The Student Journals
An editorially independent, student-focused online magazine that provided university writers with a platform for commentary, journalism and cultural coverage.
Last updated August 26, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
History
The Student Journals began in October 2010 as an independent online publication for university students. It was founded by Siraj Datoo, then a University of Warwick student, and Ali Gokal, a friend from Watford Grammar School for Boys. Datoo associated the project with the example of Ahmed Versi, founder and editor of The Muslim News, whose work demonstrated how a publication could provide a voice to a community that felt underrepresented in British public debate. Datoo and Gokal applied a similar principle to students, arguing that they needed a space where they could express political and social opinions without being restricted to a single editorial ideology. From launch, the publication was designed both as a magazine and as a practical journalism platform. Its main output consisted of comment pieces on subjects such as education, politics, culture and sport, but it also published interviews, reviews and event reporting. Contributors could cover music, theatre, books and films, attend events as members of the press and participate in live blogs about British news and public affairs. The editorial model emphasized access: students with different political positions were invited to write, and submissions were intended to receive detailed feedback to help contributors improve their journalism. The organization formalized this development mission through the TSJ Advisors Scheme. Professional journalists reviewed articles and offered guidance, giving contributors exposure to editorial standards beyond a typical student blog. The recorded adviser network included Helen Lewis of the New Statesman, Jonathan Haynes of Guardian.co.uk, Sameer Rahim of The Daily Telegraph and freelance journalist Dan Hancox. The project also created TSJ Youth for younger students who had not yet begun writing for the main publication. Participants received editorial support intended to build confidence and writing ability. The publication expanded internationally through TSJ Global, launched around the first anniversary of The Student Journals. Its first article was attributed to Boston University graduate Diptesh Soni, and the initiative subsequently enabled students from outside the United Kingdom to contribute. This expansion broadened the original university-centered concept into a global student commentary and journalism network. The Student Journals developed a profile through awards, contributor recognition and interviews. In 2011 it was runner-up for Website of the Year at the Guardian Student Media Awards. It was also placed in the Total Politics Blog Awards' national rankings for group and media blogs, while several people associated with the site appeared in individual blogger categories. The publication was highlighted by Ones to Watch as a notable student publication and received positive attention in the MyNewsBiz student journalism enterprise competition. In 2013 it won the Guardian Student Media Awards Website of the Year title after having previously been shortlisted. The same year, Datoo was shortlisted for Digital Journalist of the Year and contributor Hana Alidina was shortlisted for Student Data Interactive Journalist of the Year. The site also pursued original reporting. On 16 May 2011, reporter Sabine Saade published a story concerning former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's intentions during his departure to Saudi Arabia amid the Tunisian political crisis. The report followed information disclosed in an exclusive interview with The Independent foreign correspondent Robert Fisk. Other notable interviews attributed to the site included conversations with Amnesty International UK's director Kate Allen, Fisk and Hurriyet Daily News editor Mustafa Akyol. The available reference material indicates that the publication's online activity later ceased. Its website was reported as down from June 2015, and its Twitter account had reportedly been inactive since December 2014. There is no supplied evidence of a formal legal closure, acquisition or relaunch. Accordingly, the project is historically documented as an influential student-media initiative but its current status cannot be established with certainty.
- 2015
Website reported offline
[1]The available reference states that the website had been down since June 2015, with no confirmed relaunch.
- 2013
Guardian Student Media Awards winner
[1]The publication wins Website of the Year at the Guardian Student Media Awards after an earlier shortlist appearance.
- 2011
TSJ Global launches
[1]The international TSJ Global initiative is introduced around the publication's first anniversary, opening participation to students from outside the United Kingdom.
- 2011
Guardian Student Media Awards runner-up
[1]The Student Journals is named runner-up for Website of the Year at the Guardian Student Media Awards.
- 2011
Ben Ali departure report
[1]Reporter Sabine Saade publishes a report about former Tunisian president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali's intentions during his departure to Saudi Arabia.
- 2010
The Student Journals is founded
[1]Siraj Datoo and Ali Gokal launch the student-focused online publication in October, with a mission to give university students an independent platform for public commentary and journalism.
Products and positioning
An independent, training-oriented student publication combining open political commentary with journalism practice, cultural reporting and professional editorial development.
Digital publication · 2010
The Student Journals online magazine
The core editorial site published student-written commentary, interviews, cultural reviews, event reporting and live blogs. Its subject range included education, politics, culture and sport, and its editorial model aimed to accommodate contributors with different political perspectives while providing feedback on submitted work.
Editorial development program
TSJ Advisors Scheme
The advisors scheme connected student contributors with professional journalists who provided detailed editorial comments on their articles. It was intended to improve writing, reporting technique and understanding of journalistic standards.
Youth publishing program
TSJ Youth
TSJ Youth extended the publication's platform to younger students who were not yet writing for the main site. Participants received editorial guidance and support designed to help them develop as writers.
International publishing program · 2011
TSJ Global
TSJ Global broadened the publication's contributor base beyond the United Kingdom. It was launched around the first anniversary of The Student Journals and enabled students from different countries to publish material for the site.
Brand decisions
2015
Online activity ceases or becomes unavailableOtherBackground
The supplied reference records that the website was down from June 2015 and that the Twitter account had been inactive since December 2014.
Action taken
No confirmed organizational action, closure announcement or successor arrangement is identified.
Aftermath
The publication's current operating status remains unverified and should not be classified as formally defunct without additional evidence.
2011
Expand the publication internationally through TSJ GlobalStrategyBackground
The original publication focused on university students in the United Kingdom but sought to give students a broader platform for expression.
Action taken
The organization launched TSJ Global around its first anniversary and invited students from outside the United Kingdom to contribute.
Aftermath
The initiative broadened the publication's scope into an international student journalism network, although the later continuity of the project is not documented in the supplied sources.
Sources1 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/the-student-journals · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled