''Metior Magazine'' or ''METIOR'' is a
student publication
A student publication is a media outlet such as a newspaper, magazine, television show, or radio station produced by students at an educational institution. These publications typically cover local and school-related news, but they may also repor ...
of
Murdoch University
Murdoch University is a public university in Perth, Western Australia, with campuses also in Singapore and Dubai. It began operations as the state's second university on 25 July 1973, and accepted its first undergraduate students in 1975. Its n ...
in
Perth
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...
,
Western Australia
Western Australia (commonly abbreviated as WA) is a state of Australia occupying the western percent of the land area of Australia excluding external territories. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Southern Ocean to th ...
. ''Metior'' is funded by the
Murdoch University Guild of Students but remains independent. The name is an acronym for "Murdoch Empire Telegram
Indian Ocean
The Indian Ocean is the third-largest of the world's five oceanic divisions, covering or ~19.8% of the water on Earth's surface. It is bounded by Asia to the north, Africa to the west and Australia to the east. To the south it is bounded by th ...
Review".
''Metior'' was founded in 1975, the same year Murdoch University was officially established. ''Metior'' was a hard-copy student publication and went through many iterations, edits and formats throughout its time on campus. In 2015, due to a significant drop in readership and the undeniable influence of the internet, ''Metior'' made the switch to online only. Using the Wordpress content management platform, it can be found at www.metior.com.au.
The magazine, in conjunction with the Murdoch Guild, plans to print one hard-copy edition at the beginning of every academic year but this is dependent on financial factors.
''Metior'' describes itself as a "student owned, student run, student targeted publication of Murdoch University".
Topics ''Metior'' covers include student politics, arts, culture and music, although editorial focus shifts from editor to editor. It features images from student photographers at the university.
''Metior'' ceased online production in 2021, however returned as a blog for student on the Murdoch Students Guild website in 2023.
History
Art of Shoplifting controversy
In 1995, ''Metior'' was one of seven student newspapers that reprinted a controversial article from ''
Rabelais Student Media
''Rabelais Student Media'' is the current student newspaper at La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia, named after French Renaissance writer François Rabelais.
From its founding in 1967, ''Rabelais Student Media'' had been run as a departm ...
'', its
La Trobe University
La Trobe University is a public research university based in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Its main campus is located in the suburb of Bundoora. The university was established in 1964, becoming the third university in the state of Victoria an ...
counterpart, entitled "The Art of Shoplifting".
Although the ''Rabelais'' editors responsible for the original article were prosecuted for ignoring a ban on publication issued by the state's Chief Censor, the editors of the other seven newspapers were not targeted by the authorities. Charges against the ''Rabelais'' editors were later dropped.
Voluntary student unionism
Although the implementation of
voluntary student unionism
Voluntary student unionism (VSU), as it is known in Australia, or voluntary student membership (VSM), as it is known in New Zealand, is a policy under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations ...
in 2006 had a significant impact on the viability of student newspapers across Australia given that compulsory
student union
A students' union, also known by many other names, is a student organization present in many colleges, universities, and high schools. In higher education, the students' union is often accorded its own building on the campus, dedicated to social, ...
membership fees had been the major source of income for most, ''Metior'' was not affected.
References
Student newspapers published in Australia
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