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{{Short description|Student newspaper at Toronto Metropolitan University}} |
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'''''The Eyeopener''''' is one of two student newspapers at [[Ryerson University]]. It was started on [[September 26]], [[1967]], by Tom Thorne, a [[Radio and Television Arts]] student upset with the amount of editorial powers held by faculty members at ''[[The Ryersonian]]''. He took the name from a muck-raking turn-of-the-century weekly published in [[Calgary]]. It has received awards for its journalistic coverage and has garnered much acclaim for its often investigative style of reporting. |
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{{other uses|Eyeopener (disambiguation)}} |
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{{more citations needed|date=January 2022}} |
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{{Original research|date=May 2011}} |
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{{Infobox newspaper |
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| name = The Eyeopener |
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| type = [[Student newspaper]] |
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| format = Tabloid |
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| school = Toronto Metropolitan University |
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| owner = Rye Eye Publishing Inc., |
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| founder = <!-- or |founders= --> |
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| foundation = 1967<ref name="history">{{cite web | url=https://theeyeopener.com/about/ | title=Our story | date=31 August 2010 }}</ref><!-- or |launched= --><!-- Use: {{start date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} or {{start date|...}}, if ceased --> |
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| ceased publication = <!-- Use: {{end date|YYYY|MM|DD}} --> |
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| headquarters = |
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| publishing_city = Toronto |
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| publishing_country = Canada |
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| sister newspapers = |
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| ISSN = 0847-8791 |
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| oclc = 1033013807 |
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| RNI = |
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| website = {{URL|https://theeyeopener.com/}} |
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| free = |
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}} |
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'''''The Eyeopener''''' is one of two weekly student newspapers at [[Toronto Metropolitan University]]. It has a circulation of 10,000 copies per week during the school year. |
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''The Eyeopener'' is published by Rye Eye Publishing Inc., owned by the students of Toronto Metropolitan University as a non-profit corporation. Most of the writing is done by contributors (as is the case with most campus newspapers) but the paper's masthead is elected towards the end of each academic year, by the previous year's masthead and volunteers who have made a certain number of contributions. As of 2008, the minimum number of contributions to be eligible to vote is six. While contributors and [[Editing|editors]] are often students of the TMU School of Journalism, students in other programs are more than welcome to write for the paper. |
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In the first issue, Thorne wrote: "Our publishing aim is to make crystal clear what is going on at Ryerson without the dubious benefit of a ... newspaper laboratory staining and processing student opinion in the name of 'professionalism.'" |
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The paper is composed of several main sections; news, arts and culture, business and technology, sports, features, community, video, [[editorial]] and a 'fun' page. |
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True to its forerunner's reputation, the early days of ''The Eyeopener'' were marked by clashes with the administration and student government alike. In January 1970, the chair of Ryerson's board of governors, William Kelly, threatened to sue for libel after a satiric article appeared under his byline. |
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== History == |
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In October 1971, Ryerson president Donald Mordell decided that any campus publication that discussed the board of governors should be subject to the president's approval. ''The Eyeopener'' responded with a front-page editorial, headed "A Proclamation." |
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===Early days=== |
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"In no manner whatsoever will ''The Eyeopener'' become a part of such a binding and illegal request. ... We have the right to speak and we demand our right and take the right. As for the administration ..." |
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''The Eyeopener'' was started at what was then the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute on September 26, 1967, by Tom Thorne, a [[Radio and Television Arts]] student upset with the amount of editorial powers held by faculty members at ''[[The Ryersonian]],'' now named ''On the Record''. He took the name from a muck-raking turn-of-the-century weekly published in [[Calgary]].<ref name="history"/><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.torontomu.ca/alumni/podcasts/ryerson-rewind/ryerson-rewind-s01e02/ | title=Tom's story }}</ref> |
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The other campus newspaper at Toronto Metropolitan University is ''[[On the Record (newspaper)|On the Record]]'', published by the university's Faculty of Journalism with a circulation of approximately 5,000 copies a week. ''The Eyeopener'' upped its circulation to 10,000 issues per week from 8,000 per week at the start of the 2007-2008 academic year. |
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Beneath which, in inch-high type, the words "FUCK YOU," accompanied by a drawing of a hand making an obscene gesture, were printed. |
