''The Falmouth Anchor'' is the online

student newspaper 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 Falmouth University and the University of Exeter's Cornwall campuses. Founded in 2015, the paper produces local news coverage catering to both universities. Run by a team of student volunteers, the ''Anchor—''as it is also known—provides opportunities for students to contribute to its various sections, including news, opinions, politics, arts, lifestyle, fashion, and sport. Since its conception, ''The Falmouth Anchor'' has been affiliated with the Falmouth & Exeter Students' Union as a society open to all Cornwall-based students.

History

''The Falmouth Anchor'' was formed in early 2015 by Cecelia Armstrong and Hermione Blomfield-Smith with the aim to bring a student publication to universities in Cornwall. It launched as a free monthly print newspaper with the first edition releasing in June 2015 and featuring an interview with Falmouth University

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. The paper continued in this format for a further ten issues until September 2017, when financial difficulties—owing to the withdrawal of production grants from the University of Exeter—forced the ''Anchor'' to end its regular print production. Since the beginning of the 2017/18 academic year, the publication has operated in an online-only capacity.

Notable stories and wider coverage

In June 2018, 2018/19 Editor-in-Chief Annissa Warsame and News Editor Ivan Edwards broke a story highlighting an email sent by the University of Exeter's careers service which accidentally featured a quote from

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, a German general associated with the Nazi Party. The article was picked up by several national news outlets. The ''Anchor'''s coverage also hit international channels with '' USA Today'', Fox News, and Breitbart News all reporting on the mishap. The story's widespread reach resulted in ''The Falmouth Anchor'' receiving the "Best Impact" award at the 2018 Student Publication Association Regional Conference (South West) in November 2018. This recognition continued at the National Conference (SPANC) in April of the next year with Warsame and Edwards' article being shortlisted for "Best News Story". The following year, the paper garnered further national attention with its coverage of the

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in the South West England constituency. At a campaign rally in Truro in May 2019, controversial YouTuber and the UK Independence Party (UKIP)'s candidate, Carl Benjamin, was struck by a dead fish thrown by a protester during an interview with then-Politics Editor Jacob Jaffa. The moment of impact was captured on camera by 2019/20 Editor-in-Chief Alex Welsford with the image leading ''The Falmouth'' ''Anchor'''s report of the incident. The photo, in combination with the article's headline "'Super callous fragile racist sexist UKIP a***hole': Carl Benjamin visits Truro", saw the news quickly picked up by ''

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'' and ''

The Falmouth Packet Packet Newspapers (Cornwall) Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Newsquest media group, which publishes the ''Packet'' series of weekly tabloid newspapers. The series is named after the Falmouth Packet service, which commenced operatio ...

'', which made note of ''The Falmouth Anchor'''s website repeatedly crashing due to the number of times the report was being shared. The full video interview with Benjamin was uploaded to his YouTube channel "Sargon of Akkad" where it amassed over 270,000 views as of November 2019. On May 26th, Labour Party MP Jess Phillips—who was previously subjected to online abuse from Benjamin, saying he "wouldn't even rape her"—quoted a tweet that used the ''Anchors photo to announce Benjamin's failure to be elected into the European Parliament. The coverage led to further accolades for ''The Falmouth Anchor''; "Highly Commended" in the "Best Impact" category at SPARC South West in November 2019, and a "Best News Story" nomination for Jaffa at SPANC20 in October 2020.

Awards and nominations

Student Publication Association National Conference (SPANC) Awards

* 2018 – Best Entertainment Piece �
"Your average night out in Falmouth"
by Carl Altaner (Won) * 2018 – Best Newcomer Publication (Shortlisted) * 2019 – Best Human Rights Story �
"Living as a Refugee in Cornwall"
by Annissa Warsame (Special Mention) * 2019 – Billy Dowling-Reid Award for Outstanding Commitment – Annissa Warsame (Shortlisted) * 2019 – Best News Story �
"Exeter Career Zone accidentally quote Nazi General in e-mail blast"
by Annissa Warsame & Ivan Edwards (Shortlisted) * 2019 – Best Reporter – Ivan Edwards (Shortlisted) * 2019 – Best Entertainment Piece �
"Confessions of the vegan students"
by Melissa Watt (Shortlisted) * 2020 – Best News Story �
"'Super callous fragile racist sexist UKIP a***hole': Carl Benjamin visits Truro"
by Jacob Jaffa (Shortlisted) * 2022 – Best Sports Reporter – Miriam Leyshon (Shortlisted) * 2022 – Best Sports Section (Shortlisted)

Student Publication Association Regional Conference (SPARC) Awards (South West)

* 2018 – Best Development (Won) * 2018 – Best Impact (Won) * 2019 – Best Development (Won) * 2019 – Best Impact (Highly Commended)

National Societies Awards

* 2018 – Best Media Society (Shortlisted)

References

External links

''The Falmouth Anchor'' website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Falmouth Anchor Student newspapers published in the United Kingdom University of Exeter Falmouth University Mass media in Cornwall Newspapers published in Cornwall Online newspapers with defunct print editions Free newspapers