... but no spree

Salient Reporter

Student newspapers throughout New Zealand are about to break into a mammoth circulation spree.

Otago's student paper, Critic, already sending 4000 copies to other universities, plans to dump 4000 free copies on the Dunedin public in a bid to reach a circulation of 10,000.

Otago students association men claim they need to increase circulation in order to raise advertising rates.

But real reasons for the move, which in a full year will cost Otago over £700 in extra printing and freight costs, are Otago's wish to use rotary letterpress printing and a secret hope of picking up some advertising from the redesigned national paper, Student News.

Student News, which will this year publish one further issue in newspaper format, is next year to be turned into a magazine-style critical review.

Canterbury student paper, Canta, is also expanding its circulation by dumping free copies on other campuses. Next year Massey paper, Chaff, also intends to raise its circulation from 1100 to 2500—aimed mainly at assisting public relations in Palmerston North.

Other student papers have no plans to follow suit. Salient, which began outside sales and sells 200 copies of each issue to the general public, intends to continue this system.

But, says Salient's editor, the cost of over £800 to Victoria students which would be incurred in following the Otago system "just cannot be justified."