How a Student Newspaper Can Join Canadian University Press (CUP)

Updated

To join Canadian University Press, a student publication should email [email protected] and ask for joining information, including fees suited to that publication and setup of its team on CUP's Slack. CUP describes itself as a nonprofit cooperative owned by student newspapers at post-secondary schools across Canada, and its member papers are based across eight provinces. The site does not publish a self-serve application form or a public fee schedule, so the practical route is to contact the president directly.

What CUP Is and Who It Serves

CUP (Canadian University Press / Presse Universitaire Canadienne) is a national student journalism organization. Its site states it was founded in 1938 and calls itself the oldest national student organization in North America. It is owned by member student newspapers and administered remotely by a volunteer board made up of members from various student papers across Canada.

CUP does not operate in a physical space. Contact happens by email, and the site's contact form is another way to send a message.

Steps to Join

  1. Identify your publication. CUP membership is for student newspapers at post-secondary schools. Confirm that your paper is a student publication and decide who will act as the main contact.
  2. Email [email protected]. State that you want information about joining CUP. The site specifically directs joining inquiries to this address.
  3. Ask about fees for your publication. CUP's site says the president can provide information on fees "fit for your publication," which suggests fees are discussed per publication rather than posted publicly. Ask for the details that apply to your paper's situation.
  4. Request Slack setup for your team. CUP offers to get member teams set up on its Slack. Include the names or roles of the people who should be added.
  5. Ask about membership benefits. The same address handles queries about membership benefits, so this is the moment to clarify what your paper would receive.

What to Include in the Email

  • Your publication's name and the post-secondary school it serves
  • Your role at the paper and the best contact details
  • A clear request: joining information, fee details, Slack setup, and any benefit questions
  • The size of your team, if you want several people added to Slack

The site does not specify a response time, so follow up if you do not hear back.

What Membership Provides

According to CUP's site, members receive:

  • CWA membership
  • Advocacy and outreach
  • Legal support
  • Pan-Canadian journalism projects that members can participate in
  • Mentorship and other benefits
  • Regional meetings during the year where members share ideas and learn from each other

CUP also hosts NASH, which it describes as Canada's largest student journalism conference, and the John H. MacDonald (JHM) Excellence in Student Journalism awards. NASH is hosted by CUP in collaboration with a member paper each year and includes professional development, networking, and the annual JHM Awards.

Checking Whether Your Paper Fits

CUP's member publications are based across Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and Newfoundland and Labrador. If your paper is at a post-secondary school in one of these provinces, you are in the same footprint as existing members. The site does not state that membership is limited to these provinces, so a paper elsewhere in Canada can ask directly.

Common Sticking Points

  • No online sign-up. There is no application form on the site; email is the stated path.
  • Fees are not posted. Do not assume a standard price. Ask for the fee information that applies to your publication.
  • Slack access is arranged, not automatic. Your team is set up through CUP after you ask.
  • No walk-in office. CUP operates remotely, so plan for email and the contact form rather than an in-person visit.

For anything not covered on the site, the contact form on cup.ca or [email protected] are the two listed channels.