At the Aotearoa Student Press Awards in Christchurch on Saturday, the University of Otago student magazine took nine of a possible 20 awards, including best publication, against seven competing student magazines.
Critic editor Sinead Gill said the magazine’s news section was a standout nationwide.
Critic writers were reporting with the student community’s interests at the forefront, rather than pursuing their own issues, she said.
"They [Critic reporters] should be there for students" Ms Gill said. "Every piece should be a reflection of something that’s happening in the student community.
Ms Gill won the best editorial title after writing on abortion, cannabis and student leadership.
She shared the award for best Covid-19 coverage with Critic’s "superstar’’ news reporter Erin Gourley.
Ms Gourley also won the award for best news reporter and best news story for a long-form article on alleged illegal employment practices, a lack of training in food safety, inappropriate comments made by the owner and a high-pressure work environment at a Dunedin fast food outlet.
The magazine also got the nod for equal best design (Molly Willis), equal best photographer (Aiman Amerul Muner), best column (Caroline Moratti) and best humour/satire (Caroline Moratti).
In a statement earlier this year, the University of Otago criticised the publication for its allegedly "mean-spirited reporting’’.