The Charlatan
Encyclopedia
The Charlatan is a student newspaper at Carleton University
in Ottawa
, Ontario
.
It is published by a not-for-profit corporation, Charlatan Publications Inc., and is independent of student governments and university administration. Papers are free, and are available in news-stands both on and off campus. It is published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. All Carleton students are eligible to contribute. The current editor-in-chief is Farhan Devji.
was formed. Only four issues appeared in the first year, but by 1948 it was a regular weekly.
The paper's first office was in the Student Union Building on First Avenue, but when Carleton relocated to its new Rideau River campus, the Carleton moved to a basement-level office below Paterson Hall. When Carleton's student centre, or University Centre, was built in 1970, the Carleton moved to the fifth floor of that building, where it remains today.
Citing a desire to have a more fun, pranksterish image in keeping with the political spirit of the times, editor-in-chief Phil Kinsman encouraged changing the name to the Charlatan. This became the paper's official name after a staff referendum in March 1971.
(CUSA) had several disputes over funding and editorial policy throughout the early 1970s, and to mediate these conflicts the two sides created a Joint Publishing Board in 1975. The joint board consisted of two representatives each from CUSA and the Charlatan, who appointed an independent fifth person, usually the university ombudsman, as chairman.
After further editorial clashes with CUSA in the 1980s, the Charlatan began to lobby for its autonomy from CUSA. This was achieved by a vote of 1,013-457 in a campus-wide referendum in March 1988, followed by the incorporation of Charlatan Publications Inc.
The paper celebrated its 60th anniversary in September 2005.
The newspaper has several different sections: News, National, Perspectives, Features, Op-Ed, Arts and Sports, in addition to the Photo, Graphics, and Web sections.
The paper is funded by advertising and by an annual, non-refundable levy of $5.67 per undergraduate. These funds are administered by an elected board of directors, composed of:
The powers of the board and the editorial staff are defined in a written constitution. Generally speaking, the board is not allowed to intervene in editorial policy unless there are legal issues involved.
Notable alumni include:
Over the years, Carleton has supported several other campus newspapers, including the CUSA Update, published by CUSA for a short time after the Charlatan's incorporation in 1988. None of these competitors have survived to the present day.
Launching its first issue on February 9, 2009, The Leveller describes itself as "a publication covering news, current events, and culture at Carleton University
, in the City of Ottawa
and, to a lesser extent, the wider world". The Leveller had published four issues between February and April 2009, and five more between November 2009 and March 2010. In March 2010, The Leveller won a Graduate Student Association referendum for a $1.50 levy per graduate student.
Students not supportive of CUSA have been critical as well, citing that the Charlatan has changed articles or played up or down quotes and events in order give a more positive image to the student council.
In rare instances, critics have resorted to newspaper vandalism and theft, the most recent major instance of which was in March 2000, when 6,000 copies of a single issue were taken.
In early 2006, two referendum questions asking for an increase in the Charlatans per-student levy were defeated, by votes of 2276-1350 and 1926-1600 respectively. Critics of the Charlatan have pointed to these results as evidence of general dissatisfaction or apathy with the paper. Other increases in student levies also have a history of being defeated.
In recent years, the Charlatan has put forth a strong effort to gain readership and improve the paper as a whole, though its past reputation continues to affect how students view the Charlatan.
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
in Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
.
It is published by a not-for-profit corporation, Charlatan Publications Inc., and is independent of student governments and university administration. Papers are free, and are available in news-stands both on and off campus. It is published weekly during the fall and winter semesters, and monthly during the summer. All Carleton students are eligible to contribute. The current editor-in-chief is Farhan Devji.
The Carleton: 1945-1971
Originally called the Carleton, the paper's first issue appeared on November 28, 1945, the same year that the young Carleton College's School of JournalismCarleton School of Journalism
The School of Journalism and Communication, within the Faculty of Public Affairs at Carleton University, is one of North America's most well-respected centres for the study of journalism...
was formed. Only four issues appeared in the first year, but by 1948 it was a regular weekly.
