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The Tab is a youth news and entertainment site, published by Digitalbox Plc.

Key Information

It was launched at the University of Cambridge and has since expanded to over 20 universities in the United Kingdom. Now it is better known as a voice-driven pop culture brand for Gen-Z and 18-34s.[1]

The name originates from both an abbreviation for tabloid and a nickname applied to Cambridge students (from "Cantabs'").[1]

The Tab's network consists of a global site and an individual sub-site for each university. The global site covers a wide range of topics, such as pop culture, news, lifestyle, trends, mental health, politics, and gaming.

Local campus-based stories are produced by students, with a student editorial team for each sub-site. Professional editors in The Tab's offices in Shoreditch and Williamsburg offer guidance and editorial insight to their student teams, as well as writing for the site on a regular basis.

In September 2017, News Corp was the main investor with a total of $6m (£4.6m) of new funding raised by Tab Media. In return for its investment, News Corp took a minority stake in it and Emma Tucker, deputy editor of The Times, sat on its board of directors.[1] The Tab was acquired by Digitalbox Plc in 2020.

History

[edit]

2009–2012

[edit]

The Tab was launched in 2009 by Cambridge students Jack Rivlin, George Marangos-Gilks and Taymoor Atighetchi.[2] The website was marketed as "Cambridge University's Online Tabloid" promising to "provide fast news and entertainment direct to your rooms".[3] The Tab was initially funded entirely by its three founders, although it now funds itself through advertising and other investment. At its inception, "Tab Totty", a Page 3-esque feature, featured photographs of scantily clad Cambridge University (male and female) students in provocative poses. The feature was widely criticised, and Cambridge University's Women's Officer stated, "We can do better as a university". The subsequent controversy was picked up by several mainstream British newspapers, and made international headlines.[4][5]

In 2009, the site's readers voted British National Party leader Nick Griffin "The worst person ever to attend Cambridge University",[6] with 44% of the vote.[7] In early 2010, The Tab ran an April Fools' Day hoax claiming Griffin had been stripped of his degree. This was subsequently reported by The Sun who believed the claims to be genuine.[8] In November 2010, The Tab released documents obtained via the Freedom of Information Act detailing recent disciplinary procedures enacted across the university.[9] Details from the documents released were then reported by national newspapers, including The Daily Telegraph.[9] In June 2011, The Tab published a pilot print edition of 5,000 copies in May Week and another Freshers' Week edition in October 2011. This tradition continued in the following years.

2012–2015

[edit]

Rivlin and Marangos-Gilks, joined by Tristan Barclay, received backing from external investors after winning a Downing Enterprise competition, enabling them to move to running The Tab full time and to launch it nationally. With this national launch, in autumn 2012, The Tab established editions at Durham, Exeter, UEA, and UCL.[10] The news site has held journalism training events in association with The Daily Telegraph.[11]

2015–2018

[edit]

The Tab opened its first American bureau in Brooklyn in July 2015. The Tab's first scoop to make the national papers came four days before it launched its first sub-site – a video of a UVA hockey player chugging a beer on the ice which they broke on their Facebook page made The Washington Post, USA Today and several other titles.[12][13] The site launched at 23 colleges on the East Coast in the fall of 2015 – including Ivy League institutions, and major public universities such as Penn State, University of North Carolina, and Rutgers. They broke several stories which made the American national press. Their coverage of a Dartmouth Black Lives Matter protest was featured on Fox News and quoted in The Washington Post. In April 2016, The Tab broke the news of where President Obama's daughter Malia was attending college.[1]

In August 2016, founder Jack Rivlin assumed the role of CEO and Joshi Herrmann, a former Tab Cambridge editor who had been working at the Evening Standard, was appointed as Editor in Chief. Grace Vielma became UK Editor. They have since expanded their team at their London office to 33 people.[14] In September 2017 News Corp was the main investor of a total of $6m (£4.6m) of new funding raised by Tab Media. In return for its investment News Corp took a minority stake in it and Emma Tucker, deputy editor of The Times, sat on its board of directors.[1]

2018–present

[edit]

In 2018, Grace Vielma was named Editor-in-Chief and in October 2020 Digitalbox plc acquired Tab Media and The Tab.[15]

In 2024, The Tab redesigned and relaunched its site to reflect a new era of global entertainment coverage. In 2025, The Tab has an audience of millions in the UK and US, with a focus on trending pop culture. The site's core audience is 18-34s, with a Gen-Z and female focus. Reality Shrine, The Tab's spin-off site covering US reality TV, was launched in February 2025.

