Members of the editorial team of Univerzál, the student magazine of the Faculty of Arts at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University (UPJŠ) in Košice, participated in the 31st annual nationwide student magazine competition Štúrovo pero on April 25-26, 2025. Our students’ magazine received inspiring advice from the event and won a motivating award – Univerzál placed 2nd in the university magazine category.
At Štúrovo pero, everyone feels like part of one big creative community. That’s precisely how we, the newest members of the editorial team, felt as well. It was a new and defining experience for us. Not only did we learn about the work of other student magazines, but we also received a wealth of valuable ideas for our creative work. The expert jury evaluated our editions from the past year, which were dedicated to the themes of media, culture, and emotions. They offered us helpful advice and tips on what we can still improve.
Last year, we placed third. While we considered the jury’s feedback, we didn’t stray from what makes Univerzál so special. And it paid off! Right at the start of this year’s competition, the jury, composed of Jozef Bednár, Gabriela Kajtárová, and Katarína Sabová, praised our design, content, and especially the playfulness that runs through every issue of the magazine. Last year, the jury pointed out our tendency to “stray from the topic,” but this year, they highlighted our progress – the texts were, in their view, more engaging, easier to read, and still enjoyable enough. Our survey “Which song evokes strong emotions in you?” was a particular hit and juror Jozef Bednár described it as very creative. And it didn’t just catch his attention – apparently, his daughter responded positively to it. That made us happy, and it shows that Univerzál truly can reach everyone. “You found the balance between variety and a circus,” jury member Gabriela Kajtárová noted with a smile.
And the result?
Second place!
For us it feels like a significant victory. It showed us that all our work makes sense. While Univerzál naturally attracts students of Slovak and media studies, over the past year, we’ve strengthened cooperation with all departments of our faculty. Thanks to this, our content now includes contributions from historians, psychologists, and English studies students.
The result of Štúrovo pero confirms that we’re on the right track. You can already look forward to our following “acrobatic feats.”
Text: Natália Maťašová
Photo: Natália Jamnická
Editors of Univerzál magazine
Students of Slovak and Media Studies
Department of Slovak Studies, Slavic Philologies and Communication, Faculty of Arts, UPJŠ
