News
Notts Pride 2020 set to take place virtually for first time
Organisers of this year’s Nottinghamshire Pride have confirmed the event will be taking place virtually for the first time. The event, scheduled for Saturday 25…
NTSU Hindu Society launch new podcast to “educate and inform”
Nottingham Trent University’s Hindu society have launched a brand new podcast called ‘ChitChat and Chai’ that they hope will encourage engagement between all members of…
Cricket: New headaches or old head scratches?
When it was announced that the England and Wales Cricket Board would be streaming the inter-squad warm-up game, before the start of the three-match Test…
Trent Editions creative writing competition winners announced
Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) independent publisher, Trent Editions, and NTU’s book shop, Blackwell’s, teamed up for Academic Book week in order to organise a creative…
Nottingham trio traveled “over 3 continents” to create the perfect doughnut recipe
Happy Doughnut Lucky is the name of the business that took over social media in the last weeks – and the story behind it is…
Sports
Embarrassment for UEFA as City get off lightly
Manchester City’s two-year European football ban was overturned today by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. The ruling raises many questions, not least over the…
Can Jose Mourinho really claim to be the “special one” anymore?
Don’t let a North London derby victory fool you; the question of whether or not Jose has lost his “special” touch still remains. Jose Mourinho…
Lewis Hamilton urges Formula One bosses to improve diversity and abolish racism
Formula 1 is finally underway after the longest lapse in its racing history. However, the sport returns to not only provide us with exhilarating racing…
Cricket: New headaches or old head scratches?
When it was announced that the England and Wales Cricket Board would be streaming the inter-squad warm-up game, before the start of the three-match Test…
BUCS sport will not kick-off until 2021
It was announced last night that BUCS sport across the country will not start until 2021, due to the coronavirus pandemic. The British Universities and…
Fashion and Beauty
NTU student launches fashion and lifestyle blog in lockdown
There is a new fashion and lifestyle blog on the rise, called Edit. By Elizabeth. The blog officially launched on May 3rd, and already has…
Five Victoria Secret Angels who mastered maternity style
Victoria Street angel Gigi Hadid recently confirmed her first pregnancy with boyfriend Zayn Malik. Pregnancy naturally puts a demand on styling for a different body…
Easy ways to organise your makeup collection
As we’re still awaiting the day that we say goodbye to lockdown – hopefully forever – we don’t really have the chance to put on…
Ten essential products every makeup bag should have
Whether you have used isolation to let you skin breathe and recover, hone in on your makeup artistry skills or experiment with different products, it’s…
The rise in workwear meeting loungewear thanks to lockdown
Everything has moved online, from lectures and seminars to hanging out with friends and family. This has given us one great advantage over our former…
Culture and Entertainment
Actor Bio: Tom Hanks
Today, Tom Hanks celebrates his 64th birthday and in his honour, we look back on his spectacular career so far. The American actor was born…
TV Review: Athlete A
Aside from Netflix’s vast array of fictional films and series, the streaming service thrives in its powerful productions of biographical documentaries, most recently delving into…
NTSU Hindu Society launch new podcast to “educate and inform”
Nottingham Trent University’s Hindu society have launched a brand new podcast called ‘ChitChat and Chai’ that they hope will encourage engagement between all members of…
Film Review: Hamilton on Disney+
Disney Plus finally brought us the moment many theatre fans have been waiting a long time to see – Hamilton, in our own homes! After…
Actor Bio: Tom Cruise
As he celebrates his 58th birthday today, we look back on Tom Cruise’s successful career so far. Born in Syracuse, New York on July 3…
Music
The Platform Playlist: Our June 2020 recommendations
Here at Platform, we like to remind you that our committee isn’t made of pen-pushing robots and that we are very much human. As proof,…
Editor’s Pick: The Best Music of June 2020
Ah yes, ‘Editor’s Pick’, my favourite and least favourite part of the month. A time to revisit the month’s greatest releases which I must then…
Review: Bob Dylan – Rough and Rowdy Ways
Adam Baker takes a deep dive into the 39th studio release from singer-songwriter royalty, Bob Dylan… It’s Bob Dylan. If you’ve listened to him before…
Single Review: Nothing But Thieves – Real Love Song
Releasing a second song in anticipation of their upcoming album Moral Panic (set for release in October this year) indie band Nothing But Thieves excited…
Interview: R.A.E – Glastonbury’s Emerging Champion
While Glastonbury may not be taking its physical form this year that has not stopped them from creating a festival to remember… With large amounts…
Interview: A Chat with Joanna Forest
Joanna Forest – the UK’s number one Soprano, with two ‘number one’ albums under her belt, chats with us about her amazing career and her…
Creative Corner
Trent Editions creative writing competition winners announced
Nottingham Trent University’s (NTU) independent publisher, Trent Editions, and NTU’s book shop, Blackwell’s, teamed up for Academic Book week in order to organise a creative…
Relativity by Ishita Sharma
There was an incident in geography class once, in fifth grade, when Chhavi couldn’t point out north east when our teacher asked us where Tripura…
Sun-kissed by Zach Omitowoju
You left without much of a trace, That it was almost like a race. To you. It was, you? It was you. All of this…
For an old friend by I.V. Moon
As the sun came up We were still awake On the phone, You played me Fur Elise on the ukulele. I cried when I thought…
The Most Astounding Fact in the Universe by Ishita Sharma
I once saw on TV a scientist who was speaking generally about science-y things and generally speaking I am not a science person and while…
The Reason Why Writers Choose This Life by Ishita Sharma
The reason why writers choose this life, It’s the freedom, no pressure, and ink pots as wife. Paper as husband and stories as child, Catharsis,…
Travel and Lifestyle
University accommodation nightmares – NTU students reveal all
We have all had different experiences with student accommodation. Some people have a great time, while others might not. To find out more, Frankie Galton…
The great English staycation – where to go and what to see
After months of lockdown, us Brits have finally had some good news. From the fourth of July, we will be able to go on holiday again!…
Friendship: Reciprocal effort and knowing when it’s okay to let old friends go
We all know that friendship is a two-way street. However, it can sometimes be difficult to know when to put your effort into bigger and…
Nottingham Trent launches new study into lockdown habits
Nottingham Trent University is searching for participants to take part in a new study looking at how diet and exercise have been affected by social…
Celebrating pride virtually in June – events you can take part in
June is LGBT pride month – a month that would usually be celebrated by people across the world in their thousands. However, the coronavirus pandemic…
Five ideas for a great socially distanced meet up
If you would like to see your friends and family over the coming weeks, but you have no idea what activity to do together, look…
Print Editions
Is there a future for therapy in gaming?
Gaming often gets a bad rep when it comes to its effect on people’s lives, with the industry being blamed for influencing negative behavioural changes…
Mental health on screen: Distinguishing fact and fiction
Films have the power to affect millions and therefore have a duty to respectfully represent what they show. Mental health on screen is often polarising…
Films and Friends: How entertainment supports my wellbeing
When it comes to anyone’s mental health, it is important that as an individual, they use whatever they can that helps them in a way…
The Role of Music in Mental Health Matters
“Music was my refuge. I could crawl into the space between the notes and curl my back to loneliness.” Music has always been something safe…
The “Uncool” Boyband Fandoms and How They Benefit Mental Health
“Teenage-girl fans – they don’t lie. If they like you, they’re there. They don’t act “too cool”. They like you and they tell you which…
The Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation in Music
Platform’s Robbie Nicholls talks us through the importance of LGBTQ+ representation within the music industry and how it can affect people’s mental health for the…