Newswire for student media to relaunch next month

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A newswire for student media in the UK will relaunch next month to provide a more consistent service for student journalists and university publications. Student Media Wire was set up in 2008 by specialist youth marketing agency Reach Students. But the press distribution through the wire to date has been irregular, the agency's Luke Mitchell told Journalism.co.uk.

From 1 October the new and improved wire will go live, sending student journalists and editors regular releases from a range of clients and including interviews, pieces for syndication and competition offers. According to Mitchell, the wire has 300 recipients on its list, but is more concerned with developing a reliable service than expanding too quickly.

"We are adjusting the way we work this year, in a way that allows us to now provide a regular wire service for clients and for student journalists. Last year was the first serious year of beta testing, with releases sent for Action Aid and Mellow Bird’s among others. The reaction was very good - both in terms of student media pick-up and client satisfaction. What we want to do now is all about quality and quantity: supporting clients to provide constant, interesting content that student writers appreciate and engage with," said Mitchell.

"As a former student writer, I think the opportunities for student journalists are not as good today as they once were, and not just in terms of job prospects. In my time it was constant interview invites, preview copies, gigs and launch events to cover, and there were a dozen agencies that called you every week to get your attention or at least get your clippings.

"These days many of these agencies have either disappeared or turned elsewhere. Publications' ad income has fallen and social media has provided a more convenient and direct platform for independent young journalists. Yet the fact remains that there are still a generation of enthusiastic, aspiring media professionals out there who want to respond and get involved with press events of all kinds. They are worth spending time developing relationships with and we are convincing clients to turn their attentions back."

Journalists can opt-in to the service and are free to unsubscribe at any time, said Mitchell.

The wire originally offered a showcase for students' work, but this feature has been abandoned: "We've realised that they don't really need this from us. That said, we are keen to support student media in other ways and once we have secured the success of Student Media Wire we will start looking more at what’s needed. We don't want to do anything that others are already doing well."

The service is funded by agencies, brands and organisations that pay an annual fee for a broader marketing package through Reach Media.