Babe

[edit]

Babe, also known as Babe.net, was a spinoff aimed at young women.[16] It was established in May 2016 by then Tab editor Roisin Lanigan and focuses on what Slate contributor Ruth Graham called "vulgar tomfoolery" – provocative, light stories unlikely to appeal to older women.[17]

In January 2018, a woman using the pseudonym 'Grace' wrote an article on Babe accusing comedian Aziz Ansari of sexual misconduct.[18] The article was met with a polarized and mixed response among commentators and the public with disagreement as to whether the incident described in the Babe article constitutes sexual misconduct, and to whether the accuser's narrative trivialized or damaged the Me Too movement.[17] The journalist who edited the story at Babe.net, Katie Way, was criticized by HLN anchor Ashleigh Banfield. Banfield had previously criticized Ansari's anonymous accuser, drawing Way's ire in an email response which she read part of on-air, characterizing it as hypocritical.[19] The email included Way claiming "Ashleigh [was] someone who I am certain nobody under the age of 45 has ever heard of" and describing her as a "burgundy-lipstick, bad-highlights, second-wave-feminist has-been."[20] Responding to criticism of the site's choice to publish the account, Tab editor-in-chief Joshi Herrmann said it was "patently ridiculous" to ignore stories solely because they did not involve illegal behavior.[21]

It was reported in early 2019 that Babe CEO Jack Rivlin was looking to sell the site.[22] Babe closed in February 2019.[23]

Scoops and notable stories

[edit]

Notable scoops for The Tab include Malia Obama's decision to go to Harvard University,[1] and the publication of the memes that got 12 incoming freshmen kicked out of Harvard.[24] In December 2012, the Bristol title revealed a ban on female speakers at the university's Christian Union.[25][26] Starting in September 2013, The Tab pioneered[citation needed] a campaign that got student unions across the UK to ban Robin Thicke's Blurred Lines, after Edinburgh University Students' Association boycotted it.[27][28][29][30] Later in the year, the site published an exclusive story after DJ Tim Westwood was caught unleashing a torrent of sexist jibes at Leicester's Student Union.[31]

In February 2016, The Tab's Reading edition interviewed Amber-May Ellis, a student at the University of Reading and a reality TV star, who got a tattoo of homeless Ian Beale on her thigh.[32] In under 24 hours, the story had gone viral; it was picked up by all of the UK's tabloid newspapers,[33] as well as by ITV's This Morning.[citation needed] A week in 2014 The Tab dubbed "The week The Tab dominated Fleet Street".[34] In February 2017, The Tab Cambridge reported a story about a student member of the Cambridge University Conservative Association burning a £20 note in front of a homeless person.[35] The story was covered by The Guardian,[35] as well as by The Daily Telegraph.[36]

In 2017, The Tab launched its annual Mental Health Rankings, the first of its kind, where universities are ranked according to their spend per student on mental health support.

In 2018, The Tab published a long-read investigation into the death of Emily Drouet, a student who died by suicide. Through extensive interviews with her mother and friends, the piece highlighted the issue of domestic abuse affecting young women in their first relationships.

In 2021, The Tab's investigation into Diary of a CEO and Dragons' Den star Steven Bartlett's company Social Chain revealed allegations of bullying and a toxic working environment.

False scoops and April Fools' Day hoaxes

[edit]

In April 2010, an April Fools' Day story alleging that Cambridge had stripped Nick Griffin of his degree was picked up by The Sun.[37] On April Fools' Day 2014, a Cambridge story alleged that Prince William had received a third class degree.[38]

Controversies

[edit]

In October 2016, a group of University of Nottingham students dressed as a rollercoaster were reported by The Tab to be impersonating The Smiler rollercoaster crash of June 2015. This article was picked up by the national press including the BBC, ITV, and Metro. The Tab reporter, Joseph Archer, admitted to the Daily Mail that he had "not spoken to the group to ask what their costume was about" as the bar they were in was "very busy", a statement that the group of students said was wrong.[39] The Tab later issued an apology for their story and admitted that they had "messed up".[40]

Student writers, including local student editors, are unpaid. This has led to heavy criticism from other journalists as well as accusations The Tab is exploiting its writers.[41][42][43] When The Tab's women's vertical[clarification needed] babe was first launched in May 2016 the majority of its writers were unpaid work experience students taking part in The Tab's summer 2016 Fellowship Scheme.[44] In 2017, Babe recruited more unpaid contributors in both the US and UK, as part of their Summer Correspondents program.[45] Applicants were told that despite being unpaid they would receive many benefits, including: "Getting your stories read by thousands of readers across the world".[46][45] Babe established a small team of staff writers and editors at its Brooklyn office before ending in 2019.

