Craccum, Canta best

Craccum and Canta have been named as jointly the best student newspapers this year.

The judges were Ian Cross (television and newspaper commentator), Frank Haden (Editor of the Sunday Times) and Alexander MacLeod (Editor of the N.Z. Listener).

"They awarded first prize in the features section to James Mitchell for hit feature "Bluff Your Way to Degrees" in Salient (June 25).

"Salient is printed weekly and in this respect works under heavier pressure than the other entrants.

"The judges were divided about its approach to layout end its use of technical resources. Salient is printed offset but although one judge admired layout another strongly maintained that, notably on the feature pages, its use of thick horizontal rules and its tendency to stretch articles horizontally across the central gutter were unattractive and irritating.

"Bill Logan's story in Salient (June 18) about student photographs displayed a certain amount of resourcefulness but was not completely researched. It was the best news story before the judges who decided, however, that it was too slight to merit an award.

"If anything, Craccum is the kind of student newspaper that reflects student life as parents would prefer to see it lived, whereas Canta is probably more faithful to the image of students as they actually are.

"Since public debate in this area is unresolved, the judges saw no need to upset the polarity. They decided, finally, to award a joint prize to Canta and Craccum, as best student newspapers in New Zealand."