Are you searching for a fun new hobby? Need something to put on your CV? Are you a little chronically online? Well then the Bristol Tab needs you! We are searching for new, fresh writers to join us for the 2025/26 academic year.
We welcome final years and freshers alike, and crucially the Bristol Tab is open to any student at ANY university in the city. We accept writers from UoB, UWE and BIMM, and especially want to encourage students from underrepresented unis to come and write for us (UWE writers I’m looking at you). You do not need to be a seasoned journalist or have any writing experience at all, the Tab is a fun space to practice your writing skills and simply get involved. It is not only a great creative outlet that looks fabulous on any CV, it is a great environment to meet likeminded, funny, creative (and super humble) people. We are looking to build a diverse team from universities across Bristol which will help us provide a comprehensive overview of our lovely city.
What can you do?
Writing at the Bristol Tab is generally speaking split into two categories: features and news. We also do guides, opinion pieces, and have a big social media presence.
News involves speedy write ups of what is happening not only on campus, but in the wider community too. We cover news across the city to keep students informed, providing a voice for all students. We carry out interviews and investigations as stories develop, so writing news can be really exciting.
Recent news includes: Anti-migrant protesters met by counter protesters in Bristol city centre, Clifton Suspension Bridge killer guilty of double murder, and The 10 Bristol pubs named in the UK top 500.
The other main category of writing for The Bristol Tab is features. These are the fun, light-hearted, and often ridiculously Bristol-specific articles that capture the quirks of student life. Think guides for surviving uni, as well as the silly pieces that make you laugh because they’re just so specific.
Under the features umbrella, we also publish opinions. These are your chance to write about the issues that actually matter to you and get other students nodding (or arguing) along.
Recent features include How to ruin first year: What not to do as a fresher in Bristol, Welcome to university in Bristol: How to be a silly yet safe fresh, and The studentification of Bristol Lido and the exclusivity of wellness.
How to get involved?
We will hold our open meeting on Tuesday 7th October in the Balloon Bar in the Richmond Building at the Bristol SU, at 7pm. (You do not need a Bristol uni UCard to get in). Everyone is welcome at this meeting, and the whole editorial team will be there to introduce themselves and provide all the information about writing for The Tab, and answer all your questions.
Every Tuesday after that we will have a weekly meeting accompanied by a cold beverage in the pub, where we all discuss what we’re working on, pitch new ideas and the editorial team will also hand out any commissions. You do not have to commit to coming to every meeting, but it is a good idea to attend them regularly, it will help you build up rapport with the editorial team.
All details about our weekly meetings will be shared at our open meeting.
What’s in it for you?
Writing fot the Tab is a great thing to put on your CV. I think that what makes the Tab so special is that (within reason), you truly can write anything you want. It is a great place to experiment with your writing and get a feel for what style you like, expand your mind and really become apart of the wider Bristol community. It’s an amazing place to meet people and can open so many doors. Also, there truly is nothing cooler than seeing your name on a real, published article!
Contact us
If you simply cannot wait any longer please feel free to contact us with any queries or questions, we’d be happy to answer them!
Instagram: @thebristoltab
TikTok: @thebristoltab
