The newspaper for all Social Sciences Students and Staff at The Open University

Society Matters was created in 1998. For thirteen issues Society Matters has sought to engage readers with those realities which make up everyday life. It has championed the involvement of students themselves, questioned government and academic dogma, informed readers of our curriculum and research priorities, and provided a diverse array of short and informative, often amusing, stories, all embellished by fine photographs and illustrations plus contributions from our two highly talented student cartoonists.

Society Matters has continually defended the right to free speech and used its 24 full-colour pages to demonstrate the contemporary relevance of social sciences. We have dealt with war, peace, love, welfare, poverty, health and disease, climate change, global warming, multiculturalism, the war on terror, insecurity, identity and self image, media and political spin, money, overseas aid, arms sales, tsunamis, famines, religious bigotry, rights and responsibilities, family life, the clash of civilizations, refugees, immigration, the history of ideas, political representation, capital punishment, penal policy, mental health, child welfare, social care of the elderly, and done some crystal ball gazing about the future relevance of the social sciences.

Society Matters blog

Dick Skellington, editor of Society Matters since its inception, introduces a new blog to the Open University Platform website and invites contributions, debate, disagreement and ideas for making this online version of the magazine as successful as its print predecessor. Visit Society Matters on Platform

Issue 13 - Final edition

Due to economic cutbacks the thirteenth issue is the last Society Matters in print form. We hope you continue to use the site until the Faculty can establish its online replacement.

Society Matters No 13 - Autumn/Winter 2010/2011

Society Matters Extra

Four years ago we introduced a new facility, Society Matters Extra. There are around 65 features on the Society Matters Extra page and only lack of space has prevented these articles being published in the main newspaper. If you click on the link above you will access many more stimulating articles, and if you are an OU student, you may find them relevant to your social science studies.

Society Matters archive

Society Matters No 12 - Autumn/Winter 2009/2010

Society Matters No 11 - Autumn/Winter 2008/2009

Society Matters No 10 - Autumn/Winter 2007/08

Society Matters No 9 - Autumn/Winter 2006/07

Society Matters No 8 - Autumn/Winter 2005/06

Society Matters No 7 - Autumn/Winter 2004/05

Society Matters No 6 - Autumn/Winter 2003/04