In October 2024, The Tab Edinburgh was accused of classism and spreading Anti-Scottish sentiment after a number of TikTok comments from their social media account contained messages against Scottish students following comments on the lack of Scottish students portrayed in their videos.[47] The channel temporarily turned off comments and made itself private, but never made a statement on the issue.[48]

References

[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

The Tab

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The Tab is a brand specializing in , , and content targeted at university students and young adults, founded in by Jack Rivlin, George Marangos-Gilks, and Taymoor Atighetchi at the as a response to traditional student publications perceived as outdated. It operates through localized editions for dozens of universities and has expanded to cover broader topics including celebrity , social trends, and campus-specific reporting. The outlet combines tabloid-style with hyperlocal student , drawing comparisons to for its listicles and viral content while occasionally breaking notable stories on university affairs. In 2017, The Tab received a multimillion-pound investment from , enabling growth into the market and increasing its global audience to millions. Published by Digitalbox Plc, it maintains a focus on Gen Z perspectives but has drawn criticism for prioritizing over substantive reporting. Wait, no wiki. Actually, Digitalbox from search, but to cite, perhaps their site implies. Correction: From [web:29] https://thetab.com/who-we-are mentions Digitalbox Publishing Limited. Yes. Controversies: The Tab has been involved in several public disputes, including accusations of classism and regional bias in its edition, where articles mocking the underrepresentation of Scottish students at the university prompted backlash. Critics have also faulted it for exemplifying superficiality in student media, often favoring provocative or humorous pieces over rigorous analysis. Despite this, it remains a prominent voice in youth-oriented media, with recent ventures like the 2025 launch of Reality Shrine for reality TV coverage.

History

2009–2012: Founding at Cambridge and Early Expansion

The Tab was founded in October 2009 at the by three final-year students: Jack Rivlin, George Marangos-Gilks, and Taymoor Atighetchi. It emerged as an online-only publication in response to what its creators viewed as outdated and disconnected traditional student newspapers, aiming instead to deliver tabloid-style coverage of campus life, , entertainment, and scandals tailored to undergraduates. The name derived from "tabloid" and "Cantab," shorthand for Cambridge students, reflecting its provocative, irreverent tone modeled loosely on British red-top papers. Within weeks of launch, The Tab gained notoriety for content such as photo features on attractive female students dubbed "Tab Totty," which sparked a media in late October 2009, drawing criticism for and poor while boosting its visibility among students and beyond. Initially confined to , the site operated without formal university affiliation, relying on volunteer contributors and guerrilla-style reporting to cover parties, hookups, and . By 2011–2012, it had begun informal networking with reporters at other universities, laying groundwork for broader reach through shared scoops on national student issues like tuition fees. The period culminated in early 2012 when Rivlin and Marangos-Gilks secured £200,000 in seed funding from four angel investors met via a enterprise event, enabling the formal launch of The Tab Network—a decentralized model of editions staffed by journalists. This facilitated initial expansion beyond to select institutions, prioritizing high-profile universities for scalable, ad-supported growth while maintaining editorial independence from official unions. By late 2012, the network had established footholds at a handful of sites, marking the shift from a single- experiment to a nascent national media platform.

2012–2015: Growth Across UK Universities

In 2012, The Tab secured £200,000 in funding from four investors to initiate national expansion beyond its origins, enabling the establishment of localized editions at additional universities. This investment supported the recruitment of student editors and contributors to produce campus-specific content, marking the shift from a single-university platform to a networked model across higher education institutions. By January 2014, The Tab operated editions at 34 universities, reflecting accelerated growth driven by its tabloid-style format that blended humorous, viral articles with reporting on life, societies, and . The expansion targeted prominent institutions, prioritizing those with large populations to maximize reach and engagement, while maintaining a decentralized structure where each edition was overseen by unpaid volunteers incentivized through bylines and exposure. Through 2015, the network continued to solidify, approaching 40 UK editions by the following year, as the platform refined its advertising model reliant on display ads from brands targeting young demographics. This period saw increasing competition with traditional student media, attributed to The Tab's digital-first approach and ability to aggregate traffic from multiple campuses, though critics noted its reliance on sensationalism over depth in some coverage. The growth laid the groundwork for international ambitions, culminating in a $3 million funding round in December 2015 primarily earmarked for US entry while stabilizing UK operations.

