The Lemon Press

The Lemon Press is a satirical magazine written by and for students at the University of York. The first issue of the publication was launched in autumn term 2009 at the YUSU Freshers' Fair. The magazine is currently released once a term and has a print run of over 2000, with a much wider estimated readership. The Lemon Press also has its own website which was launched in February 2010 and which is updated regularly with news and features not included in the magazine. To date, the website has received over 146,000 hits. The first Lemon Press podcast was made available on the website in March 2010.
Form
The first issue of the publication included 'Politics', 'Lifestyle', 'Film', 'Music', and 'Creative' sections. Issue no. 2 brought with it an additional 'Science and Technology' section and a more clearly defined campus news section. All content aims to be satirical and/or humorous. The precedent has been set that the back cover, and the first few inside back pages of the magazine, will be themed and constitute a spoof magazine which has to be read upside-down. For example, issue no. 1 featured "Vague", a mock fashion magazine, and issue no. 2 "The Emo Press". Other features of the magazine include fake advertisements for consumer goods, by-lines at the top of pages containing spurious facts, 'News in Brief' stories and cartoons.
Aims and organisation
The magazine, in its own words, is "York's longest running satire magazine", essentially because it is believed to be York's only satire magazine. It aims to provide a "piquant blend of humour, creative writing and miscellaneous insight". The founding Chair of the eponymous society which produces the magazine once joked its creation came about because "my CV has almost nothing on it".
The Lemon Press is a ratified society within YUSU. It is funded jointly by a yearly grant from the Students' Union and by the revenue generated from local businesses taking out advertisements. The magazine has many titled positions for members, elected once a year. These positions include three society committee positions and manifold editorial roles; joke titles such as "Serial Contributor", "Minor Annoyance" and "Some Kind of Pencil" have also been awarded. "The Dave" is a semi-permanent position, named in The Lemon Press' constitution, with primary function of 'laying up' the magazine. Participation in The Lemon Press is open to all University of York students.
The Lemon Press was founded by and is currently chaired by Joe Regan, and is currently edited by Ryan Fitzgerald.
Arbitrary Party Duck
Arbitrary Party Duck, who is believed to be female, is something of a mascot for the magazine. She is a small, yellow, plastic duck, and has been spotted numerous times in various locations around York. In the magazine, she provides a combination of her own "miscellaneous insight" into stories, and threats, and often promotes the website - which rather humorously did not exist at the time the first two print issues were in circulation.
Arbitrary Party Duck attempted to stand for election into presidency in the 2010 YUSU elections, but was turned down by the Returning Officer on the basis that she was an inanimate object and that, should she have won, her becoming a trustee of the Union would therefore have been illegal.

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