How The Jute Journal began.

The Jute Journal began as a weekly newsletter under The Magdalen in February 2025, condensing the weekly news into a digestible email. After a £35m deficit was revealed in November 2024 and students and staff were receiving mixed messages — or left in the dark — our first story, published February 2025, was released: "Suffering Staff Speak Out on Leadership Failures". From there we continued to cover the unfolding financial and managerial crisis with the goal of informing students of what was happening at their university.

The Jute Journal quickly evolved into something bigger. We launched our own website, built a dedicated editorial team, and began publishing news online.

Summer 2025 involved getting a core editorial team together, building the website, and prepping for our first print issue. Over a pint in one of Dundee's best pubs, The George Orwell — fittingly named after a world-famous journalist — The Jute Journal's editorial team was born, with Eva Milne as Editor in Chief and Connor Bertie as Deputy Editor. Nick Whelan joined as Head of Print, Alexander Stewart as Head of Photography, and Esme Ong as Head of Copy. We all agreed that Dundee University students deserved more than official statements and corporate emails.

In July 2025, Eva appeared on BBC Reporting Scotland to discuss the financial crisis and The Jute Journal, which helped spread the word. We then launched our first print issue in September 2025.

Since September, three print issues have been released. We have been on national news and radio twice, featured in local newspaper The Courier, and recognised for our work in several awards and shortlists — praised by staff, students, and the local community.