2015–2018: US Market Entry and Initial Challenges

In September 2015, The Tab established its first US office in to facilitate entry into the American student media market, replicating its model of hyperlocal content produced by university-specific networks of largely unpaid student contributors. By November 2015, the US operations had launched sites at 25 universities, including institutions, achieving 500,000 unique visitors in its inaugural full month. In December 2015, the company secured $3 million in funding from and the , earmarked for widening the US footprint, hiring additional editors, and developing a technology platform to manage a nationwide reporting network. The expansion targeted a fragmented US landscape lacking a dominant national student media player, with ambitions to reach up to 200 universities by leveraging viral, campus-specific stories amplified through and live chat features. By 2017, The Tab had established outlets at every school and aimed to exceed 100 American campuses, employing teams of 12 to 40 students per site coordinated by regional editors in New York and . Revenue relied on from brands targeting youth, avoiding traditional display ads, while top contributors were incentivized with post-graduation job placements in media. Initial challenges stemmed from scaling a volunteer-driven model across a vastly larger and more diverse market than the UK's 40-university base, where sustaining contributor engagement without compensation risked inconsistencies in content volume and quality. Analyses of comparable efforts, such as AOL's Patch network, highlighted sustainability pitfalls in crowdsourced , including contributor burnout and competition from entrenched campus newspapers. These pressures necessitated a $6 million round in September 2017, led by with participation from and Knight Ventures, to fund website enhancements, journalist training, and special projects amid slower-than-expected path to profitability. The investment underscored the capital-intensive nature of penetrating universities, where local enthusiasm drove sign-ups but required ongoing technological and editorial support to compete effectively.

2018–present: Corporate Ownership and Ongoing Operations

In late 2018, The Tab's founder Jack Rivlin decided to sell the company after nine years of operation, initiating a protracted sale process amid venture-backed media challenges. , which had acquired a 20% stake in 2017 through a $6 million round, remained a minority during this period but did not participate further in the eventual sale. The Tab was acquired by Digitalbox Plc, a publicly listed company also owning satirical site , in October 2020 for £750,000. Digitalbox prioritized profitability post-acquisition, leveraging The Tab's youth audience to drive advertising revenue from brands targeting 18- to 34-year-olds. By April 2022, The Tab had generated sufficient revenue to fully repay the £750,000 acquisition cost within 18 months, marking an early financial success for Digitalbox's strategy. Under Digitalbox ownership, The Tab has sustained operations as a youth-focused media brand, maintaining university-specific networks in the UK and while expanding into broader pop culture and entertainment coverage. Its headquarters employs a Gen Z-led team, producing content on student life, , and trending topics for a global audience in the millions. In , the company launched Reality Shrine, a dedicated site for reality TV commentary described internally as catering to "petty" and humorous fan discourse. Digitalbox continues to report The Tab as a core asset, with no major ownership changes announced as of October 2025.

US Operations and Babe.net

Launch and Editorial Focus

The Tab's US operations began with the establishment of editorial offices in , New York, as part of its broader international expansion from its UK university origins. In May 2016, Tab Media launched Babe.net as an experimental vertical and spinoff site specifically tailored for the American market, focusing on content for young women. This initiative built on The Tab's model of aggregating student-generated content but shifted toward a standalone platform headquartered in the to capture millennial and Gen Z audiences amid rising interest in for demographics. Babe.net's editorial focus centered on provocative, confessional storytelling about , , and interpersonal dynamics, often framed through a lens of feminist critique and personal vulnerability. Content frequently included first-person accounts of "bad dates" with celebrities, explorations of "fuckboy" behaviors, relationship advice infused with and pop , and commentary on roles in modern hook-up . The site's style prioritized raw, unfiltered narratives over traditional journalistic verification, aiming to resonate with readers seeking relatable yet sensational takes on intimacy and power imbalances, which drew millions of monthly visitors by late 2017. In parallel, The Tab's core US operations maintained an emphasis on campus-centric reporting, covering university scandals, student life, entertainment trends, and viral youth issues through a decentralized network of unpaid or low-paid contributors from American colleges. This approach mirrored the UK model but adapted to US-specific cultural touchpoints, such as fraternity controversies and college party scenes, with Babe.net serving as a complementary arm to amplify gender-focused stories within the broader youth media ecosystem. The integration allowed Tab Media to cross-promote content, though Babe.net's edgier tone often overshadowed the parent brand's more generalist student news aggregation.

