The Gateway
The sophistication and the look of The Gateway has changed over the course of its history; however, one dynamic has remained the same—The Gateway is a newspaper for students by students.
The newspaper was founded in 1910 when a group of students gathered at the home of Liddy Lloyd to discuss the creation of a student newspaper. Albert Edward Ottwell was The Gateway’s first editor-in-chief.
Until 2002, The Gateway was run as a department of the Students’ Union. After a succesful referendum campaign for autonomy, The Gateway became an independent newspaper by the Gateway Student Journalism Society (GSJS), a not-for-profit, apolitical organization. GSJS is governed by a Board of Directors. Paid editorial staff are students. The Managing Editor, during his or her term in this position, must be registered in the equivalent of at least one credit course at the University of Alberta during each of the Fall and Winter sessions.
Typically, The Gateway publishes reliable and clear local, national, and international articles that have an impact on University of Alberta students. There are sections devoted to news, opinion, sports, arts and entertainment, comics, and features.
In 2004, the newspaper undertook a massive task of creating an online archive of over 50,000 pages of The Gateway stretching back to 1910. The online digital archive is a collaborative effort between the Gateway Alumni Association, Gateway Student Journalism Society, University Archives, and University Libraries. As a stellar, comprehensive record of student opinion and campus news, the newspaper's history will be presented in an easy, searchable format. The online archive is scheduled to be ready for The Gateway’s centennial in 2010.
The Gateway Alumni Association (GAA) is a union of all students, past and present, who have worked at The Gateway. GAA is run by a volunteer executive committee and is supported by the Office of Alumni Affairs. All former paid staff of the newspaper are members of the Association. Any volunteer who contributed five or more submissions—whether writing, photographs, graphics, comics, administrative or editorial assistance, and design—published in The Gateway is also a member.
Some of The Gateway’s notable alumni include Joe Clark, former Prime Minister of Canada; Beverley McLachlin, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Canada; and Peter Lougheed, former Premier of Alberta.