diff --git a/django/website/data_layer/models.py b/django/website/data_layer/models.py
index a9a061f93c45e0c8e4c3df1e429f95a9f90038a3..8824cbfd3fd87ecd6f824093050513aca26ad012 100644
--- a/django/website/data_layer/models.py
+++ b/django/website/data_layer/models.py
@@ -12,5 +12,12 @@ class Message(DataLayerModel):
     body = models.TextField()
     timestamp = models.DateTimeField(null=True)
 
+    def __unicode__(self):
+        return "{}: '{}' @{}".format(
+            self.id,
+            self.body,
+            self.timestamp
+        )
+
 # TODO: rename this class
 Item = Message