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In 2019, student newspapers and student councils at post-secondary institutions in Ontario faced the threat of significant losses of student fees after the provincial government led by Doug Ford introduced its [[Student Choice Initiative]], which would have made some student association fees optional.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Thompson|first=Nicole|date=2019-09-10|title=Student editors working to save campus papers after fees change|url=https://london.ctvnews.ca/student-editors-working-to-save-campus-papers-after-fees-change-1.4585996|access-date=2021-09-29|website=CTV News London|language=en}}</ref> The measure was struck down by a court.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/toronto/student-choice-initiative-ontario-fees-court-1.5368969 |title=Ontario court strikes down measure allowing students to opt out of fees for 'non-essential services' |first1=Shanifa |last1=Nasser |date= November 21, 2019 |website=CBC News}}</ref> |
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In February 1975, to illustrate the lax security on campus, a photo essay showed editor Gary Curtis stealing typewriters, and even a photocopier, while guards watched. |
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== The COVID-19 Pandemic == |
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In 1990-91, another breach of security was uncovered. These were the early days of paper recycling on campus, and the traditional image of investigative journalists going through the trash to get the story was turned on its ear when ''The Eyeopener'''s bins were returned each week, full of exam papers, inter-office memos, confidential documents -- and, oddly enough, a complete list of names and phone numbers for the members of the [[48th Highlanders]] pipe band. |
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Student media, like Toronto Metropolitan University itself, went online during the lockdowns imposed during the [[COVID-19 pandemic in Canada]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Student news outlets during COVID-19: Online formats have allowed student media to thrive despite adversity|url=https://www.ryerson.ca/journalism/news-events/2020/04/student-news-outlets-during-covid-19/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=Ryerson University|first1=Chelsey |last1=Gould |date=April 17, 2020|language=en}}</ref> After most people had been vaccinated, the paper reported on the university's new ventilation systems that were intended to mitigate the risk of infection.<ref>{{Cite news|date=2021-09-28|title=Ryerson's upgraded air ventilation systems explained|url=https://theeyeopener.com/2021/09/ryersons-upgraded-air-ventilation-systems-explained/|access-date=2021-09-29|website=The Eyeopener|language=en-CA}}</ref> |
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Early in 2021, a former staffer claimed that he had been fired from the paper because he was Catholic.<ref>{{Cite news|last1=Swan|first1=Michael |title=Catholic student reporter says he was fired for beliefs|url=https://www.catholicregister.org/item/32620-catholic-student-reporter-says-he-was-fired-for-beliefs|date=January 21, 2021|access-date=2021-09-29|website=The Catholic Register |language=en-CA}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|last=Black|first=Conrad|date=2021-02-19|title=Conrad Black: By debasing religion, Canadian intellectuals are playing a dangerous game|language=en|work=National Post|url=https://nationalpost.com/opinion/conrad-black-by-debasing-religion-canadian-intellectuals-are-playing-a-dangerous-game|access-date=2021-09-29}}</ref> |
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After the story ran on page one, the administration responded by taking away ''The Eyeopener'''s recycling bin. |
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==Notable alumni== |
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Also in 1990-91, Ryerson's Gay and Lesbian Club lodged a harassment complaint against "The Ryersonian," alleging that an article it published was homophobic. This prompted the school's director of campus safety and security to release a report in December 1991, suggesting that a code of conduct be imposed on all campus media, and that a "media-watch tribunal" be formed to respond to complaints and mete out punishment. |
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{{div col|colwidth=15em}} |
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''Eyeopener'' editor Mike O'Connor came across campus security guards emptying the paper's distribution racks and throwing copies in the garbage. In their place, the guards were placing copies of the administration's report. A front-page editorial harked back to the 1971 outrage, appearing under the headline "Fuck You" in red 168-point type. |
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Response ranged from those who considered the headline insensitive, as it was printed very close to the second anniversary of the Montreal massacre, to a pair of journalism professors who applauded ''The Eyeopener'' for being "obstreperous" and encouraged it to keep on doing so. John Miller, chair of Ryerson's journalism school, pronounced that the headline was, "Fucking marvellous." Ryerson president Terry Grier condemned the headline, but admitted he hadn't read the editorial beneath it. |
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At a meeting of the board of governors, one of the governors admitted to not knowing what "The Eyeopener" was, and asked if it was published by the administration. |
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Many of the paper's more daring journalistic ventures ran under the byline "Scoop Gerbil," which commemorated the paper's 1970s mascot of the same name. |
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The other campus newspaper at Ryerson is ''[[The Ryersonian]]'', published by the university's Faculty of Journalism. ''The Ryersonian'' has a circulation of approximately 5000 copies a week, and ''The Eyeopener'' has a [[Magazine circulation|circulation]] of approximately 8000 copies a week. |
