Gair Rhydd

The University's award-winning student newspaper is celebrating its 1000th edition after more than 40 years at the forefront of student journalism. gair rhydd, meaning 'free word' was launched in October 1972 and has since grown to be one of the UK's most recognised student newspapers.

Compiled by students, gair rhydd covers the issues that affect students in Cardiff and across the UK, and includes sections on the latest news, sport and health as well as the Welsh language section, Taf-Od.

Its independence and high levels of journalistic skill have seen gair rhydd win NUS/Daily Mirror Student newspaper of the year 04/05 and Guardian Student Newspaper of the year 05/06, amongst other accolades.

To mark the 1000^th edition, past editors of gair rhydd are attending a celebratory event and Student Media Awards ceremony in Cardiff that will recognise the achievements of gair rhydd's current student journalists as well as those over the last four decades.

A special edition of the newspaper will also be issued (25 February 2013) and will include memories from former student journalists and some of their favourite editions of the past.

Chris Williams, current editor of gair rhydd and head of student media said: "gair rhydd is such an important part of Cardiff's history. I feel proud to be a part of that and to be the person who helps celebrate the newspaper moving into its fortieth year and reaching such a mammoth milestone.

"Student media gives so much to the students of Cardiff and the paper is the cornerstone of that - if it weren't for the creation of a student newspaper all those years ago, who knows what student media would look like now."

The celebratory event will give all of the people who have helped shape gair rhydd, and are part of its history, a chance to see how the newspaper has grown.