I, like many third years, having gone through probably my last freshers’ week (which of course Cardiff has a way of making feel like a month), am now facing up to the reality of life beyond university in an uncertain job market. What will I do? Where will I go?
Questions to which I have not yet established a clear answer. Nonetheless, I hope the subject of this edition’s feature will provide inspiration to readers, as an example of a Cardiff graduate who, despite narrowly missing out on the prime ministership, has made a substantial contribution to public life. Now a member of the House of Lords, Neil Kinnock has been a friend of Student Media for many decades, and it was a great privilege to meet him in London to discuss a number of topics.
His words are steeped in the wisdom of a long political career, and I hope they will be insightful to our readers. More details of his career and our interview can be found in an article by Ruaidhrí in the Politics section. Despite a slightly frantic time making the last edition, which resulted in the occasional spelling error, it has been extremely encouraging to witness the excellent engagement with which the paper has been met.
Our social media views have increased sevenfold, and we have had to constantly refill the distribution points across campus. We are near to fixing the website with the help of the SU internet team—stay tuned for an announcement on our Instagram when we are done. We are trying to increase Gair Rhydd’s presence as a source of original journalism, but we are always in need of stories to report.
Do you have something you want to tell us? Share it confidentially using the QR code in the News section. Finally, whilst none will appear in this edition, we are hoping to provide court reports through the paper and website.
Working with the Crown Court in Cathays Park, we now know of upcoming trials. If you want to get involved as a court reporter for Gair Rhydd, please get in contact via Instagram or email me at editor@gairrhydd.com. This is a great opportunity for those studying law, as you can gain valuable experience of real-life court proceedings and build up a portfolio of work.
We have no expectations, and you can do as much, or as little as possible. Likewise, if having read the last edition, you are interested in joining Gair Rhydd, contact my editor’s email. Membership of the paper is five pound (insurance money if we get sued!).
We post pitches on our Facebook chat “Gair Rhydd Contributors 2025–2026” at the start of each new print cycle. For those more experienced, there is also the opportunity to join the main editorial team. I want to say thank you to all our committee members in all their roles.
Gair Rhydd is a student paper, made by a wonderful team of volunteers, without whom the paper would cease to be.