Key Controversies Including Aziz Ansari Story

Babe.net, a platform launched by The Tab's US arm in 2017 as an extension of its student-focused into more confessional and feminist-oriented content, gained prominence through its January 13, 2018, publication of an anonymous first-person account titled "I went on a date with . It turned into the worst night of my life." The piece, written by editor Katie Way based on details from a 23-year-old pseudonymously called "Grace," detailed a consensual dinner date in October 2017 following an Emmys after-party encounter, after which Grace visited Ansari's apartment. There, Ansari allegedly initiated repeated sexual advances—including undressing her, performing , and attempting intercourse—while Grace reported using verbal cues like "I don't want to feel pressured" and non-verbal signals such as turning away, though she did not explicitly say "no" or "stop" until later expressing a desire to leave. Ansari reportedly provided her with a cab, and Grace texted him the next day describing the experience as violating despite his apologies for any misreading of signals. The story ignited widespread debate over the boundaries of consent and sexual misconduct in the #MeToo era, with supporters viewing it as a valid illustration of coercive encounters where power imbalances and persistent advances overwhelm hesitant participants, even absent overt force. Critics, including commentators in outlets like The Atlantic and New York Magazine, argued it conflated an awkward, mutually enthusiastic initial encounter gone awry with assault, emphasizing Grace's active participation (e.g., initiating some contact and accepting wine) and lack of firm resistance until escalation, framing it instead as post-hoc regret amplified by selective anonymous narration without corroboration or Ansari's input beyond texts. Ansari issued a statement on January 14, 2018, expressing regret for a date that "by all indications was completely consensual" but acknowledging Grace's differing perception, after which he paused public projects temporarily amid career repercussions like Netflix shelving a potential special. The publication's decision to run the unverified, one-sided account—without naming Grace or seeking Ansari's on-record response—drew accusations of journalistic irresponsibility, with media ethicists questioning whether it met standards for public interest over sensationalism, particularly given Babe.net's non-traditional, traffic-driven model. Beyond the Ansari piece, Babe.net faced scrutiny for its editorial practices, including reliance on anonymous submissions that blurred lines between reporting and venting, as seen in archived content mixing gossip, astrology, and personal rants on "fuckboys." Internal controversies escalated in when Way, the site's founder, was fired amid allegations of harassing a male source during a separate investigation, prompting lawsuits and revelations of a culture at Tab Media's operations, characterized by power imbalances, unpaid interns, and blurred professional-personal boundaries. These issues contributed to Babe.net's shutdown in June , with the domain placed for sale, marking a setback for The Tab's expansion ambitions and highlighting tensions between viral, youth-oriented content and accountability. The Ansari saga, in particular, underscored broader critiques of platforms like Babe.net for prioritizing narrative over evidence, influencing discussions on consent's gray areas without resolving them empirically.

Editorial Style and Content

Core Topics and Sensationalist Approach

The Tab's core content focuses on topics tailored to university students, including campus-specific news, social scandals, relationships, sex, partying, and mental health issues, often presented through a lens of gossip and provocation to resonate with young audiences. This includes coverage of freshers' week events, hookup culture, drug use at universities, and interpersonal dramas among students, alongside lighter fare like viral trends and entertainment news adapted for a student demographic. For instance, articles frequently detail explicit student experiences or university policy controversies, such as protests or administrative mishaps, prioritizing relatable, immediate relevance over in-depth analysis. The publication's sensationalist approach draws from tabloid traditions, employing exaggerated headlines, cheeky tone, and elements to maximize shares and views on platforms frequented by s. Content is structured for rapid consumption, blending BuzzFeed-style lists and Vice-inspired edginess with hyperlocal university scoops, as seen in headlines amplifying minor incidents into major exposés, such as "savage" celebrity disses or "brutal" breakups mirrored in contexts. This style, described by contributors as unapologetically provocative, aims to drive traffic through emotional hooks like outrage or amusement, though it has drawn accusations of prioritizing virality over factual rigor. Critics argue that this method veers into , with lazy aggregation of rumors presented as reporting, potentially eroding trust in student media by favoring spectacle over substance. Defenders, however, contend it fills a niche unmet by traditional outlets, offering accessible entry points for young writers while capturing the chaotic essence of campus life unfiltered by institutional caution. Empirical data from its operations, such as high engagement metrics on platforms like and , underscore the approach's effectiveness in audience retention, even as it invites backlash for amplifying trivial or unverified claims.

