A new venture or re-design

If you are considering trying something new you will need to spend a great deal of time examining all the options and preparing the ground.

First of all you will need to define the audience. See the section on defining your audience for more details about this. Then you will need to examine costs and work out a budget.

Secondly you will need to decide upon the type of student media, print, TV or radio.

Student Television

If you are interested in setting up a TV station then NUS would advise you first of all to speak to the National Student Television Association (NASTA), which is the society for all the current student union television stations.

They can advise and assist you with all of your start-up problems and are important for support and networking once you have set up. Contact the NUS Press Office for details of contacting the representatives of NaSTA this year or visit http://nasta.org.uk

Student Radio

If you are interested in setting up a radio station then NUS would advise you first of all to speak to the Student Radio Association (SRA).

They can help with all sorts of problems, offer advice on everything from licences to equipment and provide support once you are up and running. Contact the NUS Press Office for details of contacting the representative of the SRA this year.

Student Newspapers and Magazines

If you want to set up a newspaper or magazine then you will need to consider the following things carefully first of all:

• How many will you need to print?
• How much copy will you have?
• How regularly will you print?
• How will you distribute it?

Budgets and Costs

For setting up any new student media you must consider costs. You may be able to get a grant from the college as student media, or you may want to form a club or society, such as Television Society, and through this become eligible for funding. You will need to look at options for raising advertising and sponsorship and to work out a budget.

Only once you have a budget can you work out what you can do with what you can afford. Magazines are more expensive than newspapers to print for example. Printing 12 pages every week is more expensive than printing 36 pages every fortnight, etc. etc. so it is important to know the confines of your finances before you get too ahead in your plans.

You will need to consider initial start-up costs, such as buying equipment, installing telephone lines, buying computers and software etc. and converting office space to suit your needs. You will also need to consider running costs. The costs for printing, for delivery, phone bill, possible staff costs or sabbatical salary, for libel insurance, for stationery and office expenses etc. etc.

You may be able to get assistance from your student union with start-up costs, and you may be able to get an annually reviewed student union grant to subsidise the running costs. Inevitably, you will be expected to raise some of the rest of the money through sponsorship and advertising from outside organisations and companies. More on this in the section called Budgeting and Raising Revenue.

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