The paper's first office was in the Student Union Building on First Avenue, but when Carleton relocated to its new Rideau River campus, the Carleton moved to a basement-level office below Paterson Hall. When Carleton's student centre, or University Centre, was built in 1970, the Carleton moved to the fifth floor of that building, where it remains today.
Citing a desire to have a more fun, pranksterish image in keeping with the political spirit of the times, editor-in-chief Phil Kinsman encouraged changing the name to the Charlatan. This became the paper's official name after a staff referendum in March 1971.
The Charlatan: 1971-present
Since its founding, the paper had been owned and administered by Carleton's undergraduate student government. Editors and the Carleton University Students' AssociationCarleton University Students' Association
The Carleton University Students' Association is a non-profit corporation that represents the undergraduate students at Carleton University in Ottawa, Canada...
(CUSA) had several disputes over funding and editorial policy throughout the early 1970s, and to mediate these conflicts the two sides created a Joint Publishing Board in 1975. The joint board consisted of two representatives each from CUSA and the Charlatan, who appointed an independent fifth person, usually the university ombudsman, as chairman.
After further editorial clashes with CUSA in the 1980s, the Charlatan began to lobby for its autonomy from CUSA. This was achieved by a vote of 1,013-457 in a campus-wide referendum in March 1988, followed by the incorporation of Charlatan Publications Inc.
The paper celebrated its 60th anniversary in September 2005.
Operations, Style and Sections
The Charlatan reports on campus news as well as national events affecting students. Any Carleton student can volunteer, or seek election for one of 11 part-time editorial positions or the full-time position of editor-in-chief. Editors are elected by staff every spring and hold their positions for one academic year.The newspaper has several different sections: News, National, Perspectives, Features, Op-Ed, Arts and Sports, in addition to the Photo, Graphics, and Web sections.
The paper is funded by advertising and by an annual, non-refundable levy of $5.67 per undergraduate. These funds are administered by an elected board of directors, composed of:
- five students-at-large, who do not contribute to the paper and are elected at the corporation's AGM;
- two representatives elected by contributing staff;
- two professional representatives, at least one of whom must be a practicing journalist not on Carleton's faculty, and the other of whom may be a faculty member;
- the editor-in-chief, whose membership on the board is ex officio only.
The powers of the board and the editorial staff are defined in a written constitution. Generally speaking, the board is not allowed to intervene in editorial policy unless there are legal issues involved.
Alumni
Many of the Charlatan's alumni have gone on to be renowned journalists. Three of the former directors of Carleton's School of Journalism — T. Joseph Scanlon, Stuart Adam and Peter Johansen — are Charlatan alumni, as are several other members of the school's current faculty.Notable alumni include:
- Jamie Carson, Statistics CanadaStatistics CanadaStatistics Canada is the Canadian federal government agency commissioned with producing statistics to help better understand Canada, its population, resources, economy, society, and culture. Its headquarters is in Ottawa....
, economic analyst - Paul CouvrettePaul CouvrettePaul Couvrette is a Canadian commercial photographer based in Ottawa, Ontario.-Early life and career:Couvrette earned a bachelor's degree in journalism from Carleton University in 1974. He was the...
, photographer - Bob Cox, Winnipeg Free PressWinnipeg Free PressThe Winnipeg Free Press is a daily broadsheet newspaper in Winnipeg, Manitoba. Founded in 1872, as the Manitoba Free Press, it is the oldest newspaper in western Canada. It is the newspaper with the largest readership in the province....
editor-in-chief - Lydia Dotto, science journalist and author
- Dian Duthie, CBCCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
TV anchor - Greg IpGreg IpGreg Ip is the U.S. Economics editor of The Economist. Prior to joining the Economist, Ip worked as a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. He is the author of The Little Book of Economics: How the Economy Works in the Real World. Ip is a graduate of Carleton University.-External links:* * *...