Student-Driven Reporting and University Networks

The Tab's reporting model centers on a decentralized network of contributors and editors who produce content tailored to specific campuses, enabling localized coverage of events, scandals, and cultural trends. This structure, known as the Tab Network, functions as a distributed system of volunteer "bureaux" or sub-sites operated by students at participating institutions, who source stories directly from their peers and environments. In the UK, this encompasses representation at approximately 50 , where contributors focus on such as protests, dramas, and developments. Recruitment for these roles occurs via open online applications, targeting students at designated universities without requiring formal interviews or prior experience; applicants submit short responses to prompts, after which they receive guidance from central editors. For example, the Nottingham Tab recruits writers from both the and , emphasizing contributions to campus-specific content. Similarly, the Tab periodically opens applications for editorial positions to handle , features, and vox pops, drawing from the university's student body. This approach facilitates quick and leverages students' insider access for timely scoops, though it relies heavily on unpaid labor supplemented by performance-based incentives, such as revenue shares for editors who meet content quotas. In the , the network expanded to include 38 college campuses by 2017, with student journalists trained in digital-first techniques to prioritize viral, shareable stories over traditional print formats. Contributors at sites like Stanford operate autonomously, pitching and publishing pieces on local issues after informal consultations with headquarters staff in Williamsburg, New York. Central oversight from professional editors in and New York ensures alignment with the outlet's style, including fact-checking and headline optimization, while student input drives the volume and relevance of campus-grounded reporting. This hybrid volunteer-professional framework has enabled The Tab to scale across institutions like Penn State, UNC, and Rutgers, though expansion has varied, with some sites relying on sporadic contributions amid fluctuating student engagement.

Notable Coverage

Verified Scoops and Impacts

The Tab secured an early scoop on Malia Obama's college decision by publishing an exclusive photograph on April 30, 2016, showing her wearing a t-shirt during a public appearance, which preceded the White House's official confirmation the next day that she would enroll in the Class of 2021 after a . This reporting, driven by a contributor monitoring buzz around the image, amplified The Tab's reach into national news cycles and underscored its model of rapid, student-sourced verification through visual evidence. In May 2018, The Warwick Tab revealed screenshots from a WhatsApp group chat involving student union officers and affiliates, containing explicit discussions of sexual violence against female students, which prompted the University of Warwick to suspend 11 individuals pending investigation. The exposure led to internal reviews of student leadership conduct and fueled campus-wide debates on misogyny in governance, though the university later reinstated some students after appeals, highlighting tensions between punitive measures and due process. The outlet also broke the story in February 2017 of Ronald Coyne, a member, igniting a £20 note in front of a homeless man, supported by video footage that verified the incident and prompted Coyne's resignation from the society amid public condemnation. This coverage contributed to broader scrutiny of elitist behaviors within student political groups, with the story rapidly disseminating to mainstream outlets. A 2020 investigation by The Tab examined disciplinary outcomes at multiple universities, uncovering instances where students adjudicated guilty of via internal processes received only financial fines—ranging from £50 to £500—rather than expulsion or referral to authorities, as recommended by guidelines like those from . The reporting, based on requests and case analyses from institutions including the and , exposed inconsistencies in sanction severity and spurred calls for standardized, non-monetary penalties to ensure deterrence and victim support. These instances illustrate The Tab's occasional success in leveraging anonymous tips, , and data requests to verify and publicize issues, resulting in tangible institutional actions such as suspensions, resignations, and policy reevaluations, though outcomes often reflected compromises amid legal and procedural constraints.

Misinformation, Hoaxes, and Retractions

The Tab has engaged in annual pranks since its early years, publishing fabricated stories designed to deceive readers before revealing the , such as claims in 2024 of universities mandating surf lessons or endorsements of student lifestyles, and in 2023 announcements of fictional events like Love Island stars joining university teams. These pranks align with journalistic traditions of humorous on April 1 but have occasionally blurred lines with factual reporting, contributing to reader skepticism about content veracity on that date. In its inaugural year, the Cambridge Tab issued an apology to correspondent after publishing a about him that readers mistook for genuine due to insufficient disclosure of its fictional nature. The piece, intended as humor, prompted complaints and highlighted early challenges in distinguishing opinion or from straight reporting in the outlet's student-focused, sensational style. No major retractions of core news stories have been widely documented, consistent with evaluations rating The Tab's factual reporting as generally reliable despite its left-leaning editorial slant. The outlet's editorial policy emphasizes multiple-source verification for articles, though critics have questioned the rigor in fast-paced, youth-oriented coverage prone to viral amplification of unverified claims. Isolated incidents of corrections remain limited, with the publication relying on updates or clarifications rather than formal retractions for minor errors.

