Editorials

Our Top Stories of 2020

28 December 2020

By Lauren E. White

Beep has been here all through this year in one form or another. We’ve even re-launched a YouTube channel. But, of course, our love of the written word prevails and we have collated our top stories of 2020. Believe it or not, they aren’t all about C*VID-19.

So, without further ado, here are Beep’s top stories of 2020 in chronological order.

1. The Oscars 2020, by Kieran

9th February, 2020

As ever, film buff Kieran gave us his comic commentary on the Oscar nominations for Best Picture. You can read the story here.

If you’re looking for wit, film and that I-really-don’t-care-what-you-think attitude, this is the piece for you.

2. Vaccinations – Do anti-vaxers have a point?, by Tegan

21st February, 2020

Well, well, well. It seems Tegan can read the room before it’s read itself. In February when Tegan wrote for us debunking anti-vaccination nonsense, who knew we’d need one to save the world from impending doom? Not me.

You can read Tegan’s brilliant, factual piece here. And remember kids – don’t just believe everything you read on Twitter. Please.

3. Coronavirus: Where lockdown went wrong, by Lauren

29th April, 2020

It wasn’t long before yours truly decided to have a go at the government about their handling of COVID-19. And you should have expected nothing less, really.

For a timeline of the events leading up to the first wave and what Johnson massively cocked up on (in my humble opinion), click right here.

4. Home vs Hospital, by Abi

12th May, 2020

Young writer Abi from St Thomas More wrote for us about her experience in hospital during the midst of a global pandemic. Abi was hospitalised with a chronic illness for three weeks.

Her story is very informative and also quite touching. Something to ponder over – and you can do that here.

5. We Are Guilty Too, by Sophia

5th June, 2020

Another young writer from St Thomas More, Sophia, penned a piece for us in the summer. Sophia wrote about how the UK has been complicit in the race issues that exploded in the summer following George Floyd’s murder.

Sophia walks us through our history as a country and our racism, discussing the death of Mark Duggan and Sarah Reed, among others. You can read this compelling piece here.

6. Never Trust a Tory, by James

22nd July, 2020

James broke the infuriating news that the Conservatives had broken a promise. The promise in question was that they would protect the NHS. Yet, in a House of Commons vote, the Conservative Party voted overwhelmingly to make sure the NHS was on the table in trade deals.

This piece was written with conviction and it explains exactly what the vote means. It’s worth taking a look.

7. Things Posh People Have Said to Me, by Lauren

25th September, 2020

Who’s idea was it for me to write this? Having to include myself in this is painful. However, as much as I’d like to deny it, this became one of the most read articles on Beep this year. And it was written at 1am, bitterly and in humour, about the treatment I received as a Geordie at Durham.

It triggered a snowball of responses from people telling me they’d had the same things said and done to them. Read the piece here (or don’t).

8. Eat Out to Help Out – Now Don’t Go Out, by Lauren

17th September, 2020

Quick disclaimer: I’ve written the most articles this year and so the next couple are unfortunate. But it’s the way it is. Content must materialise. Sorry.

Anyway, I explained how fuming I was that the government had decided to lock us down after literally paying for us to go out, mingle with all our mates and sit in Wetherspoons over the summer. Doesn’t take a genius to work out what was happening, does it? Anyway, here’s the piece. I am quite proud of it.

9. Exclusive: Durham Uni’s attitude to Northern students, by Lauren

1st October, 2020

Chances are, you’ve read this one. This piece broke the story about a report I curated on the experience of Northern students at Durham. It was quite a big one, ending up in The Guardian, The Daily Mail, The Telegraph, The Chronicle – basically everywhere.

If you want to see what all the fuss is about, then click here. You will probably be shocked, but I recommend reading the comments. Some are quite amusing.

10. Show me the Monet, by NEBeep

22nd October, 2020

Thank God! It’s not me! It’s anonymous.

Anyway, I really loved this piece about Banksy’s paintings inspired by the artist Monet. His pieces are actually amazing, but what’s perhaps even more amazing is how much they sold for. Read all about it here.

11. Joe Biden, 46th President, by Lauren

7th November, 2020

This was one of the biggest stories of 2020 – America chucked out Donald Trump and elected Biden. Many of us were awake for almost five days, our eyes burning into CNN, to find out who was going to win.

It was Mr Biden – and I wrote this piece explaining how it was an historical election.

12. Logging Out of Online Learning, by Sunny

6th November, 2020

New writer Sunny made her debut with this first-hand account of what it’s like learning online. It is Beep perhaps in its truest form – discussing what’s going on with young people right now.

Hint: a lot of us, like Sunny, are pretty hacked off that we are stuck online and paying the same amount for it. Read the piece here.

BONUS: YouTube

As I said earlier, we’ve re-booted our youtube. What do you fancy watching? A bit of what it means to be English, or what Alastair Campbell thinks about the Iraq War and depression? Here are said videos…

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