, The EconomistThe EconomistThe Economist is an English-language weekly news and international affairs publication owned by The Economist Newspaper Ltd. and edited in offices in the City of Westminster, London, England. Continuous publication began under founder James Wilson in September 1843...
editor, former Wall Street Journal reporter - Warren KinsellaWarren KinsellaWarren James Douglas Kinsella , is a Toronto-based Canadian, lawyer, author, musician, political consultant, commentator, and blogger...
, National PostNational PostThe National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
media columnist and former aide to prime minister Jean ChrétienJean ChrétienJoseph Jacques Jean Chrétien , known commonly as Jean Chrétien is a former Canadian politician who was the 20th Prime Minister of Canada. He served in the position for over ten years, from November 4, 1993 to December 12, 2003.... - James Orr, film director and screenwriter
- Sasa Petricic, CBCCBC TelevisionCBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
TV correspondent - Jacquie McNish, Globe and Mail business reporter
- Matthew Sekeres, Globe and Mail sports writer
- Dave Naylor, Globe and Mail sports writer
- Derek Raymaker, Globe and Mail features writer/housing columnist
- Chris Wattie, National PostNational PostThe National Post is a Canadian English-language national newspaper based in Don Mills, a district of Toronto. The paper is owned by Postmedia Network Inc. and is published Mondays through Saturdays...
reporter - Mark MacKinnonMark MacKinnonMark MacKinnon is a Canadian journalist, currently the Beijing bureau chief for Canada's national newspaper, The Globe and Mail...
, Globe and Mail foreign correspondent - Dave Ebner, Globe and Mail/Report on Business
- Chinta Puxley, Canadian Press Queen's Park bureau
- Paul Watson, Toronto StarToronto StarThe Toronto Star is Canada's highest-circulation newspaper, based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Its print edition is distributed almost entirely within the province of Ontario...
blogger and award-winning correspondent
Competition
The Charlatan competed (usually in a friendly manner, though not exclusively) with The Resin, a now defunct student-run newspaper for residence students. Carleton's engineering society also has its own newspaper, the Iron Times.Over the years, Carleton has supported several other campus newspapers, including the CUSA Update, published by CUSA for a short time after the Charlatan's incorporation in 1988. None of these competitors have survived to the present day.
Launching its first issue on February 9, 2009, The Leveller describes itself as "a publication covering news, current events, and culture at Carleton University
Carleton University
Carleton University is a comprehensive university located in the capital of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario. The enabling legislation is The Carleton University Act, 1952, S.O. 1952. Founded as a small college in 1942, Carleton now offers over 65 programs in a diverse range of disciplines. Carleton has...
, in the City of Ottawa
Ottawa
Ottawa is the capital of Canada, the second largest city in the Province of Ontario, and the fourth largest city in the country. The city is located on the south bank of the Ottawa River in the eastern portion of Southern Ontario...
and, to a lesser extent, the wider world". The Leveller had published four issues between February and April 2009, and five more between November 2009 and March 2010. In March 2010, The Leveller won a Graduate Student Association referendum for a $1.50 levy per graduate student.
Criticism
Over the years, some students, particularly those affiliated with or supportive of CUSA, have been very critical of the Charlatan. One CUSA president organized a public debate on this subject in 1983. "The Charlatan" was accused of covering trivial topics and of publishing error-prone articles concerning student-run bodies that sometimes required retractions or issue corrections.Students not supportive of CUSA have been critical as well, citing that the Charlatan has changed articles or played up or down quotes and events in order give a more positive image to the student council.
In rare instances, critics have resorted to newspaper vandalism and theft, the most recent major instance of which was in March 2000, when 6,000 copies of a single issue were taken.
In early 2006, two referendum questions asking for an increase in the Charlatans per-student levy were defeated, by votes of 2276-1350 and 1926-1600 respectively. Critics of the Charlatan have pointed to these results as evidence of general dissatisfaction or apathy with the paper. Other increases in student levies also have a history of being defeated.
In recent years, the Charlatan has put forth a strong effort to gain readership and improve the paper as a whole, though its past reputation continues to affect how students view the Charlatan.
External links
- The Charlatan official site
- The Charlatan official Twitter account
- Carleton University official site