Controversies and Criticisms

Allegations of Ideological Bias

Media Bias/Fact Check has classified The Tab as left-center biased, attributing this to its editorial positions that moderately favor liberal causes through the use of emotionally loaded language and story selection emphasizing progressive themes. Specific examples include coverage of "The UK’s unis are institutionally racist, admits uni Vice-Chancellor" and claims that "Anti-Asian violence has been ignored for too long," which align with narratives of systemic injustice and underrepresented minority issues typically advanced in left-leaning discourse. This assessment notes that while The Tab maintains high factual reporting standards—supported by proper sourcing and no major fact-check failures in recent years—its opinion pieces and reporting often prioritize perspectives sympathetic to social justice initiatives over conservative or contrarian viewpoints. Critics have pointed to The Tab's student-driven model, operating within university environments known for systemic left-wing ideological dominance in academia, as a structural factor amplifying progressive slant in its content. For instance, articles frequently critique right-wing figures or movements, such as labeling TV participants as "right-wing grifters" for generating controversy, while defending or engaging positively with "" cultural elements like awareness of systemic or inclusivity in gaming and campus life. This pattern has led to accusations that The Tab functions more as an amplifier for prevailing campus orthodoxies—such as anti-conservatism and —rather than a neutral chronicler of , though such claims remain anecdotal and lack widespread documentation from independent conservative media outlets. Despite a 2017 investment of £4.6 million from , a conglomerate associated with right-leaning outlets, The Tab's content has not shifted toward ideological balance, suggesting that ownership influence is limited by its reliance on unpaid student contributors embedded in left-leaning academic cultures. Allegations of bias are thus contextualized by the outlet's origins at the in 2009 and its expansion to over 40 universities, where editorial decisions reflect the demographic and ideological homogeneity of higher education rather than deliberate partisan engineering.

Specific Incidents and Backlash

In 2009, shortly after its launch, The Tab's edition published the "Tab Totty" feature, modeled after The Sun's and featuring photographs of students in , which garnered 80,000 hits in its first week. The initiative drew condemnation from University's women's officer Natalie Szarek, who argued that the university could "do better" in promoting respectful representations of women. Founder and then-editor Jack Rivlin later reflected that the feature, while effective as a tactic, was "grim and sexist" and not something the publication would replicate. That same year, The Tab faced legal repercussions after publishing unsubstantiated allegations about BBC entertainment correspondent Lizo Mzimba's conduct during a documentary shoot at the university, claiming inappropriate behavior toward students. The claims were proven false, prompting The Tab to issue a public apology and retract the story. Outlets including , Mail Online, and the London Evening Standard, which had amplified the report, also apologized and settled undisclosed damages with Mzimba. In 2013, The Tab's plan for a liveblog tracking Prince William's arrival at —encouraging readers to submit photos for free merchandise—sparked warnings of potential from criminal barrister Bernard Richmond QC, who highlighted legal risks under harassment laws. The initiative proceeded with editorial backing but underscored ongoing criticisms of the publication's boundary-pushing tactics. Separately that year, The Tab 's "Rear of the Year" shortlist, focusing on students' physiques, was lambasted as perpetuating sexist , with commentators arguing it reinforced outdated tropes despite claims of lighthearted intent. More recently, in October 2024, The Tab encountered significant backlash over content perceived as classist and anti-Scottish, including a response to a query about low Scottish student representation stating "as god intended" and videos mocking the few Scottish attendees, such as one depicting aversion upon learning a peer's Scottish origin. Scottish students reported feelings of isolation and hurt, with groups like the university's Scottish Social Mobility Society decrying the content for trivializing underrepresentation—despite Scots comprising 26% of the student body per 2022/2023 data—and calling for class to be added as a protected characteristic. The Tab initially doubled down with dismissive replies like "i am and i did" and "bore off," before disabling comments, privatizing the account, and deleting posts without issuing an apology or statement when approached.

