Milk Magazine
News
BSU's student magazine, Milk, freshly relaunches online
Wednesday, 9 April, 2025BSU’s student-run Milk magazine has relaunched online after a COVID-enforced hiatus. The magazine, which publishes an annual print issue, has modernised their online presence with an updated website and Instagram page.
Milk magazine was originally conceived as part of a module for BSU’s Journalism and Publishing course. The project quickly grew beyond lectures and was first published by a small student team in 2010. The magazine’s name is a playful nod to its origins, as it was first workshopped in the old dairy building at Newton Park campus, a quirky touch that has become part of the magazine's identity.
Since then, Milk has continued to evolve, offering students an outlet to express their creativity, build their portfolios, and contribute to the cultural fabric of the university. Each year, the small student team decide on an overarching theme to guide and connect the magazines content. The theme for 2025 is ‘Connection’, following last year’s exploration of ‘Reality’.
Each year, students across various courses and levels of experience are free to contribute creative pieces, ranging from essays and short stories to interviews and reviews. Milk is a great opportunity for members of the BSU community to expand their writing skills and write for a range of audiences.
For students like Theo Bawa-Hellens, a BA Creative Writing and Publishing student at BSU, contributing to Milk has been an invaluable opportunity to hone writing skills and expand their professional portfolios. Theo recently wrote a book review of Orbital by Samantha Harvey, BSU Alumna and Booker Prize Winner 2024.
Reflecting on their new experience of contributing to the magazine, Theo shares:
"I was not one to typically write reviews until I wrote one for Orbital. I found I thoroughly enjoyed writing non-fiction, and it was engaging and encouraging. It’s definitely something I will be mentioning on my CV and in my application for the Alpbach scholarship this summer, as it showcases my participation in extracurricular activities."
For Theo, this experience has not only helped improve their writing skills, but also provided them a chance to connect with the wider literary community, showing how creative writing for this magazine can tie into professional growth.
“Writing for Milk was refreshing. I received ample support and encouragement which made me realise I should believe in my work and it’s value far more than I do. Milk isn’t simply for experts, it’s for everyone.”
Davina Rungasamy, teaching fellow in Publishing, leads BSU staff who help students with the more technical elements of piecing together the magazine. Having joined BSU to teach in 2022, with a background in publishing and magazines, Davina adopted the role of supporting students with elements such as flat planning and ordering files.
After conducting market research with students, Davina had a clearer vision for relaunching the website this year. Alongside technical demonstrator Dan Davies, the website was relaunched with modern updates and changes. Although it’s still a work in progress, the website will be updated regularly with student work and is available for anyone to access Milk material from over the years.
Over the last month, the team have begun working on the 2025 edition, alongside regular online updates through the magazine’s website, which now features blogs, tips, film and book reviews, and interviews—contributions that come directly from BSU students. The most recent website feature is an interview with BSU Graduate Jess Grundy, a Milk 2024 contributor, who shares the inspiration behind her thought-provoking poem: ‘Beyond the Screen’.
The 2025 edition of Milk promises to be another exciting chapter in the magazine's legacy of creativity, community, and student empowerment. Interested in writing, or contributing? The Milk team are keeping an eye out on potential student illustrators, writers and photographers.