Composite: Noella Chye

Interested in writing long-form literary journalism about some of the most interesting, urgent issues Cambridge faces today? Varsity’s Long Reads section is looking for writers who want to tell politically or community-oriented stories in new depth. Varsity’s first long reads will be published in the coming weeks – it’s an exciting time to get involved with a new space for writing in student journalism.

We’ll ask for 2500-3500 words, written from careful research and thorough interviews. You’ll have plenty of guidance throughout the writing process. We’re particularly interested in drawing out your unique voice in each piece, and we’re open to first-person standpoint, such that the journalist’s perspective and experience is apparent behind the writing.

If you’d like to write for us, send us a pitch at longreads@varsity.co.uk! Send us your pitches by next Sunday, 29th April.

Below is a list of article ideas, but please also feel free to send a pitch about an idea not on the list. In 200 words, give us an overview of what topic you’ll cover, what angle you’ll take on it, and why it matters. Please also lay out an initial plan for research – what you’ll need to find, who you’ll contact, and any challenges you might face. Do also send over any relevant writing samples if you wish.

Commissions:

1. BME experiences of academia

We’re looking to publish an in-depth, interview-heavy piece about the experiences of BME academics in Cambridge, perhaps exploring obstacles faced in career progression, microaggressions and efforts to decolonise the curriculum. Writers should be sensitive to the racial issues involved.

2. Buskers of Cambridge

You can usually hear music drifting through the streets of Cambridge. Who are the people producing it? Certain buskers seem to have established places around the city where they play their music. Talk with them, tell their stories, and write about their music. You also might want to examine the history of street music in Cambridge, and the Council’s relationship with buskers.

3. The Cambridge spies

Tell us the story of the infamous ‘ring of five’. Who were they, and how were they recruited at Cambridge? How did Cambridge feature in their story? You might want to see what documents you can find in Cambridge archives about the five men, and if there is there anyone on campus still who has any memory of anything related to them.

4. Behind-the-scenes of college kitchens

Ever wondered what the daily work of cooking is like in the colleges? How much work goes into preparing for a formal? We’d love for you to interview cooks, compare menus, examine recipes, and watch as the food is prepared. You might offer to work in one of the kitchens to prepare a meal, shadowing one of the cooks (if he/she would be so generous as to allow it). Then, describe the process of the cooking and the personalities of the cooks. We’re looking for a literary, highly descriptive portrait of kitchens in Cambridge colleges and the different cultures within each of them.

5. What are masters and presidents made of?

Journalists, archbishops, ambassadors, intelligence chiefs… What does it take to become a master or president of a college? How does this choice reflect the values of the college? We’re looking for someone to examine the debates and fights that go on in the fellowship when a new chief is elected, and why there is still a gender imbalance. This could also examine how colleges are governed more generally, and how college values and personal interests play into that.

6. Art curators of Cambridge

What do curators at the Fitzwilliam, Heong Gallery and Kettle’s Yard think about Cambridge’s art scene? How do they view their museums and the interaction between the various museums? How do they see their role or place amid the community? How do they work to make sure they don’t participate in a tradition that has, for years, had an outsized Western influence? We’re looking to paint an intimate picture of various pockets of the Cambridge art scene and the people behind it, as well as interesting, maybe funny, stories about some of the artwork.

7. The night climbers

Tell us the story of Cambridge’s famous night climbers and their most daring excursions. Illuminate the buildings and spaces we pass by every day – King’s Chapel and the Fitzwilliam Museum, for example, were once night climbing sites – and the undiscovered potential for adventure they hold. We’re looking for someone excited about the nooks and crannies of the city and University, who can pen a piece that captures the night climbers’ thrill.

8. How green is Cambridge?

Last term saw activists and academics call for divestment. However, there is a much more practical side to environmental sustainability than the University’s involvement with the fossil fuel industry. In the face of thousands of sheets of paper handed out in lectures and talks, food waste in college halls, and the aeroplane travel that goes with an international academic community, how big is Cambridge’s environmental footprint? How much are campaigns such as Switch Off and competitions looking for alternatives to conference travel actually doing? How much waste do May Balls produce every year? This piece offers the chance to talk to faculties and colleges and scrutinise their efforts to become more sustainable, as well as talk to campaigning groups and experts about how much more we should be doing to combat climate change.

9. Cambridge’s first eco-mosque

Europe’s first eco-mosque is currently being built in Cambridge. The city’s MP has vocally supported the construction – with Islamophobic sentiment on the rise internationally, he hopes the mosque’s presence will symbolise that Cambridge “is an outward-looking and welcoming community.” Writing this piece would be an opportunity to explore how environmental and identity politics intersect in the city, and to describe in close detail the plans for the mosque and the building as it currently stands.

We’re looking forward to hearing from you. Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you’ve got any questions, and look out for our writers’ squash next week!

Noella and Molly,

Long Reads Editors, Easter 2018