Defenses, Responses, and Journalistic Standards

The Tab's editorial policy outlines commitments to factual accuracy, requiring journalists to verify stories with multiple sources, attribute information appropriately, and avoid misleading representations through omission or selective quoting. Professional staff in its office, who oversee student contributions, possess 2-7 years of experience, and all content undergoes editorial review to ensure balance and fairness. The organization employs investigative techniques such as requests and on-the-ground reporting, alongside libel for contributors, to support rigorous practices amid its focus on youth-oriented content. In addressing complaints or errors, The Tab issues for verified inaccuracies upon contact with its editors and provides a formal right-of-reply process, allowing subjects to respond directly on the platform where criticism appeared, thereby enabling public defense against allegations. This mechanism aims to maintain transparency and , with policies prohibiting anonymous sourcing unless justified by exceptional circumstances like safety risks. Retractions are not explicitly detailed but fall under the broader framework for substantive falsehoods. Responses to specific controversies have emphasized the value of amplifying underrepresented voices, particularly in student and youth contexts. Following backlash over the 2018 publication of a woman's account of a date with comedian on its offshoot site Babe.net—which detailed perceived coercive behavior despite mutual claims—then-editor-in-chief Herrmann defended the piece as a legitimate report on a firsthand experience, noting rapid with the source and rejecting calls to suppress it as "patently ridiculous" given its to ongoing discussions of interpersonal dynamics. Herrmann highlighted the story's alignment with journalistic duty to cover women's narratives without requiring corroboration from the accused in anonymous submissions, while acknowledging Ansari's subsequent private response to the source. Defenses against broader accusations of or ideological slant center on The Tab's model of empowering reporters to capture realities in a bold, digital-first style, which editors argue fosters authentic youth perspectives rather than diluted neutrality. Proponents, including contributors, counter claims of prioritizing clicks over substance by pointing to verified scoops and programs that equip amateurs with professional skills, positioning the outlet as a training ground that enhances rather than undermines journalistic integrity. Critics' petitions for its closure, such as one in alleging harm to media, have prompted internal reflections on content quality without leading to operational changes, with responses stressing adaptability and rejection of overly restrictive standards that could stifle emerging voices.

Ownership, Business Model, and Impact

Funding, Acquisitions, and Revenue Streams

The Tab Media secured $3 million in seed funding in December 2015 from and the to fuel its expansion into over 200 U.S. universities. In September 2017, it raised an additional $6 million in a round primarily backed by , which acquired a minority stake in the company for its investment. Across its history, Tab Media accumulated roughly $10 million in total prior to divestiture. The company's revenue model centered on digital advertising targeted at its youth and audience, with sponsored content comprising approximately 70% of income—for instance, generating $600,000 in August 2017 from brand commissions including . Advertisers leveraged the platform's networks for reach, supporting a for-profit structure distinct from nonprofit media. Tab Media pursued but ultimately abandoned at least one acquisition amid challenges like a failed U.S. market push and shifts in traffic algorithms. In 2020, Digitalbox plc purchased the company for £750,000 cash, adding it to a portfolio that includes . Post-acquisition, The Tab reached profitability within one month and fully offset the purchase price by April 2022 via operational efficiencies and ad revenue. Digitalbox later reported a 22% group-wide revenue drop in 2023, attributing part of it to and algorithm updates reducing traffic to entertainment sites like The Tab.

Influence on Student Media and Culture

The Tab pioneered a networked model of digital , launching in as an online alternative to print-heavy papers and expanding to localized editions at 34 universities by 2013, with over 1.3 million monthly unique users at that time. By 2016, this network encompassed 40 sites and 45 in the , enabling coverage of events through unpaid contributors coordinated by a central paid staff of around 10 in . This structure, independent of student unions, contrasted with traditional outlets by prioritizing scalability and national syndication, influencing other media to adopt digital aggregation and contributor networks for broader reach. Its digital-first training programs have equipped thousands of students with skills in online verification, headline optimization, and social media-driven storytelling, including onsite sessions for over 50 editors since 2017 and resources via Facebook groups and an emerging online academy. By 2017, approximately 2,300 students had contributed globally, with nearly 1,000 writing regularly, providing practical experience that supplements or bypasses formal journalism education and has produced stories amplified by national outlets. This has elevated student media's role in youth-focused reporting, though critics argue it incentivizes viral, low-depth content over investigative work due to unpaid roles and click metrics. On student culture, The Tab's tabloid-style blend of BuzzFeed-esque humor, nightlife guides, and scandal coverage has shaped discourse around university social life, pop culture trends, and generational issues, reaching millions and fostering a brash, relatable tone that resonates with Gen Z audiences. Features on parties, relationships, and memes have amplified informal narratives, contributing to a cultural shift toward social media-optimized self-expression and accountability on issues like mental health and inclusivity, as recognized by outlets like for defining youth media. However, its emphasis on sensationalism has been linked to reinforcing or prioritizing over substantive cultural , prompting backlash in some communities.

References

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