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''The Eyeopener'' is published by Rye Eye Publishing Inc., owned by the students of Ryerson, as a non-profit corporation. Most of the writing is done by volunteers (as is the case with most campus newspapers) but the paper's masthead is elected towards the end of each academic year by the previous year's masthead and volunteers who have made a certain number of contributions. As of 2005, the minimum number of contributions to be eligible to vote is six. While contributors and [[editors]] are often students of the Ryerson School of Journalism, students in other programs are more than welcome to write for the paper. |
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The paper has been known to be somewhat more controversial than its RSJ-run counterpart. ''The Eyeopener'' is generally thought to be somewhat left-leaning and is often editorially critical of [[Ryerson Students' Union]] and the University's administration. Its annual ''Love and Sex'' issue, a [[Valentine's Day]] tradition, has also drawn both positive and negative attention. The [[2001]]-[[2002]] ''Love and Sex'' issue was thought to be particularly controversial; its contents were denounced as pornographic by students and faculty members alike. The [[2004]]-[[2005]] issue featured erotic literature and artwork without any full-frontal nudity. |
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Another of the paper's traditions is an annual 'parody' issue, designed and intended to lampoon a different reputed daily newspaper every year. The 2004-2005 edition skewered the ''[[National Post]]'' with a satirical issue called the ''Nearly Post-Mortem''. The edition parodied the ''Post''‘s stereotypically conservative viewpoint, insinuating that its readers and editorial staff were [[homophobic]] and anti-progressive. [[Ryerson Students' Union|RyeSAC]] executives sent an open letter to the paper condemning the parody issue and suggested that the student union would be withdrawing its funding and requiring the ''Eyeopener''' to work with a third-party board to develop editorial policies. It was later suggested that the entire initiative was spearheaded by only one of RyeSAC's four executives (with support from a small group of students outside the RyeSAC executive) and was later dropped. Other recent parody issues included takes on the ''[[Globe and Mail]]''- the Olde and Male; the [[Toronto Star]] - the Subpar, and the [[Toronto Sun]] - the Spun. |
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RyeSAC members also actively protested the paper in 2003 when the editor-in-chief referred to the then-RyeSAC president (who was [[openly gay]]), as RyeSAC's "token gay guy" in an editorial. Some RyeSAC and RyePride members also informed the ''Ryersonian'' editorial staff that they planned to deface the ''Eyeopener'' office. ''Ryersonian'' staff members didn't let the long-time rivalry between the two campus papers stop them from notifying campus security. Several students were detained. |
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While many people tend to associate The Eyeopener with these various controversies, it should also be noted that the paper has won three awards from the [[Canadian Association of Journalists]] for its investigative reporting, a feat unmatched by any other student paper in Canada. In one case it beat entries from professional journalists from across the country to win the category for papers with circulations of less than 25,000. The other two wins came in the student category. |
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''The Eyeopener'' is also distinguished by its website, which is updated regularly and features web exclusives and breaking news. Readers can post comments on individual stories and items; in recent years this has become more of a grounds for debate among readers than for feedback regarding the articles themselves. The paper's masthead appeared to have disabled this feature by 2005, opting instead for more ‘traditional‘ means of communication for readers. |
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It is composed of several main sections, including news, arts & entertainment, roots & culture, sports, uncoverage, an [[editorial]], and a 'fun' page. The 'Roots & Culture' section was removed for the 2005-2006 academic year, and was replaced with a new 'Business & Tech' section. |
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== Notable Alumni == |
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*[[Christie Blatchford]] |
*[[Christie Blatchford]] |
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*[[ |
*[[Toronto Sun#Current staff, columnists, and writers|Mark Bonokoski]] |
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*[[Mark Bourrie]] |
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*Paul Chato |
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*[[Graeme Smith (journalist)|Graeme Smith |
*[[Dianne Buckner]] |
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*[[Graeme Smith (journalist)|Graeme Smith]] |
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*[[The Vancouver Sun#Senior editors|Kirk LaPointe]] |
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*JoJo Chintoh |
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*[[Steve McAllister]] |
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*Tim Cook |
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*[[24 Hours (newspaper)|Jordan Heath-Rawlings]] |
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*Michael Traikos |
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*Caroline Alphonso |
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*Siri Agrell |
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*[[The_Vancouver_Sun#Senior_Editors|Kirk LaPointe]] |
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*Natalie Alcoba |
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*Yuri Dojc |
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*Joe Friesen |
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*Tom Kennedy |
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*[[Kirk Makin]] |
*[[Kirk Makin]] |
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*[[Bob McKenzie (broadcaster)|Bob McKenzie]] |
*[[Bob McKenzie (broadcaster)|Bob McKenzie]] |
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*[[Wendy Mesley]] |
*[[Wendy Mesley]] |
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*[[Vancouver Sun#Reporters|Jonathan Fowlie]] |
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*James Mirtle |
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*Tim Wharnsby |
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*Wojtek Dabrowski |
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*[[Vancouver_Sun#Reporters|Jonathan Fowlie]] |
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*[[Michael Friscolanti]] |
*[[Michael Friscolanti]] |
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*[[Robyn Doolittle]] |
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*Allan Woods |
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{{div col end}} |
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*Paul Workman |
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*Douglas Cudmore |
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*Kenny Yum |
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*Rob Granatstein |
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*Brian Stuparyk |
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== |
==See also== |
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*[[List of student newspapers in Canada]] |
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*[[List of newspapers in Canada]] |
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==References== |
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{{Reflist}} |
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==External links== |
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*[http://www.theeyeopener.com/ Website] |
*[http://www.theeyeopener.com/ Website] |
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{{Ryerson University}} |
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{{Authority control}} |
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[[Category:Student newspapers published in Canada|Eyeopener]] |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Eyeopener}} |
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[[Category:Toronto Metropolitan University]] |
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[[Category:Student newspapers published in Ontario]] |
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[[Category:Newspapers published in Toronto]] |
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[[Category:Newspapers established in 1967]] |
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[[Category:Weekly newspapers published in Ontario]] |
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[[Category:1967 establishments in Ontario]] |
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Latest revision as of 09:25, 18 June 2024
 | This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2022) |
 | This article possibly contains original research. (May 2011) |
| Type | Student newspaper |
|---|---|
| Format | Tabloid |
| School | Toronto Metropolitan University |
| Owner(s) | Rye Eye Publishing Inc., |
| Founded | 1967[1] |
| City | Toronto |
| Country | Canada |
| ISSN | 0847-8791 |
| OCLC number | 1033013807 |
| Website | theeyeopener |
The Eyeopener is one of two weekly student newspapers at Toronto Metropolitan University. It has a circulation of 10,000 copies per week during the school year.
The Eyeopener is published by Rye Eye Publishing Inc., owned by the students of Toronto Metropolitan University as a non-profit corporation. Most of the writing is done by contributors (as is the case with most campus newspapers) but the paper's masthead is elected towards the end of each academic year, by the previous year's masthead and volunteers who have made a certain number of contributions. As of 2008, the minimum number of contributions to be eligible to vote is six. While contributors and editors are often students of the TMU School of Journalism, students in other programs are more than welcome to write for the paper.
The paper is composed of several main sections; news, arts and culture, business and technology, sports, features, community, video, editorial and a 'fun' page.
History
[edit]Early days
[edit]The Eyeopener was started at what was then the Ryerson Polytechnical Institute on September 26, 1967, by Tom Thorne, a Radio and Television Arts student upset with the amount of editorial powers held by faculty members at The Ryersonian, now named On the Record. He took the name from a muck-raking turn-of-the-century weekly published in Calgary.[1][2]
The other campus newspaper at Toronto Metropolitan University is On the Record, published by the university's Faculty of Journalism with a circulation of approximately 5,000 copies a week. The Eyeopener upped its circulation to 10,000 issues per week from 8,000 per week at the start of the 2007-2008 academic year.
In 2019, student newspapers and student councils at post-secondary institutions in Ontario faced the threat of significant losses of student fees after the provincial government led by Doug Ford introduced its Student Choice Initiative, which would have made some student association fees optional.[3] The measure was struck down by a court.[4]
The COVID-19 Pandemic
[edit]Student media, like Toronto Metropolitan University itself, went online during the lockdowns imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic in Canada.[5] After most people had been vaccinated, the paper reported on the university's new ventilation systems that were intended to mitigate the risk of infection.[6]
Early in 2021, a former staffer claimed that he had been fired from the paper because he was Catholic.[7][8]
Notable alumni
[edit]See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^ a b "Our story". 31 August 2010.
- ^ "Tom's story".
- ^ Thompson, Nicole (2019-09-10). "Student editors working to save campus papers after fees change". CTV News London. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- ^ Nasser, Shanifa (November 21, 2019). "Ontario court strikes down measure allowing students to opt out of fees for 'non-essential services'". CBC News.
- ^ Gould, Chelsey (April 17, 2020). "Student news outlets during COVID-19: Online formats have allowed student media to thrive despite adversity". Ryerson University. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- ^ "Ryerson's upgraded air ventilation systems explained". The Eyeopener. 2021-09-28. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- ^ Swan, Michael (January 21, 2021). "Catholic student reporter says he was fired for beliefs". The Catholic Register. Retrieved 2021-09-29.
- ^ Black, Conrad (2021-02-19). "Conrad Black: By debasing religion, Canadian intellectuals are playing a dangerous game". National Post. Retrieved 2021-09-29.