU and local authorities to take action. Our petition to introduce a ‘Rent Review’ system, where students can review how effectively their landlords responded to issues, gained over 600 signatures, and the campaign was featured by titles such as BBC News, The Big Issue, and Greatest Hits Radio!
Epigram also won ‘Best Project or Initiative’ at the Student Publication Awards this April for our work on ‘Break the Mould’! This is an incredible result and a testament to all the hard work that went into this campaign. We are excited to carry on our work campaigning for students next year, so keep your eyes peeled…
Writing workshops:
As part of a move to make student journalism more accessible for beginners, this year’s Epigram team held a series of interactive workshops for new writers. Editors from Music, Scitech, Sports, and Features all hosted classes that broke down the ins and outs of each of their respective sections.
Whether you were a seasoned journalist or a complete beginner, there was lots to learn! From interviewing techniques, writing style, or general conduct practice, no one left without feeling like a more confident journalist.
Not only were they massively informative, they also provided a comfortable space for new writers to get acquainted with the teams, and helped reinforce the sense of community we aspire for here at Epigram. With high turnout, great feedback, and a fresh set of editors, you can be sure that this will return next year.
Student Publication Award wins:
Leading on from our successes in 2024, Epigram brought home five awards at the yearly Student Publication Association (SPA) awards this year, including Best Publication! Credit is due to everyone that has worked on Epigram, and it couldn’t have been achieved without all of our contributors, editors, and executives. This is something everyone who’s passionate about Epigram should be proud of, but there are some standouts worth commending:
Our Co-Editor-in-Chief (24/25), Annie McNamee, won the ‘Billy Dowling-Reid Award for Outstanding Commitment’, and she couldn’t have earnt it more. Juggling her final year of university and Co-EiC is already an achievement, but to bring Epigram to the centre stage with five awards is undoubtedly worth serious commendation.
Not only this, but Epigram also won the prize for best Science Publication/Section. This can be accredited to the quality work done by our SciTech team led by Corin Hadley, who pulled the section from being potentially scrapped, and made it an integral part of Epigram.
Sofia Lambis also took a podium, winning ‘Highly commended’ in the SPA’s ‘Rising Stars’ category. She is definitely one to keep and eye out for!
Women in Media careers talks:
To celebrate International Women’s Day, Epigram traditionally hosts a 2-day event, honouring some of the brilliant women shaping today’s media landscape. This year, we decided to take it further and expand the conference into a month-long series!
Organised and hosted by our incredible Equality and Wellbeing Officer Lily Wheeler, every Wednesday in March we welcomed panels of three inspiring, passionate women who shared their candid insights into navigating an often male-dominated industry. From personal challenges to career defining moments, the sessions were not only empowering, but also practical, giving attendees the chance to ask any burning questions they have about breaking into the world of media.
As part of the event, we were honoured to have welcomed Susanna Reid - presenter of Good Morning Britain and former Epigram Editor - who returned to Bristol 30 years after taking the helm of our paper. Susanna reflected on how Epigram shaped the early years of her journalism career, offering both heartfelt stories and sharp insights into the realities of working in national broadcast media. Her presence was not only a proud moment for Epigram, but a powerful reminder of where student journalism can take you.
Redesign of print and socials:
As part of a new direction for Epigram in 2024/25, we hired our fantastic Art Director Julia Mullins, and Resident Designer Alex Hill. With a clear vision and unstoppable work ethic (we’re talking all-nighters that stretched to 7am), they led a full redesign of our print editions (check out the digital copies here!) and social media presence (@epigrampaper_ on Instagram).
From cover to cover, their work has breathed new life into Epigram, combining sharp visuals with a clean and modern design, and we must admit - it looks bloody gorgeous. Julia and Alex’s dedication and creativity this year have elevated our publication to a new standard, transforming it into not just something to read, but to truly admire.
Coverage of the SU elections:
Led by News Editor (24/25), Will White, and supported by our very own rising star Sofia Lambis, Epigram’s News team worked tirelessly this March to cover the University of Bristol Student Union elections. Kicking off with a special editorial, the team introduced readers to the candidates and examined the key issues shaping student politics this year. As voting opened, our team dived into highlighting manifestos, fact-checking claims, and encouraging students to engage with the process.
The excitement culminated on the 14th of March, with live results night coverage, reporting from Senate House as the new SU Officers were announced. From interviews to real-time updates this was an all-hands-on-deck moment for Epigram, and one we are very proud of.
Talk series with Sarah Gordan and Paul McNamee:
One of Epigram’s most exciting events this year was our free Talk Series, organised by our Managing Director (24/25), Livy Naylor. Featuring some of the biggest names in journalism, this series aimed to inspire the next generation of media professionals. It gave students a rare chance to hear directly from industry greats, ask questions, and discover how they too can succeed in the volatile media industry.
We kicked off with Sarah Gordon, former Business Editor for the Financial Times, who shared her fascinating career journey - from reporting through the 2008 financial crisis to navigating the digital shift in journalism, all while balancing motherhood. Next was Paul McNamee, Editor of The Big Issue, a publication that prides itself on a ‘hand up’ policy, partnering with those who too often go unheard. McNamee offered straight-talking advice and useful guidance on how to climb the journalistic ladder, and how to stay true to yourself whilst doing it.
We’re honoured to have welcomed these speakers this year. For students dreaming of a future in journalism, this was a chance to get a peek at the inner workings of the industry and come face-to-face with some of the legends in the field.
Film section partnership with Watershed:
This year our Film section achieved a major milestone by securing an exclusive partnership with Watershed - Bristol’s leading independent arthouse cinema. This collaboration awarded contributors access to the early staff screenings, allowing them to review films before they hit general release.
Maia Rizzolo Blackman
It was the work of Sofia Webster, our Co-Deputy Editor (24/25), that made this opportunity possible - but it’s the entire section, and any student with a passion for film that now benefits from this connection.
The partnership not only strengthens Epigram's presence in the local arts scene, but also gives student writers the unique chance to review cinema that falls outside of the mainstream.
Epigram’s first ever live-blog at fight night:
As student fight-nights become more popular, Epigram’s Sports team sought to capitalise on these growing events, and wanted to do it in a way that has not been achieved here at Epigram before. Faniki Deche, our Sports Editor, opted for a live, ‘as-it-happened’ style of reporting, as well as a social media take-over to document the excitement of such an event.
This live-blog style was a huge hit, keeping students that were unable to attend themselves up to date by the minute, as well as showing a post-event breakdown of what happened, and when.
The success of this style was recognised, and the Sports team have continued on this trend of live-blogging, each met with a resounding victory for Epigram and our outreach!
Featured Image: Epigram / Julia Mullins
What was your favourite Epigram moment from 2024/25?
