Plutoís new editor, Journalism graduate Nick Hodder, is asking everyone to get involved with the popular Student Union (SU) newspaper.

After being elected as Communications Officer for the SU, Nick also oversees student Radio station Frequency 1350AM and the Your Union website.

He has taken over from Mark Hudson, who last year turned Pluto from a magazine back into a newspaper. Nick, who chose the radio route in his final year, is enthusiastic about the progress that Mark made with the publication and doesnít plan on making any major changes to it.

Hit the ground running

He said: ìI am lucky I can hit the ground running with Pluto because Mark did such a good job. I want to equal what Mark did and try and take it a step further.î

However, he has made his mark and ìtweaked it here and there.î There is a new design to the pages with a rounded edge, the Uncle Jim problem page that was written by Jim Bowen has been scrapped in favour of a classified ìPbayî section and the magazine-style pull out PR1 has been made into a separate supplement.

ìSo far all the feedback Iíve been given is positive, so I think weíre heading in the right direction.î

This year Pluto will also have a page dedicated to the Student Union radio station, Frequency 1350AM. The station was set up five years ago and went online last year. Nick himself co-hosts the weekly ìNick and Wardie showî and, though he watches over Frequency, it is managed by a committee.

He said: ìThe station manager, Emma Syer, does such a good job that all I need to do is step in sometimes. We all muck in together.î

This is reflected in the way he runs Pluto. Though Nick is the official Editor-in-Chief, he by no means rules with an iron rod.

ìItís not my paper. Iím the guy who helps to put it together and takes on the legal side. I see my role as a facilitator; the students are my boss and I am here to represent them.î

Open door policy

Nick was keen to stress his open door policy to both Pluto and Frequency. He keeps his office door wide open most of the time to encourage any of the 35,000 UCLan students to get involved.

ìEven if itís the last day of term and you suddenly decide you want to contribute to Pluto or Frequency, then do it. Some people are heavily involved and some arenít and that isnít a problem. Itís important to me that no student feels excluded.î

Although he wrote sporadically for Pluto in his first two years at university, Nick only really started writing for it in his final year and would urge any student to join the team.

He added: ìWe have 18 sections in Pluto including news, features and sport, but there are areas that suit all kinds of writing styles. About 12,000 people read Pluto fortnightly, so itís definitely a good way of getting your work noticed.î

Nick wants to build on Plutoís success before his year is up. The newspaper will be involved in several campaigns and he is hoping to get big name interviews for each issue, stating with impressionist John Culshaw in issue one.

He is the first to admit the job will be hard going at times, but has taken a piece of advice Mark gave to him very seriously.

ìHe warned me that sometimes I will have to make tough decisions that other may not like, but, if I really feel it is the right thing to do, then go for it.î

The hours are long and the pressure is on, but Nick wouldnít have it any other way.

He added: I feel like Iím getting paid to do a hobby. Itís a lot of responsibility, but I love it and it will prepare me to enter the journalism industry in whatever I want to do.î

More info
BA (Hons) Journalism
MA Newspaper Journalism
Pluto
Frequency 1350AM

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