Athina Bohner

Athina is the World Editor of The Glasgow Guardian and a fourth-year International Relations student at the University of Glasgow. As a native English, German, and Bulgarian speaker, she feels especially passionate about reporting on human rights issues from a global perspective. In 2024, Athina was highly commended for Best Student Journalist in Scotland by the Student Publication Association for the second year in a row.

Working for The Glasgow Guardian over the past 3 years, Athina has gained experience in news writing, interviewing political figures, reporting during COP26, supporting fellow writers, and publishing online, as well as in-print. She strives to to contribute towards amplifying people’s voices, raising awareness within student communities, and shedding light on pressing injustices.

In 2023, she was also shortlisted for Student Journalist of the Year at the Amnesty Media Awards. The previous year, Athina was honoured to be highly commended for Best Scottish Political Piece and shortlisted for Best Human Rights Story in the UK by the Student Publication Association.

Please feel free to message her on LinkedIn or Twitter.

The Glasgow Guardian •

#StopRosebank: Scottish oilfield approval exacerbates the global energy crisis

World Editor Athina Bohner speaks to climate campaigners at a #StopRosebank rally in Edinburgh and reflects on the international dynamics underpinning the environment, economy, and energy security.

“Our future feels like it is being stolen from us”, Meg tells me in front of the UK Government building in Edinburgh. Her words echo the frustration and despair of over a hundred protesters, who gathered on a rainy autumn afternoon to denounce the UK’s decision to approve the Rosebank oil field.

Loc
The National •

Sheku Bayoh inquiry chair 'welcomes' Police Scotland's racism admission

At a Scottish Police Authority meeting on Thursday, Iain Livingstone, the chief constable of Police Scotland, acknowledged “prejudice and bad behaviour within policing”, while urging the force to become “an anti-racist service”.

Sheku Bayoh inquiry chair Alastair Campbell – termed Lord Bracadale, “welcomed” the statement and said: “The Sheku Bayoh Inquiry was set up to examine the events surrounding the death of Mr Bayoh, including whether race was a factor in those events.

“I look forward to
The National •

Racism, sexism, and misogyny 'a reality in Police Scotland', top officer admits

At a meeting of the Scottish Police Authority on Thursday morning, Sir Iain Livingstone said: “It is right for me to clearly state that institutional racism, sexism, misogyny and discrimination is a reality for Police Scotland.

"Publicly acknowledging these issues exist institutionally is essential to our absolute commitment to championing equality and becoming an anti-racist service.

"Prejudice and bad behaviour within policing, as highlighted by court and conduct cases, various independent r
The Glasgow Guardian •

“Not in our name”: Students launch campaign against UofG’s fossil fuel and arms investments

On Friday 3 February 2023, approximately 100 students gathered at the Main Gate to demand that the University of Glasgow fully divest from arms and fossil fuels. In addition, GAAF is calling for the implementation of an accessible, mandatory, and empowering climate course. Its third demand is for an ethical careers policy, which would ban oil, gas, coal, mining, and arms companies from recruiting through the University.

The Glasgow Guardian spoke to dozens of protesters at the rally, who expres
The Glasgow Guardian •

“Women, Life, Freedom”: Fighting for Iran’s future from the streets of Glasgow

On 19 November 2022, impassioned voices demanding "freedom for Iran" engulfed the streets of Glasgow, as over 1,000 protesters of all generations marched from Kelvingrove Park to Glasgow Green. While proudly singing pro-democracy songs in Farsi and waving Iranian flags featuring a sun and lion, the protest embodied a deeply personal portrayal of Scotland’s Iranian diaspora standing in solidarity with the people of Iran.

Since 16 September, widespread anti-government demonstrations have erupted
The Glasgow Guardian •

How the Queen’s death divided Scottish public opinion

When Queen Elizabeth II died at Balmoral Castle on 8 September 2022, aged 96, the UK seemed to come to a staggering standstill. However, while the floral tributes in front of Buckingham Palace grew, so did the longstanding criticism of the British monarchy’s colonial legacy, institutional racism, and sexual abuse allegations. In particular, this stark divide in public opinion was evident in Scotland - a country where the idea of monarchy in the 21st century seems to be simultaneously loved and h
The Glasgow Guardian •

“Sticking plasters over the cracks of a broken system”: in conversation with the NUS Scotland president

In conversation with The Glasgow Guardian, National Union of Students (NUS) Scotland president Ellie Gomersall has addressed the most pressing issues of the day for University of Glasgow students, from the rising cost of living to mental health.

With regards to the housing crisis, which has seen UofG students paying extortionate rents, living in emergency accommodation, sofa surfing, and commuting from Stirling and Edinburgh, Ellie Gomersall told The Glasgow Guardian: “What we really need to se
The Glasgow Guardian •

Coping with Mother’s Day when grieving the loss of your own

“Happy Mother’s Day!”, the grocery store display exclaims cheerfully in a large, cursive font. Instantaneously, I freeze in my tracks, staring blindly at the obnoxious cardboard cutout of a photogenic mother-daughter duo grinning cluelessly at passing customers. I feel my heartbeat pounding through my chest as the assortment of peony bouquets and heart-shaped coffee mugs turns into a tearful blur of pale pink.

Standing all alone in the brightly-lit aisle, the world around me seems to pass by in
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